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A Comparison of South African and International First-Year Students’ Counselling Needs and Preferred Counselling Sources

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 November 2012

Lionel Nicholas ,
Maria Damianova  and
Mzamo Ntantiso
Lionel Nicholas*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Monash South Africa (a campus of Monash University, Australia), South Africa
Maria Damianova
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Monash South Africa (a campus of Monash University, Australia), South Africa
Mzamo Ntantiso
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Monash South Africa (a campus of Monash University, Australia), South Africa
*
address for correspondence: Lionel Nicholas, Department of Psychology, Monash South Africa, Private Bag X 60, Roodepoort, 1725, South Africa. Email: lionel.nicholas@monash.edu
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Abstract

This study investigated the personal, career and learning skill needs of first-year university students, their preferred counselling sources, and compared South African and international students. Respondents completed a structured questionnaire (N = 567) with more than half reporting a moderate to high need for assistance with their concerns. Women had a significantly greater need for assistance with the bulk of listed concerns than men. International students had a significantly greater need for assistance than South African students and were particularly concerned about xenophobia. These results may assist administrators and counsellors to develop strategies to address identified student needs.

Keywords

careercounselling needscounselling sourceslearning skillsstudent problems
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , June 2013 , pp. 106 - 114
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2012

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