Psychological wellbeing and programme-related meaningfulness in undergraduate STEM programmes in an Irish University

Psychological wellbeing (PWB) of students impacts their success. The purpose of the current study was to compare the PWB of third- and fourth-year students of two Irish University STEM undergraduate programmes. The Ryff 42-item PWB questionnaire was employed, along with asking, for example, how meaningful students found their programme of study and whether they felt that they could approach their lecturers. There were significant differences between the two programmes for Personal growth and Self-acceptance. There was also a significant difference in PWB scores between those whose programme was their first choice at university and those whose programme was not. Results of the current study indicate that mindfulness of students’ personal growth is essential, that being offered one’s first choice of university programme of study is likely to play a significant role in PWB throughout one’s programme of study and that ensuring students’ positive perception of approachability of lecturers is important.