The aim of this study is to investigate the role of personality traits and student academic and social college adjustment to their overall life satisfaction and depression. Sample of 492 freshmen completed a battery of measures (Student Adjustment to College Questionnaire, Big Five Questionnaire, The Life Orientation Test - Revised and Beck Depression Inventory). Hierarchical regression analyses (method enter) are used to analyze the contribution of predictor variables on life satisfaction and depression in the group of male and female students. After controlling for the personality traits, college adjustment had a significant contribution to student depression and life satisfaction. Optimism has a significant protective role only with male, but not with female students. |