LEVEL OF PRACTICING SELF-CARE TECHNIQUES IN ACHIEVING MENTAL HEALTH AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS AT NAJRAN UNIVERSITY IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

Self-care techniques are vital to building resilience and well-preparedness to cope with the pressures and adaptive problems experienced by undergraduate students that affect their psychological well-being and achievement. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the level of practicing self-care techniques in achieving mental health among university students and the differences therein according to the variables of the academic year and the type of college. The study used the descriptive survey method; an electronic questionnaire was applied via Google Drive, consisting of 26 items distributed in five domains: good sleep technique, healthy food technique, relaxation and meditation technique, exercise technique, and social care technique. The study sample consisted of 404 female students from the humanities and scientific faculties at Najran University in the south of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the academic year 2022/2023. To draw the study results, descriptive statistical methods were used (means, standard deviations, t-test for independent samples, one-way analysis of variance, and multiple comparisons by Scheffe's method). The most prominent results of the study were that the responses of the study sample about the practice of self-care techniques in achieving mental health among Najran University female students were average. In addition, there are statistically significant differences in the level of practicing self-care techniques to achieve mental health among female students at Najran University in terms of the study sample due to the variable of the academic year in favor of the third and fourth years or more. In addition, there were differences due to the variable of the type of college in favor of scientific colleges. The study recommended developing a comprehensive strategic plan supervised by the central counseling units in Saudi universities and practicing self-care techniques among university students to achieve good levels of mental health. Keywords: Self-Care, Mental Health, University Students, Saudi Arabia DOI： https://doi.org/10.35741/issn.0258-2724.58.4.96