ABSTRACT
Many students experience the beginning of their studies at university as a time that greatly challenges their adaptation skills and ability to cope with stress. Most freshmen have to manage in a completely new environment, stay for the first time in a place that is away from their parents, create new social contacts, and adapt to a new learning approach. A large number of students experience this transitory period as a kind of crisis that can be handled more or less successfully. In a longitudinal study about the effects of strain and resources on the health of students (N=1,384) during the first year of studies, we have found that: (1) good social relationships among students studying within the same subject area constituted a central protective factor for their health, and that (2) the existence of social resources varied significantly depending on the area of study (Bachmann, Berta, Eggli, & Hornung, 1999). The social networks among students in the social sciences and arts were smaller, and they reported less satisfaction with their support in comparison to those studying natural and technical sciences.
