An Investigation of Mental Health and Its Relationship with Social Capital among the Students of Islamic Azad University- Khalkhal

Background & Aims of the Study: Given the importance of mental health issuesof students and the role of social capital in promoting mental health and improvingacademic performance, this study was designed to evaluate the mental healthstatus of students of Islamic Azad University, Khalkhal Branch and its relationshipwith social capital.Materials & Methods: This descriptive-analytical study eas conducted on 435the Islamic Azad University students, Khalkhal Branch at first half of theacademic year 2013-14, Data were collected using Demographic, Mental Healthand Social Capital questionnaires and then analyzed using SPSS software version21, correlation test, chi-square and t-test.Results: Results showed that 72.5 percent of students participating in the studysuspected to have mental disorders .Males had better mental health. There was nosignificant correlation between mental health score, financial status, age andresidency status (P> 0.05). There was a significant relationship between mentalhealth and all areas of social capital except the area of business communications.Conclusions: Due to the unique conditions of students and findings of the studybased on the positive effect of increased social capital on the improvement ofmental health, much attention and effort should be paid by authorities to provideappropriate infrastructures to develop social capital in higher educational systemand create opportunities for social interaction both in individual and groupinteractions.

Keywords:

Social CapitalMental HealthStudentsInteractions