UniMatter reseach

UNIMATTER – University Students Matter!

EUniWell Seed Funding international university well-being project 2023/24

The main objective of the project is a large-scale student wellbeing survey covering all faculties and year groups of Semmelweis University.

⇒ I participate in the survey

DO I MATTER?

The main focus and novelty of the research is the assessment of perceived mattering. This psychosocial characteristic expresses how one feels when subjectively perceiving they are important, seen, and accepted in their relationships. Perceived mattering is an important determinant of psychosocial well-being, positive self-esteem and even academic success. In this project, mattering is assessed in general and in academic contexts, using a questionnaire and focus group interview methods.

The mental state and well-being of students matter. The results of this research will shape a future student support system. Your responses and opinions matter! 

HOW AM I WHEN I FEEL WELL?

Main areas of the survey:

• subjective well-being
• psychosocial health indicators
• perceived mattering
• self-esteem and self-efficacy
• test anxiety, procrastination
• positive feelings in social relationships

The aim is to assess which psychosocial factors help students achieve higher subjective well-being and better academic performance.

Participants in the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win a matching gift: 27 places in various self-awareness sessions. You can indicate your participation in the draw by filling in the questionnaire. The programs will take place in the autumn semester of the 2024/25 academic year.

2×6 persons – 2-hour art therapy session (in Hungarian)
10 persons – 4-hour psychodrama-based self-awareness session (in Hungarian)
10 persons – 4-hour experiential self-awareness session (in English)
5 persons – 3 individual consultations – individual choice of counseling, psychological counseling, relationship counseling (in Hungarian or English), supervision

The project’s schedule

1. Online survey: May – October 2024 (target group: entire Semmelweis student community)

QUANTITATIVE SURVEY: ASSESS WELLBEING AND MATTERING IN A WIDE CIRCLE OF STUDENTS

2. Focus group interviews: September 2024 (20th of September 1-4pm in Hungarian, 23rd of September 2-5pm in English, 1st of October 5-8pm in either Hungarian or English).  Venue: Semmelweis NET

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH:  EXPLORE FACTORS THAT CANNOT BE ASCERTAINED THROUGH QUESTIONNAIRES

What is a focus group interview? An open, informal, moderated discussion where 6-8 participants share their views on a given topic. In our case, this topic is perceived mattering. The discussions are audio-recorded and the emerging themes are analysed for research purposes. Focus groups are valuable sources in qualitative research. 

3. Wellbeing and mattering supporting workshop:  September-October 2024 Hungarian, 20th of September 9-12am in Hungarian, 27th of September 1-4pm in English, 3rd of October 2-5pm in Hungarian  ), venue: Semmelweis NET.

SUPPORTIVE INTERVENTION: MEASURE OUTCOME EFFECTIVENESS OF SPECIFIC INTERVENTION 

4. Data analysis: July-October 2024

Primary analysis: the aim is to explore with international partners the key primary findings of the research, validate the mattering measurements, assess the overall well-being indicators, and, based on these, identify the key areas for intervention

5. Presentation of results: August – September 2024

Presentation of primary analysis: during the Semmelweis Summer University, we will present the first results to stakeholders. We will then also start to provide short, easy-to-understand information on the website.

6. Second phase of the project: from September 2024

The project aims to build on this knowledge and design a supporting wellbeing system for Semmelweis students. Following a joint review, concrete interventions and systems will be developed from the autumn semester of 2024/2025.

International Cooperation

The research is part of an international research collaboration, the above questions will be examined for several European higher education institutions.

The partner institutions involved in the project are:

• Linnaeus University
• Semmelweis University
• University of Birmingham
• University of Florence
• University of Nantes

UniMatter Programme EUniWell Project Coordinator: Camilla Matera, University of Florence

Project coordinators at Semmelweis University: the Institute of Mental Health, Dr. Beáta Pethesné Dr. Dávid, Dr. Fruzsina Albert and Dr. Zsuzsanna Papp

For further information, please contact: papp.zsuzsa@semmelweis.hu

The research was approved by the Regional, Institutional Science and Research Ethics Committee of Semmelweis University (SE RKEB 259/2023).