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The Contribution of Positive Self-Schemas to University Students’ Distress and Well-being

The Contribution of Positive Self-Schemas to University Students’ Distress and Well-being Post-secondary students experience increased vulnerability to mental health difficulties. Targeting students’ self-schemas is a potentially effective response. However, research has focused predominantly on negative self-schemas despite research suggesting positive self-schemas are uniquely associated with mental health indicators. To address this imbalance, this study assessed the psychometric properties of a positive self-schema measure and unique relations between self-schemas and indicators of mental health and well-being among university students (N = 363, Mage = 18.16, 72% female). Results indicated that the Positive Schema Questionnaire (PSQ; Keyfitz et al., Cognitive Therapy and Research, 37(1):97–108, 2013) is a reliable, valid measure of positive self-schemas. A five-factor structure corresponding to five self-schema themes was found. The self-schema theme of optimism was broadly related to several mental health indicators, while worthiness and self-efficacy were uniquely associated with depression and resilience, respectively. These findings may help to inform improved theoretical models of positive self-schemas and on-campus mental health promotion efforts and interventions. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png International Journal of Cognitive Therapy Springer Journals

The Contribution of Positive Self-Schemas to University Students’ Distress and Well-being

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Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
eISSN
1937-1217
DOI
10.1007/s41811-020-00083-6
Publisher site
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Abstract

Post-secondary students experience increased vulnerability to mental health difficulties. Targeting students’ self-schemas is a potentially effective response. However, research has focused predominantly on negative self-schemas despite research suggesting positive self-schemas are uniquely associated with mental health indicators. To address this imbalance, this study assessed the psychometric properties of a positive self-schema measure and unique relations between self-schemas and indicators of mental health and well-being among university students (N = 363, Mage = 18.16, 72% female). Results indicated that the Positive Schema Questionnaire (PSQ; Keyfitz et al., Cognitive Therapy and Research, 37(1):97–108, 2013) is a reliable, valid measure of positive self-schemas. A five-factor structure corresponding to five self-schema themes was found. The self-schema theme of optimism was broadly related to several mental health indicators, while worthiness and self-efficacy were uniquely associated with depression and resilience, respectively. These findings may help to inform improved theoretical models of positive self-schemas and on-campus mental health promotion efforts and interventions.

Journal

International Journal of Cognitive Therapy – Springer Journals

Published: Sep 1, 2021

Keywords: Self-schemas; Mental health; University students

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