Guidelines to Strengthen Mental Health of Undergraduate Students at Universities in Eastern Thailand
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Abstract
This research aimed to examine the factors influencing the mental health of undergraduate students at public universities in Eastern Thailand. The study focused on undergraduate students enrolled in public universities located in the Eastern region of Thailand, specifically in Prachinburi, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Rayong, and Chanthaburi provinces. Data were collected from 500 students selected via a multi-stage sampling method, with the sample size determined based on the N:Q rule. The research instrument, validated with IOC values ranging from 0.50 to 1.00 and a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.95, was an online questionnaire. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was performed using AMOS to test the research hypotheses and assess the model's fit. The findings revealed that social support had direct and indirect positive influences on coping strategies , work-life balance, and career satisfaction coping strategies significantly supported mental health and helped students maintain a balance between education and personal life, which in turn increased career satisfaction. SEM analysis demonstrated an excellent model fit with the empirical data: X2 = 194.962, df = 165, p = .055, X2/df = 1.182, GFI = .962, CFI = .962, and RMSEA = .019. The coefficient of determination (R2) indicated that the model could explain 44% of the variance in career satisfaction. These findings suggest that universities should establish comprehensive social support systems and promote effective coping strategies to enhance students' work-life balance and long-term career satisfaction.
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References
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