Social Support, Stress, and Self-Efficacy: Effects on Students' Satisfaction

Many variables impact a student's adjustment to college and ultimate academic and social success. This study investigated the relationships between social support, perceived stress, self-efficacy, and life satisfaction among 94 first-year college students. Students who reported higher levels of social support and self-efficacy and lower levels of perceived stress also reported higher levels of life satisfaction. Social support and stress together accounted for 41 percent of the variance in life satisfaction ratings, with social support providing the largest contribution. The findings have implications for prevention and interventions with students experiencing difficulty in adjusting to college.