Psychological adjustment challenges have been long researched globally and scholars have identified depression, anxiety, nervousness, tension, fear of failure and academic overload. However, Namibian researchers have conducted a few researches on student university adjustment and looked less closely at how first-year students adapt to their new learning environments in universities. Immersed in the mixed-method approach, and based on the need to investigate the effects of psychological adjustment, first-year students were surveyed and interviewed using focus group discussions to capture their stories and experience of adjusting to a new environment and the impact it might have on their academic achievement. The results indicate that 56.7% of students felt tremendous and excited, but 10% of students experienced a variety of feelings, including anxiety loneliness, stress, anxiety to achieve high grades and peer pressure, humiliation, unable to study and procrastination in school work due to loss of interests. The findings of this study have implications for first-year students and Dean of students in higher education institutions. The students should be aware of psychological effects that might affect their adjustment and timely report unpleasant situations to the student counsellors.
Moreover, the Dean of Students should develop holistic counselling programmes to equip students with the best adjustment strategies to new environments. The study recommends the provision of suggestion boxes on campus for students to submit their problems that should be responded to on time. It is also vital that motivational sessions and counselling sessions are held to encourage students to proactively and appropriately act on psychological adjustment challenges encountered.

Authors:
Anna Niitembu Hako, University of Namibia, Namibia
Prisca Tautiko Shikongo, University of Namibia, Namibia
Genesia Shipena, University of Namibia , Namibia
Ina Asino, University of Namibia, Namibia

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Anna Niitembu Hako is a University Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer at University of Namibia in Namibia

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