College student mental health: a person-environment interactional analysis

Abstract

The interactional effects of person characteristics (stimulus screening tendency, self-disclosure tendency, locus of control, and integration of self with other students and the college) and environmental factors (life events) on psychological distress were studied in the comparison of a group of college students who sought help (N = 70) from a student counseling service with a group that did not seek help (N = 70). The results confirmed the importance of social support on the psychological effects of stress. Stimulus screening and locus of control also were related to psychological strain. The pattern of the relationships depended upon whether mood disturbance or help seeking behavior was targeted.