From psychological wellbeing to distress: the role of psychological counseling interventions in university students
IntroductionUniversity students encounter specific psychosocial challenges contributing to increasing psychological distress. The dual continua model posits that psychological wellbeing and distress are separate yet interrelated aspects of mental health. This study examines the relationships between...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1602009/full |
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| author | Francesco Craig Gianluca Mariano Colella Flaviana Tenuta Martina Mauti Antonio Gravina Maria Luigia Calomino Roberta Plastina Alberto Polito Angela Costabile |
| author_facet | Francesco Craig Gianluca Mariano Colella Flaviana Tenuta Martina Mauti Antonio Gravina Maria Luigia Calomino Roberta Plastina Alberto Polito Angela Costabile |
| author_sort | Francesco Craig |
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| description | IntroductionUniversity students encounter specific psychosocial challenges contributing to increasing psychological distress. The dual continua model posits that psychological wellbeing and distress are separate yet interrelated aspects of mental health. This study examines the relationships between psychological wellbeing, academic engagement, and mental distress in students seeking support from a University Psychological Counseling Service and evaluates the effectiveness of psychological counseling interventions in improving wellbeing and reducing distress.MethodsA mixed-method approach was adopted, incorporating both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. A total of 246 students completed self-report measures such as the Ryff's Psychological Wellbeing Scale, the SInAPSi Academic Engagement Scale, and the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation. For the longitudinal component, 90 students were assessed before (T0) and after (T1) six counseling sessions. Multiple regression and mediation analyses explored predictors of distress, while paired t-tests evaluated intervention outcomes.ResultsSelf-Acceptance (p < 0.001) and Environmental Mastery (p = 0.037) dimensions significantly predicted lower psychological distress. Academic engagement did not mediate the relationship between wellbeing and distress. Post-intervention, psychological distress decreased significantly (p < 0.001), with 56.7% of students falling over the clinical distress cut-off at T1 compared to 84.4% at T0. The Autonomy (p = 0.03) and Self-Acceptance (p = 0.002) dimensions showed significant post-intervention improvements. The current study emphasizes that mental health is a dynamic, multidimensional construct, including both psychological distress and wellbeing. Universities should integrate positive psychology into curricula and expand psychological counseling services to provide proactive support, focusing on resilience, stress management, and emotional regulation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9db410b2e5ed4e63b692d9d5afe4cd1a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-9db410b2e5ed4e63b692d9d5afe4cd1a2025-08-20T03:38:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-08-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.16020091602009From psychological wellbeing to distress: the role of psychological counseling interventions in university studentsFrancesco Craig0Gianluca Mariano Colella1Flaviana Tenuta2Martina Mauti3Antonio Gravina4Maria Luigia Calomino5Roberta Plastina6Alberto Polito7Angela Costabile8Department of Cultures, Education and Society, University of Calabria, Cosenza, ItalyDepartment of Cultures, Education and Society, University of Calabria, Cosenza, ItalyDepartment of Cultures, Education and Society, University of Calabria, Cosenza, ItalyPsychological Counseling Services, University of Calabria, Cosenza, ItalyPsychological Counseling Services, University of Calabria, Cosenza, ItalyPsychological Counseling Services, University of Calabria, Cosenza, ItalyPsychological Counseling Services, University of Calabria, Cosenza, ItalyDepartment of Cultures, Education and Society, University of Calabria, Cosenza, ItalyDepartment of Cultures, Education and Society, University of Calabria, Cosenza, ItalyIntroductionUniversity students encounter specific psychosocial challenges contributing to increasing psychological distress. The dual continua model posits that psychological wellbeing and distress are separate yet interrelated aspects of mental health. This study examines the relationships between psychological wellbeing, academic engagement, and mental distress in students seeking support from a University Psychological Counseling Service and evaluates the effectiveness of psychological counseling interventions in improving wellbeing and reducing distress.MethodsA mixed-method approach was adopted, incorporating both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. A total of 246 students completed self-report measures such as the Ryff's Psychological Wellbeing Scale, the SInAPSi Academic Engagement Scale, and the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation. For the longitudinal component, 90 students were assessed before (T0) and after (T1) six counseling sessions. Multiple regression and mediation analyses explored predictors of distress, while paired t-tests evaluated intervention outcomes.ResultsSelf-Acceptance (p < 0.001) and Environmental Mastery (p = 0.037) dimensions significantly predicted lower psychological distress. Academic engagement did not mediate the relationship between wellbeing and distress. Post-intervention, psychological distress decreased significantly (p < 0.001), with 56.7% of students falling over the clinical distress cut-off at T1 compared to 84.4% at T0. The Autonomy (p = 0.03) and Self-Acceptance (p = 0.002) dimensions showed significant post-intervention improvements. The current study emphasizes that mental health is a dynamic, multidimensional construct, including both psychological distress and wellbeing. Universities should integrate positive psychology into curricula and expand psychological counseling services to provide proactive support, focusing on resilience, stress management, and emotional regulation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1602009/fullpsychological wellbeingcounseling interventionsdual continua modeluniversity studentsacademic engagementpsychological distress |
| spellingShingle | Francesco Craig Gianluca Mariano Colella Flaviana Tenuta Martina Mauti Antonio Gravina Maria Luigia Calomino Roberta Plastina Alberto Polito Angela Costabile From psychological wellbeing to distress: the role of psychological counseling interventions in university students Frontiers in Psychology psychological wellbeing counseling interventions dual continua model university students academic engagement psychological distress |
| title | From psychological wellbeing to distress: the role of psychological counseling interventions in university students |
| title_full | From psychological wellbeing to distress: the role of psychological counseling interventions in university students |
| title_fullStr | From psychological wellbeing to distress: the role of psychological counseling interventions in university students |
| title_full_unstemmed | From psychological wellbeing to distress: the role of psychological counseling interventions in university students |
| title_short | From psychological wellbeing to distress: the role of psychological counseling interventions in university students |
| title_sort | from psychological wellbeing to distress the role of psychological counseling interventions in university students |
| topic | psychological wellbeing counseling interventions dual continua model university students academic engagement psychological distress |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1602009/full |
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