English abstract
This survey study aimed at exploring the different problems facing SQU students and whether there are statistically significant differences based on gender, college, year of study and place of accommodation. The study used 861 subjects, drawn from 8761 undergraduate students registered in the academic year 2001-2002. The questionnaire of the study consisted of 76 items covering four main areas: academic, psychological, social and familial. The findings of the study revealed that students frequently face five problems: registration rush, bias of faculty members, difficult exams, anxiety during exams and excessive assignments. The study also indicated that academic problems are ranked first by students followed by psychological, social and familial problems, respectively. The study also showed statically significant differences between the mean scores of male and female students only in psychological and familial problems. Female students were more likely than males to face psychological problems while the opposite is true with respect to familial problems. College of students was a significant factor only in predicting academic problems. Students studying in humanity-oriented colleges were more likely to face academic problems than students in science colleges. Year of study explained the differences in students' mean scores with respect to all five-problem factors expect social problems. : However, the study indicated that place of residency was a very significant predictor of social, academic, psychological and familial problems. Most of the differences between the mean scores of students with respects to these factors were explained by students' place of residency (in/off campus). As was predicted, students' achievement was only significantly related to the psychological problems but not to other factors. Students with low GPAs suffer from stress and psychological problems more than others.
The findings of this study were contrasted with previous results conducted elsewhere in the Arab countries. A number of recommendations have been generated the most important of which is to conduct further research on the causes and potential consequences of academic problems on students.
