Personal and university online social support helping students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a moderation analysis

Walker, Sarah-Kay (2021) Personal and university online social support helping students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a moderation analysis. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

Social supports can provide physical and/or emotional support, in which the student receiving the support will benefit from it. Using the stressor-strain model and the Negativity Buffer Theory I answer: does perceived online social support (university offered and personal use) moderate the relationship between financial and illness threat (stressors) and well-being and anxiety (strains) specifically in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic? Using survey methodology, 167 participants were asked about perceived social support, stressors, anxiety, and well-being. Results indicate personal and university online social support moderated the relationship between perceived financial threat and well-being, however not in the way hypothesized. These results were replicated with anxiety. Results also showed that online social support (personal and university-provided) did not moderate the relationships between illness threat and both well-being and anxiety. I discuss potential recommendations to universities regarding what resources students are finding useful and where additional efforts could be beneficial.

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