An Effect of Perceived Social Support on Psychological Distress Among Engineering Students

Abstract

The present study relies on the effect of perceived social support with respect to psychological distress among engineering graduates. The study comprises of 146 engineering students as samples, by using the technique of simple random sampling method. The multi-dimensional scale for perceived social support (MSPSS) and Kessler psychological distress scale (K10) were used to establish the relationship between perceived social support and psychological distress. Pearson correlation coefficient, independent sample t test, one-way ANOVA analysis and simple linear regression analysis has been used to predict the psychological distress in accordance with perceived social support and the test results obtained were resulted in negative correlation. In addition to this, the independent sample t test determined that gender has no significant differences between perceived social supports as well as the psychological distress. The one-way ANOVA analysis revealed that there is a statistically significant difference in the perceived social support and psychological distress with respect to branch of study, age whereas the year of study was significant only with psychological distress. Simple linear Regression analysis determined that perceived social support is a good predictor of psychological distress among the specified population.