Situational and personality factors of students’ adaptation preparedness
Authors:   Saratov State University, Shamionov Rail M. , Sharov Aleksey A. ,   Saratov State University
Published: November 2024

Introduction. The relevance of studying situational and personality factors of students’ adaptation preparedness is conditioned by the growing uncertainty of the future and the increasingly stressful conditions of social life. The study of adaptation preparedness factors is conditioned by the demand for psychological and pedagogical support of students at different stages of professionalisation at the university. The aim of the study is to identify the situational and personality factors of students’ adaptation preparedness and their correlation with regard for the significance, uncertainty and stressfulness of situations in the higher education environment. Materials and methods. The survey involved a number of higher education organisations of Saratov and its administrative region, Volgograd and Moscow (n=385) and was based on the following diagnostic toolkit: M.V. Grigoriev’s method of diagnosing adaptation preparedness of a personality, A.V. Zverkov’s and E.V. Eidman’s test-questionnaire “Study of volitional self-regulation”, V.I. Morosanova’s questionnaire “Self-regulation behaviour style – SBS-98”, as well as the author’s questioning scales in the context of assessing the learning environment situational parameters with regard for the significance, stressfulness and uncertainty of situations in the educational environment. Data processing was carried out using the IBM SPSS Statistics 27 package and AMOS software. The statistical procedures included descriptive statistics calculations, Pearson’s correlation analysis, stepwise regression analysis, and moderation effect assessment procedure. Results. The students’ reported situations of greatest significance included lectures (3.81), practical classes (4.19), interaction with classmates having good relations with the respondent (4.40), and proper relations with the administration (4.01). Positive correlations were revealed between the adaptation preparedness indicators, the significance of situational factors and the pronouncement of personality-associated factors within the range of (0.103-0.631), as well as negative correlations between the adaptation preparedness components and independence within the range of (-0.126 – -0.225). The regression analysis revealed positive personality predictors of adaptive preparedness (perseverance (β= 0.223), flexibility (β= 0.281), modelling (β= 0.168), programming (β= 0.143) and self-control (β= 0.186)) and negative predictors represented by autonomy (β= -0.169). The significance of interaction with classmates having good relations with the respondent is a positive situational predictor (β= 0.198), while the negative predictors are represented by the stressfulness of practical classes (β= -0.168) and the significance of interaction with classmates negatively treating the respondent (β= -0.169). The subsequent moderation analysis of the interrelationship between assessing a situation (as significant, stressful and uncertain) and self-regulation revealed the pronounced level of personal self-regulation [β=0.521; R2=0.32] and marked assessment of situation uncertainty [β= -0.139; R2=0.02]. Conclusion. The obtained results may be of interest both for researchers exploring adaptation issues and practising psychologists providing support to students at a higher education organisation.