The UFair Questionnaire: Measuring Perceived University Unfairness and Its Association with Students’ Mental Health
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: University students face various stressors that may jeopardize their mental health. The aim of this study was to adapt the concept of organizational justice to universities, develop and validate a corresponding questionnaire (UFair: University Fairness Questionnaire) in German, and estimate its association with mental health. Perceived university unfairness was measured in 1105 students using the newly developed 20-item UFair Questionnaire. Mental health was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8, depression) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory for Students (MBI-SS, burnout). The UFair Questionnaire had good psychometric properties, a unidimensional factor structure, and a considerable association with the mental health indicators. Perceived injustice also represents a stressor in the university setting, showing a considerable relation with students' mental health. The relevance of these aspects to the health of students should be recognized and considered by universities. Valid measurement using the UFair Questionnaire represents the basis for possible preventive approaches and interventions.
Source: Behavioral Sciences
DOI: 10.3390/bs15091280
Institution: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Language: English
Topic: Student Stress and Coping
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,654
Funder: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Awards: G2286951092, Wahrgenommene universitäre Gerechtigkeit: Wie unfair behandelt fühlen sich Studierende und wie hoch ist das damit verbundene Gesundheitsrisiko? Entwicklung und Validierung eines Fragebogens zur Erfassung der universitären Gerechtigkeit in Anlehnung an das Konzept der organisationalen Gerechtigkeit
OpenAlex ID: W4414312804