The Contribution of Interpersonal Communication and Self-Compassion to Final Year Students' Well-Being

Lathifa Rahmi Fajrin, Marjohan Marjohan, Neviyarni S, Nurfarhanah Nurfarhanah

Abstract


Final-year students often encounter substantial academic pressure related to thesis completion and preparation for the transition to the workforce, which may affect their well-being. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of interpersonal communication and self-compassion in promoting psychological well-being; however, evidence among final-year education students remains limited. This study employed a quantitative correlational survey design. Participants were 309 final-year students from the Faculty of Education, Universitas Negeri Padang, selected through proportional stratified random sampling from a population of 1,353 students. Data were collected using Likert-scale questionnaires measuring well-being based on Seligman’s PERMA model, interpersonal communication based on DeVito’s framework, and self-compassion based on Neff’s model. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 27. The findings indicated that students demonstrated high levels of well-being (M = 112.16; 70.10%), interpersonal communication (M = 144.46; 78.09%), and self-compassion (M = 91.41; 73.13%). Interpersonal communication showed a significant positive association with well-being (R² = .603, p < .001), explaining 60.3% of the variance. Self-compassion also significantly predicted well-being (R² = .466, p < .001), accounting for 46.6% of the variance. Simultaneously, interpersonal communication and self-compassion explained 66.0% of the variance in well-being (R² = .660, p < .001), with interpersonal communication emerging as the stronger predictor. These findings suggest that interpersonal communication and self-compassion are important factors associated with the well-being of final-year students. Higher education institutions may strengthen student well-being by implementing guidance and counseling programs that foster effective interpersonal communication and self-compassion.

Keywords


interpersonal communication; self-compassion; well-being; final year student; guidance and counseling

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v18i2.8414

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