“How Do I Start Strong?”: Exploring the Subjective Well-Being, Beliefs, and Lifestyles of First-Year University Students in the UK

Mental well-being is an integral part of university students’ overall well-being, and has been a matter of increasing concern in the UK. The main purpose of this study was to examine the subjective well-being of first-year university students in the UK by investigating the impact of their beliefs and lifestyles on their overall well-being, as well as the factors contributing to such changes. A total of 197 participants, including domestic and international students with ages ranging from 18 to 24, completed a survey assessing subjective well-being, beliefs, lifestyles, and demographic information. Thirty-one of the participants took part in the follow-up interviews. The findings revealed diverse experiences among students, including variations in well-being, belief systems, and lifestyles. Key findings of the research include all three categories of subjective well-being (i.e., emotional, social, and physical well-being) were positively correlated with both philosophical and religious beliefs, and negatively correlated with inactive community engagement. This study also revealed that personal beliefs and lifestyles had an important impact on these changes. This paper discusses the implications of these findings for university support services, and offers insights into the challenges and experiences of first-year students.