Social Support and Optimism as Predictors of Life Satisfaction of College Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive value of optimism, perceived support from family and perceived support from faculty in determining life satisfaction of college students in Turkey. One hundred and thirty three students completed the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985) and provided demographic information about themselves. Independent samples t-test, correlation, and multiple regression analyses were performed for data analysis. Significant relationships were found among the variables, with regression analysis indicating that perceived support from family, perceived faculty support, and optimism were statistically significant predictors of life satisfaction. The implications of these results are discussed and suggestions made for counseling practice and future research.

Factors in the Adjustment and Academic Achievement of College Students with Learning Disabilities in Israel

“…Our findings indicate that social support had a main effect on both the adjustment and academic achievement of all college students. This finding is consistent with research on students without disabilities (Mattanah, Ayers, Brand, Brooks, Quimby, & McNary, 2010;Wilks & Spivey, 2010;Yalcin, 2011), but it extends previous findings by showing that social support is a salient predictor of adjustment and achievement among college students with LD. Thus, social support received from family, friends, or teachers who believe in the young person's ability to succeed may act as a protective factor for students with LD and, therefore, is more significant in this population.…”

“…A large body of research has found social support to be positively correlated with psychological outcomes, such as greater life satisfaction, as well as lower levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness (Bakker et al, 2005;Karatepe & Olugbade, 2009;Yalcin, 2011). Furthermore, social support from parents, peers, and others has been identified as an important protective factor that can enhance positive developmental outcomes among college students in the presence of known risks (Sarason & Sarason, 2009;Wilks & Spivey 2010).…”

“…Several studies found lower levels of social support among students with LD (Heiman, 2006b), and other studies found social support to be both directly and indirectly related to adjustment and to psychological well-being among students with LD (Murray, Lombardi, Bender & Gerdes, 2013). Students who received strong support from parents and peers had less difficulty disclosing their disabilities and requesting accommodations in their new educational setting (Murray et al, 2013;Yalcin, 2011). Based on these findings, our goal was to further examine the impact of social support on the academic achievement and adjustment among students with LD in comparison with their non-LD peers.…”

Moderating Effect of Self-Esteem on the Relationship Between Optimism and Life Satisfaction in Final Year University Students

“…Several positive psychology studies among student populations have also shown that optimism is strongly associated with students' life satisfaction (e.g., Tuckwiller & Dardick, 2018;Yalçin, 2011). In this regard, in their study among college students Yu and Luo (2018) found that dispositional optimism positively correlated with well-being.…”

Psychological Birth Order and Optimism in High School

“…(Aydın ve Tezer, 1991;Haugen, Ommundsen, ve Lund, 2004;Gustavsson-Lilius, Julkunen ve Hietanen, 2006;Yalçın, 2011 Aile, insanın kişilik özelliklerinin belirleyicisi ve tamamlayıcısıdır. Bir insan hakkında kesin bir yargıya ulaşabilmek için onun yetiştiği aile içerisindeki rolü ile ilgili bilgiye ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır (Cüceloğlu, 1992;Yörükhan, 2011).…”