The purpose of this study was to explore the psychosocial factors related to negative thinking in college freshmen. A descriptive correlative design was used with college freshmen (N=1,069) at a university in northern Taiwan. The measurements included: Crandell Cognitions Inventory (CCI), Interaction and Anxiety Scales (IAS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), rating scales for attachment style, College Student Coping Strategy Scale, and College Student Life Stress Scale. The results of this study included: 6.5% (n=60) of the subjects were negative thinking. Significant predictors of negative thinking were: having thought of suicide (OR=3.086, 95% CI=1.699, 5.605), self-esteem (OR=7.455, 95% CI=2.576, 21.579), attachment (avoidance of attachment was more prevalent) (OR=4.330, 95% CI=1.638, 11.447), life stress (OR=2.558, 95% CI=1.167, 5.610), coping strategy involving the seeking of social support to solve problems (OR=3.082, 95% CI=1.523, 6.237), and passive resignation (OR=3.485, 95% CI=1.471, 8.257). The recognition and prevention of negative thinking are imperative to the well-being of college students, helping them to develop positive thinking and prevent depression.
The purpose of this study was to explore the psychosocial factors related to negative thinking in college freshmen. A descriptive correlative design was used with college freshmen (N=1,069) at a university in northern Taiwan. The measurements included: Crandell Cognitions Inventory (CCI), Interaction and Anxiety Scales (IAS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), rating scales for attachment style, College Student Coping Strategy Scale, and College Student Life Stress Scale. The results of this study included: 6.5% (n=60) of the subjects were negative thinking. Significant predictors of negative thinking were: having thought of suicide (OR=3.086, 95% CI=1.699, 5.605), self-esteem (OR=7.455, 95% CI=2.576, 21.579), attachment (avoidance of attachment was more prevalent) (OR=4.330, 95% CI=1.638, 11.447), life stress (OR=2.558, 95% CI=1.167, 5.610), coping strategy involving the seeking of social support to solve problems (OR=3.082, 95% CI=1.523, 6.237), and passive resignation (OR=3.485, 95% CI=1.471, 8.257). The recognition and prevention of negative thinking are imperative to the well-being of college students, helping them to develop positive thinking and prevent depression.