Levels of Mental Health among University Students: A Comparative Study Between Public and Private University

Abstract

The study was carried out to examine the levels of mental health among university students, the public and private university students were constituted the population of the study, the sample of the study consist 455 students (Jadara university 203 and Yarmouk university 252 students) representing the existing socio-economic classes: low, middle, and high classes, they are similar in age ranging from 18- 45 years, the levels of mental health of university students was measured with the help of General Health Questionnaire founded Goldberg & Willems. The findings of the study revealed that the level of mental health among students in private universities are higher than level of mental health among students in public university. Also, the study points out that there are statistically differences between the groups in Psychosomatic mental health, Anxiety freedom, and depression freedom in favor of Jadara university students who are presents the private university. Final, the results showed that there are no statistically differences in levels of mental health based on age and Gender variables.

Mental health can be defined as a state of psychological contentment, or the condition when there is no mental illness. It is the psychological state of someone who is functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional level and behavioral adjustment (Jonynien & Kern,2012). In the content of positive psychology, mental health may involve an individual's capacity to cherish life, and amination at alliance between his/her action in life and endeavor to accomplish psychological adjustability. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health indicates "subjective well-being, perceived self-efficacy, autonomy, competence, inter-generational dependence, and self-actualization of one's intellectual and emotional potential, among others (Gilbert & Morawski, 2005). The WHO, additionally, points out that the individual well-being revolves around the recognition of their capabilities, adapting to standard stresses of life, creative world, and support to their community (Corey, 2009). Sigmund Freuds definition of mental health as the capacity to world and to love (Bani Yonis, 2007).  Is widely acknowledge by mental health specialists.