Sense of Self Among Freshmen at Universities

Sense of self is a very important factor in the development of one’s personality and overall adjustment to challenging new environments. A strong sense of self is associated with meaningful connections with others, self-exploration and growth, self-efficacy, well-informed decisions, and better mental health outcomes. All these are important to university freshmen as it impact directly or indirectly on their academic outcomes, social integration, personal development, and psychological well-being. This chapter discussed the development of sense of self among first year students at universities. The chapter begins with how sense of self develops and its importance to university freshmen’s adjustment. The theories of development of self by Carl Rogers (1959), Charles Horton Cooley (1902), and George Herbert Mead (1934) are discussed. Then, aspects such as self-concept, self-awareness, self-confidence, sense of belonging, self-esteem, self-identity, and self-efficacy of first year students are presented. The chapter proceeds by discussing factors affecting sense of self among freshmen at universities. The chapter concludes by a discussion on ways of enhancing the sense of self among first year students at universities.