Affiliations: Research Unit INSIDE, University of Luxembourg, Walferdange, Luxembourg
Note: [] Corresponding author: Prof. Michèle Baumann, Research Unit INSIDE,
University of Luxembourg, L7201 Walferdange, Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, Luxembourg. E-mail: michele.baumann@uni.lu
Abstract: BACKGROUND: With increasing access at European universities,
supporting and promoting the high education, students' mental well-being and
generic employability capacities have become priorities, but their respective
influences, after an adaptation period of seven months, remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: Our aims were to analyse the relationships between students'
well-being and self-perceived academic employability skills, and other social
and environmental factors. METHODS: Three hundred and twenty-one freshmen students at the end of
their first year completed an online questionnaire. Two instruments were used
to assess well-being: the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), which explores
psychological suffering, and the psychological quality of life subdomain of the
Whoqol-bref. RESULTS: Psychological Whoqol-bref scores are linked to the
academic employability skills (AES) items of drafting, critical spirit,
problem-solving, teamwork, and supervision/direction of others, and has
positive effects on AES score and on the following Whoqol-bref domains:
physical, social relationships and environmental. Although three of six
psychological Whoqol-bref items (ability to concentrate, satisfaction with
self, negative feelings) are correlated with GHQ-12 items (sleeping,
decision-making, feeling under strain, problem-solving, depression,
self-confidence, thinking about self, feeling happy). GHQ-12 score is
negatively linked with Whoqol-bref physical. CONCLUSIONS: For better quality of life, and improved employability skills, innovative activities
should be developed to ascertain the sustainable academic's abilities of
students.
