Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42436567›Full record

ArticleBMC psychology2026

Academic distress and help-seeking behavior among first year university students: A correlational study of domestic and international students in the Ethiopian higher education ecosystem.

Dinaol Urgessa Gita, Sintayehu Oljira Bekele, Shambel Leta Birae, Sintayehu Abebe Kebede, Aschalew Terefe Refu, Bonsa Shume Tefera, Fisseha Mikre Weldmeskel, Bekalu Ferede Tefera

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Article in BMC psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Dinaol Urgessa GitaDepartment of psychology, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Sintayehu Oljira BekeleDepartment of Psychology, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Mattu University, Metu, Ethiopia. oljirasentayehu314@gmail.com.
Shambel Leta BiraeDepartment of psychology, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Sintayehu Abebe KebedeDepartment of Psychology, College of Social Sciences and Humanity, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia.
Aschalew Terefe RefuDepartment of psychology, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Bonsa Shume TeferaDepartment of psychology, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Fisseha Mikre WeldmeskelDepartment of psychology, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
Bekalu Ferede TeferaDepartment of Teachers Education and Curriculum Design, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Transitions to a new educational ecosystem result in students' academic distress, particularly at the university level. Thus, this study aimed to examine academic distress and help-seeking practices among first-year domestic and international university students in the fields of Engineering and Health Sciences. The study mainly focused on academic distress and help- seeking behavior abided by the help-seeking process model and mind sponge mechanism. A quantitative correlational research design was used. A total of 361 students were selectedusing simple random sampling. Standardized questionnaires were used to measure the variables. Descriptive statistics and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) were used to achieve the study objectives. The results revealed that University students had moderate levels of help-seeking behavior and academic distress. Moreover, male students had higher academic help-seeking behavior and lower academic distress than their female counterparts; whereas academic help-seeking behavior and academic distress were lower for female students. Statistically significant sex differences were also noted in academic distress. Based on the mind sponge theory, measures for the prevention of academic distress should be targeted at the optimization of help-seeking behavior with a special focus on female students who manifest a high vulnerability to academic distress. Moreover, ways such as digital-based interventions that assist in addressing a large number of students at once also merit attention.

Indexed as

Help-Seeking BehaviorStress, PsychologicalStudentsAcademiaAdolescentAdultEthiopiaFemaleHumansMaleSex FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesUniversitiesYoung AdultAcademic distressDomestic and international studentsHelp-seeking practiceMind sponge theory

Identifiers

PMID42436567
PMCPMC13640107

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.