THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF A SHORT MEASURE OF STUDENT SOCIAL SUPPORT AND ITS ASSOCIATIONS WITH WELL-BEING AND ACADEMIC OUTCOMES

Andrew P. Smith*

ABSTRACT

Background: Social support is a major component of well-being. The present study examined the microstructure of a four-item student social support scale. Methods: An online survey of questions on well-being and factors related to well-being (psychological capital, negative coping and stressors) was used. The survey also included four items measuring perceived social support components (esteem, tangible, belonging, and emotional support). One thousand two hundred and ninety-three university students completed the online survey. Academic attainment marks were available for the students, and their perceived work efficiency and course stress were recorded. Results: Factor analysis showed that the social support items loaded on a single factor. Correlations showed that all the social items were significantly associated with the well-being outcomes, academic attainment and perceived work efficiency. Multivariate analyses, including the other established predictors of well-being, showed that significant associations with social support were restricted to the well-being outcomes. Conclusions: The four-item social support scale from the Well-being Process Questionnaire consists of a single factor. When other established predictors of well-being and attainment were covaried, social support was significantly positively associated with positive well-being and negatively associated with negative well-being.

Keywords: Well-being; Social support; Student Stressors; Negative coping; Psychological capital; Perceived stress; Negative well-being; Positive well-being; Academic attainment; Perceived efficiency; Course stress.