"Adjustment" refers to the process of adapting to new conditions. It is a psychology idea that refers to the behavior that enables the students to satisfy environmental expectations. The first year of university life is perceived as the most challenging throughout the study period of a student .This period is associated with a greater change in physical, emotional, moral, social, and intellectual aspects (1). Admission to university is an important test of a person’s capability of adjusting oneself to a new environment. Disparities between student expectations and the realities of campus life cause adjustment problems. it will lead to various problems and issues, especially psychological problems(2).
Students may find it difficult to adjust to the demanding university curriculum and a more independent lifestyle away from family and friends, which could account for a sizable percentage of the stress to feeling. On the other hand, the student must rebuild his or her interpersonal connections in a foreign setting, which frequently results in physical and emotional problems(3, 4).
A person's university years are more emotionally and intellectually challenging than practically any other period of their schooling. A person encounters numerous demands and obstacles at this time, which can lead to a variety of physical, social, and emotional difficulties. The majority of first-year students state that adjusting to university life is the most difficult period of adjustment in their lives(5–7). Many emotional and psychological problems occur as a result. Lot of students are unable to finish their studies as a result of the adjustment problem they experience during their first year on university, despite investing a significant amount of their time, energy, and money into it. In adult psychiatric consultation services, adjustment problem have an estimated prevalence of 5–21%(4, 8).
For many students, the stress of university life can be exacerbated by a number of factors, including making plans for the future, managing exams and assignments, making up with demanding teachers, choosing a major, and being financially and emotionally independent. As a result, practically all first year student go through a period of adjustment upon joining a university, with each student maturing at a different rate(9, 10).
Individual personality styles, institutional and social supports, self-leadership abilities, and even the stage of development of students' positive psychological capital all have an impact on how successfully students adjust to university. Students who struggled with adjustment were more likely to engage in health risk behaviors and be susceptible to suicidal thoughts and attempts(11, 12).
According to research on student adjustment processes and challenges, students are more likely to stop studying and frequently attempt suicide if they are unable to adapt their psychological condition to the challenges they can face at universities(13, 14).
The results of students' performance outcomes, social and psychological wellbeing, health-risk behaviors, academic burnout, and even university dropout are all influenced by their adjustment, according to studies. The fact that many students in North American universities of higher education drop out or transfer before graduating is the best indication of this stress. Nearly 57% of all dropouts left before the start of their second year, and 40% of students who started their studies at a four-year college were unable to finish their studies(12, 15).
A study at Malaysia University found that 26% of respondents fell into the low category for overall adjustment and that 42.8 percent of respondents fell into the low category for the Personal-Emotional Scale, indicating that many of the subjects in this study had psychological and physical issues when adjusting to campus life(16).
Multiple factors have been identified as a result of research, including coping mechanisms, social support, new values and norms, educational demands, financial troubles, and being away from one's family, friends, and home. Social stressors related to communication difficulties, being a woman, and culture shock have also been identified. Other factors include adjusting to university courses and the resulting workload, time management problems, difficulty making friends, and issues with your roommates(17, 18).
During their first year of college, Ethiopian university and college students experience the same obstacles and challenges. It states that while economic, emotional, educational, and health problems are some of the most common problems, students who continue their higher education face a variety of challenges. Additionally, in a multicultural campus environment, students may encounter additional issues as a result of linguistic and cultural difficulties. According to research on student adjustment processes and problems, students are more likely to stop attending college if they are unable to adjust to the problems they might face there(4, 19)
Individuals that suffer with adjustment may be categorized as emotionally immature, poorly adjusted, or mentally ill. They could be seen on a spectrum that ranges from simple emotional issues to severe mental illness. Their struggles may manifest in how they view themselves, such as a lack of confidence or guilt. Their poor adjustment may become apparent in relationships with others. Understanding how to adjust in different areas of life, especially in university life, reveals several useful adjustment methods(20) So this study will assess the prevalence of their adjustment problem and associated factors.