Social Well-Being in university students

Students were surveyed at a private liberal arts university as to their social well-being. Students were found to have a number of concerns. As measured by the General Well-Being Schedule, students were found to show signs of moderate to severe distress, especially in terms of depression and concerns about their health and vitality. High social well-being was found to be associated with students who viewed themselves as healthy and were integrated with, and concerned about, others. Low social well-being was associated with students who were in college for primarily instrumental reasons and who lacked social integration.This study was supported by a grant from the Ford Foundation and the University of San Francisco's Institute for Non-Profit Organization Management.Received B.A. in sociology from Westmont College, M.A. in sociology from Marquette University, and Ph.D. in sociology from Washington State University. Currently conducting research on volunteering and nonprofit organizations, religious nonprofit organizations, and substance abuse among adolescents and college students.