Social support, adjustment and academic stress among first year students in Syiah Kuala University

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between social support, adjustment, and academic stress among first year students in Syiah Kuala University (UNSYIAH) and to identify the role of social support and adjustment in predicting academic stress. Data was collected through questionnaires. The respondents were first year students in UNSYIAH (n = 364) with ranging age from 16 to 21. Respondents completed the Multi Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), Students Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ), and Student Life Stress Inventory (SLSI). Multiple Regression Analysis was used to analyze the contribution of social support aspects and adjustment aspects to academic stress. The results revealed that the sample reported moderate levels of social support, adjustment, and academic stress. Two aspects of social support and one aspect of adjustment, namely friend support, significant other support, and social adjustment significantly contributed to academic stress. In addition, friend support, significant other support, and social adjustment jointly contributed to academic stress. In this study, it is important to highlight that the social adjustment provided the biggest contribution to academic stress among first year students.