The Relationship between Proactive Personality, Individual Innovation, and Mental Health among University Students

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of proactive personality and individual innovation characteristics of university students on their mental health. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among students of Yozgat Bozok University in 2022. Data was collected using a sociodemographic information form, Individual Innovation Scale (IIS), Proactive Personality Scale (PPS), and the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21). The questionnaire forms were presented to students online through Google Forms. Results: The proportion of students who rated their overall health as very good, moderate, or poor was 34.0%, 28.6%, and 37.4%, respectively. The mean scores for the anxiety, depression, and stress subscales of the DASS were 6.0±3.7, 6.8±4.4, and 7.4±3.8, respectively. The proportion of students with advanced or very advanced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress was 31.5%, 17.0%, and 9.8%, respectively. The PPS and IIS scores of the students, their age, and their parents' educational levels did not have a significant effect on the level of anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms. Conclusion:Anxiety was found to be the most common mental health problem among university students, followed by depression and stress. There was no relationship between the students' proactive personality, individual innovation characteristics, and their mental health.