Investigation of university students’ self-acceptance and learned resourcefulness: a longitudinal study

Self-acceptance and learned resourcefulness of university students are important concepts in coping with the environmental and developmental stressors and in the development of healthy personality. In this study, university students’ self acceptance and learned resourcefulness levels were investigated longitudinally. 198 university students’ self acceptance and learned resourcefulness scores were collected by Self Acceptance Scale and Rosenbaum’s Self-Control Scale in their first and eighth semesters. The findings revealed that in general, the students’ self-acceptance level increased significantly in the 4-year period. With respect to gender, the self-acceptance level of female students was found to increase during their university education, while no significant difference was observed in that of male students. Moreover, there was no change in the level of their learned resourcefulness in the 4-year period in terms of gender. As a result, it is understood that university life includes significant experiences for students’ self-acceptance, especially for female students, and that university life does not cause any significant increase in the level of learned resourcefulness. Therefore, there is a great need for programs that will increase the resourcefulness levels of university students during their university lives.

[1]  M. Rosenbaum.  Individual differences in self-control behaviors and tolerance of painful stimulation. , 1980, Journal of abnormal psychology.

[2]  M. Rosenbaum,et al.  A schedule for assessing self-control behaviors: Preliminary findings. , 1980 .

[3]  M. Rosenbaum,et al.  Self-control behavior in hyperactive and nonhyperactive children , 1984, Journal of abnormal child psychology.

[4]  M. Rosenbaum,et al.  Learned helplessness and learned resourcefulness: effects of noncontingent success and failure on individuals differing in self-control skills. , 1985, Journal of personality and social psychology.

[5]  M. Rosenbaum,et al.  Self-control under stress: The role of learned resourcefulness☆ , 1989 .

[6]  J. West,et al.  Learned Resourcefulness and Situation-Specific Coping with Stress , 1989 .

[7]  K. Carey,et al.  Learned resourcefulness, drinking, and smoking in young adults. , 1990, The Journal of psychology.

[8]  Denetim Odağı ve Kendini Kabul Arasındaki İlişkiler , 1991 .

[9]  D. J. Kennett,et al.  Academic self-management counselling: Preliminary evidence for the importance of learned resourcefulness on program success , 1994 .

[10]  D. J. Kennett,et al.  Co-operative learning in a university setting: Evidence for the importance of learned resourcefulness , 1996 .

[11]  D. J. Kennett,et al.  The influence of body mass index and learned resourcefulness skills on body image and lifestyle practises. , 1998, Patient education and counseling.

[12]  The impact of perceived parenting styles on attachment styles, self-evaluations and close relationships , 1999 .

[13]  M. Rosenbaum,et al.  Equalitarian Marriages, Spousal Support, Resourcefulness, and Psychological Distress among Israeli Working Women , 1999 .

[14]  M. Vollrath.  Personality and hassles among university students: a three‐year longitudinal study , 2000 .

[15]  J. Arnett.  Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. , 2000, The American psychologist.

[16]  G. Moneta,et al.  The Interplay of Autonomy and Relatedness in Hong Kong Chinese Single Mothers , 2002 .

[17]  M. Rosenbaum,et al.  Self-control behaviors and coping with seasickness , 1983, Cognitive Therapy and Research.

[18]  V. Sousa,et al.  Depressive symptoms and learned resourcefulness among Taiwanese female adolescents. , 2005, Archives of psychiatric nursing.

[19]  Kateryna V. Keefer,et al.  Impact of Learned Resourcefulness and Theories of Intelligence on Academic Achievement of University Students: An integrated approach , 2006 .

[20]  Bayram Bıçak,et al.  Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Psikolojik Sorunları , 2006 .

[21]  A. A. Ceyhan.  An Investigation of Adjustment Levels of Turkish University Students with Respect to Perceived Communication Skill Levels , 2006 .

[22]  D. J. Kennett,et al.  Variables contributing to academic success in an intermediate statistics course: the importance of learned resourcefulness , 2009 .

[23]  D. J. Kennett,et al.  Factors influencing academic success and retention following a 1st-year post-secondary success course , 2009 .