The Relationship Between Peer and Familial Social Support and Mental Well-Being of Indonesian College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abstract
Introduction: Student mental well-being was a concern prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. During COVID-19, mental health problems increased due to heightened anxiety and concern. Family and friends' support plays a crucial role in maintaining students' mental health. This study examines the impact of social support on students' mental well-being during the pandemic.
Methods: This analytic observational study employed a cross-sectional design with a total of 400 active student participants. Psychometric instruments used in this study were the Sallis Social Support Scale and the short version of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS-7). Data were analyzed using Spearman correlation to determine the relationship between family and friends' support and students' mental well-being.
Results: There was no significant relationship between family support and students’ mental well-being. However, only support from friends showed a statistically significant positive relationship with students' mental well-being (r = 0.176, p = 0.001), while support from family was not significantly associated (p = 0.073).
Conclusion: Social support from friends played a crucial role in maintaining students' mental well-being during COVID-19. Encouraging peer support, such as reminding each other to complete tasks, can positively influence mental health.
References
Cara NH Di, Winstone L, Sloan L, Davis OSP, Haworth CMA. The mental health and well-being pro fi le of young adults using social media. 2022;1–11.
Dienlin T, Johannes N. The impact of digital technology use on adolescent well-being. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2020;22(2):135–42.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Children & Young People ’ s Mental Health in the Digital Age. Oecd. 2018;16.
Diyana KP, Jatnika R. Meta-Analysis Studies: The Relationship between Social Support and Psychological Well-Being among Adolescents in Indonesia. European Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences. 2022;2(1):64–71.
Seehuus M, Moeller RW, Peisch V. Gender effects on mental health symptoms and treatment in college students. Journal of American College Health. 2021 Jan 2;69(1):95–102.
Guo K, Zhang X, Bai S, Minhat HS, Nazan AINM, Feng J, et al. Assessing social support impact on depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate students in Shaanxi province during the COVID-19 pandemic of China. PLoS One. 2021 Jul 23;16(7):e0253891.
Asher BlackDeer MPCA, Patterson Silver Wolf PDA, Maguin PE, Beeler-Stinn PS. Depression and anxiety among college students: Understanding the impact on grade average and differences in gender and ethnicity. Journal of American College Health. 2023 May 4;71(4):1091–102.
Plenty S, Bracegirdle C, Dollmann J, Spiegler O. Changes in young adults’ mental well-being before and during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic: disparities between ethnic groups in Germany. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2021;15(1):1–14.
James M, Jones H, Baig A, Marchant E, Waites T, Todd C, et al. Factors influencing wellbeing in young people during COVID-19: A survey with 6291 young people in Wales. PLoS One. 2021;16(12 December):1–17.
Owens M, Townsend E, Hall E, Bhatia T, Fitzgibbon R, Miller-Lakin F. Mental Health and Wellbeing in Young People in the UK during Lockdown (COVID-19). Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(3).
Sun Y, Lin SY, Chung KKH. University students’ perceived peer support and experienced depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: The mediating role of emotional well-being. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(24):1–13.
Chaudhary AP, Sonar NS, TR J, Banerjee M, Yadav S. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of College Students in India: Cross-sectional Web-Based Study. JMIRx Med. 2021;2(3):e28158.
Hewitt R. Students’ views on the impact of Coronavirus on their higher education experience in 2020/21. HEPI YouthSight (Policy Note 27). 2020;(December 2020):1–10.
Cobo-Rendón R, López-Angulo Y, Pérez-Villalobos MV, Díaz-Mujica A. Perceived Social Support and Its Effects on Changes in the Affective and Eudaimonic Well-Being of Chilean University Students. Front Psychol. 2020;11(December).
Santini ZI, Koyanagi A, Tyrovolas S, Mason C, Haro JM. The association between social relationships and depression: A systematic review. J Affect Disord. 2015;175:53–65.
Ataee RA, Kahani MS, Alishiri GH, Ahamadi Z. Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A Detection from Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients’ Blood and Synovial Fluid. Electron Physician. 2016;8(2):1850–6.
Santini ZI, Koyanagi A, Tyrovolas S, Mason C, Haro JM. The association between social relationships and depression: A systematic review. J Affect Disord. 2015;175:53–65.
Poots A, Cassidy T. Academic expectation, self-compassion, psychological capital, social support and student wellbeing. Int J Educ Res. 2020;99:101506.
Cobo-Rendón R, López-Angulo Y, Pérez-Villalobos MV, Díaz-Mujica A. Perceived Social Support and Its Effects on Changes in the Affective and Eudaimonic Well-Being of Chilean University Students. Front Psychol. 2020;11(December).
Rahman HA, Amornsriwatanakul A, Abdul-Mumin KH, Agustiningsih D, Chaiyasong S, Chia M, et al. Prevalence of Health-Risk Behaviors and Mental Well-Being of ASEAN University Students in COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jul;19(14):8528.
Shensa A, Sidani JE, Escobar-Viera CG, Switzer GE, Primack BA, Choukas-Bradley S. Emotional support from social media and face-to-face relationships: Associations with depression risk among young adults. J Affect Disord. 2020;260:38–44.
Barrera-Herrera A, Vinet E V. Adultez Emergente y características culturales de la etapa en universitarios chilenos. Terapia psicológica. 2017;35(1):47–56.
Barrera-Herrera A, Neira-Cofré M, Raipán-Gómez P, Riquelme-Lobos P, Escobar B. Perceived social support and socio-demographic factors in relation to symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress in Chilean university students. Revista de Psicopatologia y Psicologia Clinica. 2019;24(2):105–15.
Li F, Luo S, Mu W, Li Y, Ye L, Zheng X, et al. Effects of sources of social support and resilience on the mental health of different age groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Psychiatry. 2021;21(1):1–14.
van der Zanden PJAC, Denessen E, Cillessen AHN, Meijer PC. Domains and predictors of first-year student success: A systematic review. Educ Res Rev. 2018;23(December 2017):57–77.
Poots A, Cassidy T. Academic expectation, self-compassion, psychological capital, social support and student wellbeing. Int J Educ Res. 2020;99:101506.
Malkoç A, Mutlu AK. Mediating the effect of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between psychological well-being and self-confidence: A study on Turkish university students. International Journal of Higher Education. 2019;8(6):278–87.
Biasi V, De Vincenzo C, Patrizi N. Cognitive strategies, motivation to learning, levels of wellbeing and risk of drop-out: An empirical longitudinal study for qualifying ongoing university guidance services. Journal of Educational and Social Research. 2018;8(2):79–91.
Malkoç A, Mutlu AK. Mediating the effect of cognitive flexibility in the relationship between psychological well-being and self-confidence: A study on Turkish university students. International Journal of Higher Education. 2019;8(6):278–87.
Figueira CP, Marques-Pinto A, Pereira CR, Roberto MS. How can Academic Context Variables Contribute to the Personal Well-Being of Higher Education Students? Spanish Journal of Psychology. 2017;20(January).
Cobo-Rendón R, López-Angulo Y, Pérez-Villalobos MV, Díaz-Mujica A. Perceived Social Support and Its Effects on Changes in the Affective and Eudaimonic Well-Being of Chilean University Students. Front Psychol. 2020;11:1–12.
Zhang Y, Chen M. Character strengths, strengths use, future self-continuity and subjective well-being among Chinese University Students. Front Psychol. 2018;9(JUN):1–14.
Teresa MT, Guss CD, Boyd L. Thriving during COVID-19: Predictors of psychological well-being and ways of coping. PLoS One. 2021;16(3 March):1–19.
Akbar Z, Aisyawati MS. Coping Strategy, Social Support, and Psychological Distress Among University Students in Jakarta, Indonesia During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Psychol. 2021;12(August):1–7.
Alnazly E, Khraisat OM, Al-Bashaireh AM, Bryant CL. Anxiety, depression, stress, fear and social support during COVID-19 pandemic among Jordanian healthcare workers. PLoS One. 2021;16(3 March).
Sholihah IF, Nurmala I, Sulistyowati M, Devy SR. The impact physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among adolescents: a systematic literature review. International Journal of Public Health Science (IJPHS). 2022 Mar;11(1):69.
Akbar Z, Aisyawati MS. Coping Strategy, Social Support, and Psychological Distress Among University Students in Jakarta, Indonesia During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Psychol. 2021;12(August):1–7.
Sallis JF, Grossman RM, Pinski RB, Patterson TL, Nader PR. The development of scales to measure social support for diet and exercise behaviors. Prev Med (Baltim). 1987;16(6):825–36.
Noroozi A, Ghofranipour F, Heydarnia AR, Nabipour I, Shokravi FA. Validity and Reliability of the Social Support Scale for Exercise Behavior in Diabetic Women. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health. 2011 Sep;23(5):730–41.
Koushede V, Lasgaard M, Hinrichsen C, Meilstrup C, Nielsen L, Rayce SB, et al. Measuring mental well-being in Denmark: Validation of the original and short version of the Warwick-Edinburgh mental well-being scale (WEMWBS and SWEMWBS) and cross-cultural comparison across four European settings. Psychiatry Res. 2019;271(December 2018):502–9.
Seehuus M, Moeller RW, Peisch V. Gender effects on mental health symptoms and treatment in college students. Journal of American College Health. 2021;69(1):95–102.
Guo K, Zhang X, Bai S, Minhat HS, Nazan AINM, Feng J, et al. Assessing social support impact on depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate students in Shaanxi province during the COVID-19 pandemic of China. PLoS One. 2021;16(July):1–10.
Seehuus M, Moeller RW, Peisch V. Gender effects on mental health symptoms and treatment in college students. Journal of American College Health. 2021;69(1):95–102.
Guo K, Zhang X, Bai S, Minhat HS, Nazan AINM, Feng J, et al. Assessing social support impact on depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate students in Shaanxi province during the COVID-19 pandemic of China. PLoS One. 2021;16(July):1–10.
Al Dhaheri AS, Bataineh MF, Mohamad MN, Ajab A, Al Marzouqi A, Jarrar AH, et al. Impact of COVID-19 on mental health and quality of life: Is there any effect? A crosssectional study of the MENA region. PLoS One. 2021;16(3 March):1–17.
Blackdeer AA, Patterson DA, Wolf S, Maguin E, Beeler-stinn S, Asher A, et al. Depression and anxiety among college students : Understanding the impact on grade average and differences in gender and ethnicity. 2021;
Bryson BA, Bogart KR. Social support, stress, and life satisfaction among adults with rare diseases. Health Psychology. 2020 Oct;39(10):912–20.
Grey I, Arora T, Thomas J, Saneh A, Tohme P, Abi-habib R. Since January 2020 Elsevier has created a COVID-19 resource centre with free information in English and Mandarin on the novel coronavirus COVID- 19 . The COVID-19 resource centre is hosted on Elsevier Connect , the company ’ s public news and information. Psychiatry Res. 2020;293(January).
Ye Z, Yang X, Zeng C, Wang Y, Shen Z, Li X, et al. Resilience, Social Support, and Coping as Mediators between COVID-19-related Stressful Experiences and Acute Stress Disorder among College Students in China. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2020;12(4):1074–94.
Ma Z, Zhao J, Li Y, Chen D, Wang T, Zhang Z, et al. Mental health problems and correlates among 746 217 college students during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak in China. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2020;
Qi M, Zhou SJ, Guo ZC, Zhang LG, Min HJ, Li XM, et al. The Effect of Social Support on Mental Health in Chinese Adolescents During the Outbreak of COVID-19. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2020;67(4):514–8.
Huang L, Zhang T. Perceived Social Support, Psychological Capital, and Subjective Well-Being among College Students in the Context of Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Asia-Pacific Education Researcher. 2021;31(5):563–74.
Liu C, Huang N, Fu M, Zhang H, Feng XL, Guo J. Relationship between risk perception, social support, and mental health among general chinese population during the covid-19 pandemic. Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2021;14:1843–53.
Grey I, Arora T, Thomas J, Saneh A, Tohme P, Abi-habib R. Since January 2020 Elsevier has created a COVID-19 resource centre with free information in English and Mandarin on the novel coronavirus COVID- 19 . The COVID-19 resource centre is hosted on Elsevier Connect , the company ’ s public news and information. Psychiatry Res. 2020;293(January).
Ye Z, Yang X, Zeng C, Wang Y, Shen Z, Li X, et al. Resilience, Social Support, and Coping as Mediators between COVID-19-related Stressful Experiences and Acute Stress Disorder among College Students in China. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2020;12(4):1074–94.
Qi M, Zhou SJ, Guo ZC, Zhang LG, Min HJ, Li XM, et al. The Effect of Social Support on Mental Health in Chinese Adolescents During the Outbreak of COVID-19. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2020;67(4):514–8.
Huang L, Zhang T. Perceived Social Support, Psychological Capital, and Subjective Well-Being among College Students in the Context of Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Asia-Pacific Education Researcher. 2021;31(5):563–74.
Defina D, Rizkillah R. Problems, Stress, Social Support, and Coping Strategies During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Case of International College Students in Indonesia. Jurnal Ilmu Keluarga dan Konsumen. 2021;14(3):282–95.
Huang Y, Su X, Si M, Xiao W, Wang H, Wang W, et al. The impacts of coping style and perceived social support on the mental health of undergraduate students during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in China: a multicenter survey. BMC Psychiatry. 2021;21(1):1–12.
Campione-Barr N, Rote W, Killoren SE, Rose AJ. Adolescent Adjustment During COVID-19: The Role of Close Relationships and COVID-19-related Stress. Journal of Research on Adolescence. 2021;31(3):608–22.
Woon LSC, Sidi H, Jaafar NRN, Bin Abdullah MFIL. Mental health status of university healthcare workers during the covid-19 pandemic: A post–movement lockdown assessment. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(24):1–20.
Nguyen TTP, Nguyen TT, Dam VTA, Vu TTM, Do HT, Vu GT, et al. Mental wellbeing among urban young adults in a developing country: A Latent Profile Analysis. Front Psychol. 2022;13(September):1–13.
Dedryver CC, Knai C. ‘It’s Easily the Lowest I’ve Ever, Ever Got to’: A Qualitative Study of Young Adults’ Social Isolation during the COVID-19 Lockdowns in the UK. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(22).
Knight H, Carlisle S, O’connor M, Briggs L, Fothergill L, Al-Oraibi A, et al. Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and self-isolation on students and staff in higher education: A qualitative study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(20):1–16.
Lee J, Solomon M, Stead T, Kwon B, Ganti L. Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of US college students. BMC Psychol. 2021;9(1):1–10.
Huang Y, Su X, Si M, Xiao W, Wang H, Wang W, et al. The impacts of coping style and perceived social support on the mental health of undergraduate students during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in China: a multicenter survey. BMC Psychiatry. 2021;21(1):1–12.
Nguyen TTP, Nguyen TT, Dam VTA, Vu TTM, Do HT, Vu GT, et al. Mental wellbeing among urban young adults in a developing country: A Latent Profile Analysis. Front Psychol. 2022;13(September):1–13.
Ghasemi V, Simbar M, Fakari FR, Naz MSG, Kiani Z. The effect of peer education on health promotion of iranian adolescents: A systematic review. International Journal of Pediatrics-Mashhad. 2019;7(3):9139–57.
Yati D, Rachman I, Ikka W. The effect of peer education to anxiety of teenagers in post menarche in sub district Kasihan Bantul, Indonesia. Int J Res Med Sci. 2015;3(1):S10–8.
Topping KJ. Peer Education and Peer Counselling for Health and Well-Being: A Review of Reviews. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(10).
Copyright (c) 2025 Media Publikasi Promosi Kesehatan Indonesia (MPPKI)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with Media Publikasi Promosi Kesehatan Indonesia retain the copyright of their work. The journal applies a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0), which grants the following rights:
-
Copyright Retention: Authors retain the copyright of their work, maintaining full control over their intellectual property without restrictions.
-
Right of First Publication: Authors grant the journal the right of first publication of their work. This ensures that the work is initially published and credited in Media Publikasi Promosi Kesehatan Indonesia.
-
License to Share and Reuse: The work is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, allowing others to copy, distribute, remix, and build upon the work for any purpose, even commercially, as long as proper credit is given to the authors, and any new creations are licensed under the same terms.
