Ups and Downs as Indonesian College Students: Risk and Protective Factors for Psychological Distress

Abstract

The recent study aimed to investigate potential risk and protective factors for psychological distress among Indonesian college students. A total of 1024 students from various colleges in Indonesia completed online and offline self-report questionnaires assessing the variables of interest, such as psychological distress (Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25), family functioning (Family Assessment Device), personality traits (Big Five Inventory-44), optimism (Life Orientation Test-Revised), resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale), and perceived social support (Social Provisions Scale). The results indicated negative and significant relationship between family functioning (communication and affective involvement dimensions), personality traits (extraversion and conscientiousness), optimism, resilience, perceived social support, and psychological distress. It also indicated positive and significant relationship between neuroticism personality trait and psychological distress. These findings suggested that family functioning (communication and affective involvement dimensions), personality traits (extraversion and conscientiousness), optimism, resilience, and perceived social support can be protective factors for psychological distress, meanwhile neuroticism personality trait can be risk factor for psychological distress.