Academic Certainty as a Predictor of Psychological Well-being and Self-Efficacy among Direct Admission Track Students at King Saud University"

Abstract

The current study aimed to investigate the predictive power of academic certainty on psychological well-being and self-efficacy among students in the direct admission track at King Saud University. The study's problem stems from the psychological and academic challenges students face during transitional phases in higher education, where the direct admission system emerges as a protective environment that enhances psychological stability and cognitive performance by removing academic ambiguity and ensuring specialization from day one.

The study employed a descriptive-analytical methodology with a predictive approach. It was applied to a sample of (480) male and female students admitted through the direct admission track for distinguished students across various disciplines (Health, Engineering, Science, and Administration) during the first semester of the academic year 2026. To achieve the study’s objectives, a 24-item questionnaire was developed, comprising three scales: the Academic Certainty Scale, the Psychological Well-being Scale (based on Ryff’s six-dimensional model), and the Academic Self-efficacy Scale. The psychometric properties of the instrument were verified in terms of validity (internal consistency) and reliability (Cronbach's alpha), yielding high statistically significant reliability coefficients.

The results indicated that the participants possessed high levels of academic certainty, psychological well-being, and self-efficacy. Simple linear regression analysis revealed a high and statistically significant predictive capacity for academic certainty, accounting for (52.4%) of the variance in psychological well-being and (35.9%) of the variance in academic self-efficacy. Furthermore, the findings showed no statistically significant differences across all variables attributed to gender. However, significant differences in academic certainty were found based on the field of study, favoring students in the health track. Based on these findings, the study recommended expanding the implementation of the direct admission system as a preventive strategy to enhance the quality of academic life and activating psychological counseling programs focused on