Freshmen adaptation to university life: Depressive symptoms, stress, and coping

Dyson, Rachael; Renk, Kimberly

doi:10.1002/jclp.20295

Cited by 930Student Stress and CopingGender Roles and Identity StudiesHigher Education Research Studies

Freshmen adaptation to university life: Depressive symptoms, stress, and coping

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Dyson, Rachael, Renk, Kimberly·2006·Journal of Clinical Psychology

DOI 10.1002/jclp.20295

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Abstract

Attending a university for the first time can be a stressful experience for many new college students. This study examines the relationships among femininity and masculinity, depressive symptomatology, levels of stress, and the types of coping strategies used by college freshmen. Results of this study suggest that these variables were related uniquely for first-year college students. Masculinity and femininity significantly predicted problem-focused coping, and femininity significantly predicted emotion-focused coping. Further, the levels of family and college stress reported by college students, as well as their endorsement of avoidant coping, significantly predicted their levels of depressive symptoms. Overall, the results of this study suggest that understanding the relationships among the gender role, the levels of depressive symptomatology, and the levels of stress exhibited by college freshmen may be important in facilitating their transition and adjustment to university life.

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“This transition typically involves uncertainty and increased distress due to changes in social relations, expectations, and norms (Dyson & Renk, 2006, Hurst et al., 2013).”
From Young Adult Adaptability to the Social Challenges of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Protective Role of Friendships (2022) · cites this paper as Dyson & Renk, 2006
Adaptation to change is negatively associated with stress and depressive symptoms.
“Adaptation to change is also negatively associated with stress and depressive symptoms (Dyson & Renk, 2006).”
From Investigating state and trait aspects of resilience using Generalizability theory (2024) · cites this paper as Dyson & Renk, 2006

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Authors: Dyson, R., & Renk, K.
Affiliations: University of Central Florida (US)
Corresponding author: Renk, Kimberly
ORCID: Renk, Kimberly
Venue: Journal of Clinical Psychology
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2006
Volume: 62
Issue: 10
Pages: 1231-1244
ISSN: 0021-9762 (ISSN-L)
1097-4679
DOI: 10.1002/jclp.20295
OpenAlex: W1977322903
Cited by: 930
References: 43
Citations by year: 2026: 27 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 59 · 2023: 76 · 2022: 58 · 2021: 79 · 2020: 105 · 2019: 61 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 59 · 2015: 51 · 2014: 42 · 2013: 46 · 2012: 36
FWCI: 22.10
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
stars.library.ucf.edu
Licence: doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1 (tdm, 3530 d)
Locations: Journal of Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Journal of International Crisis and Risk Communication Research (submittedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Student Stress and Coping
Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
Social Sciences › Education › Higher Education Research Studies
Keywords: first-year students, college adjustment, depressive symptoms, stress, coping strategies, gender roles, femininity, masculinity, problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, avoidance coping, family stress, college stress, transition to college
MeSH terms: Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Depression, Female, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sex Factors, Stress, Psychological, Students, Universities

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Freshmen adaptation to university life: Depressive symptoms, stress, and coping

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