Relationship between Mental health and Social Support of Junior College Students

전문대학생(專門大學生)의 정신건강(精神健康)과 사회적(社會的) 지지(支持)와의 관련성(關聯性)

The study was designed to grasp the mental health of junior college students and identify the relation between mental health and social support. The subjects for this study were 781 sophomores attending T junior college in Taegu. The data were collected through questionnaire during the period from september 10,1993 to september 24, 1993. The results of this can be summarized as follows: In mental health the average mark was 1.94 on the basis of 5 marks. Those whose mark was more than 75% (low) had Depression(8.7%),Obsessive compulsive reaction(5.2%) Anxiety(3.6%). In social support, the average mark was 3.03 on the basis of 4 marks, which showed comparatively high support; relationship with friends was 75.4%, companionship was 75.4%, and mutual understanding was 72.3%. Many students got more than 75% in total marks. In the state of mental health, there was a significant difference depending on sex, total income, the character and the attitude toward his parents. There is also an unusual difference in social support depending on the major subjects, the character, the problem at present and the attitude toward his parents. In mental health, both male and female students got higher marks in Depression, Obsessive compulsive reaction than in any other item. In social support level all students had a high support in the relationship with friends and mutual understanding. Those who are affectionate to and dependent on their parents had a tendency to have better mental health. The simple correlation modules between social support mark and mental health one was -0.5555 and the partial correlation modules of controlling sex, age, growth place was -0.5557. There was little difference between them. In mental health items Interpersonal sensitivity was highest correlated with social support and Somatinization was lowest correlated. There was a significant correlation between mental health and social support: the higher social support were, the better mental health was. In conclusion, the study showed that the relationship between the social support and the mental health level revealed a significant correlation. In social support Expressive support (companionship support, mutual understanding support) showed a higher degree of support than instrumental support(monetary support, demand support). Therefore, in the guidance of students, it is necessary to expand expressive support considering these respects. Further multidimensional study is needed on how to improve the mental health of junior students through the social support.