Individual differences, dysfunctional attitudes, and social support: A study of the psychosocial adjustment to university life of home students

The main aim of the present study is twofold: (a) to investigate the relationship between the two broad personality dimensions of Neuroticism and Extraversion (and the extended concepts of Negative and Positive Affectivity) and Dysfunctional Attitudes, as well as the relationship between Dysfunctional Attitudes, perceived Social Support, Loneliness and General Well-Being during the transition to University; and (b) to study the contribution of such variables in the prediction of psychosocial Adjustment of Home students to University life. A total of 124 students completed a questionnaire that was distributed 10 weeks after arrival at university, which assessed: (a) Personality (Extraversion, Neuroticism, Interpersonal Trust, and Self-Esteem), (b) Dysfunctional Attitudes, (c) state Negative and state Positive Affectivity, (d) perceived Social Support, and (f) psychosocial Adjustment to University life. The results indicated that: (a) Dysfunctional Attitudes correlated significantly with all the personality and psychosocial adjustment variables, and (b) Personality (Extraversion, Neuroticism, Self-Esteem, Interpersonal Trust) and Dysfunctional Attitudes contributed significantly to the prediction of perceived Social Support and psychosocial Adjustment to university life, as assessed in terms of Loneliness, General Well-Being, and overall Adjustment. Results are discussed in relation to the relevant literature and implications for studentsʹ counselling.