Daily hassles and depressive symptoms among first year psychology students in France: the role of coping and social support

The start of university life demands an adaptation period, which can sometimes have an impact on the mental health of students. A total of 233 first year psychology students answered a questionnaire based on a Beck Depression Inventory, Coping Inventory of Stressful Situations, Social Support Questionnaire and Hassles Scale. The results showed 41 per cent of those surveyed suffered of depressive symptoms and that daily hassles encountered during the first year of university could be considered a relevant risk factor for depression. This study makes it possible to observe that not all coping strategies work equally well. Only task-centered, active coping strategies were effective. With many students having to cope with leaving home, social support also plays a fundamental role. In fact, 70 per cent of those interviewed bad left their hometown in order to study. The results of this study suggest that depressive symptoms should be considered a significant problem particularly in first year students. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.