Study and Development Handbook for Teacher; Supervising Students with Positive Psychology (KU-PMIND)

Abstract

This study aimed to (1) investigate the prevalent issues faced by undergraduate students at Kasetsart University and (2) develop a faculty handbook grounded in the principles of positive psychology—entitled KU-PMIND—to enhance student support. Employing design and development research methodology, the study involved a sample of 380 undergraduate students and 8 university faculty members and staff from Kasetsart University. The findings showed that students’ problems fell into seven domains: academics, adaptation, interpersonal relationships, financial issues, physical health, mental health, and other. The most common problems reported were the most common problems reported were adaptation, followed by academic problems. Specifically, first- and second-year students tended to face more academic problems, while third- and fourth-year students were more likely to encounter adaptation problems. The resulting KU-PMIND handbook comprises five chapters: the first outlines adolescent developmental characteristics, essential attributes of faculty members, and the theoretical underpinnings of positive psychology; the second addresses common student problems, potential solutions, and approaches to identifying student problems; the third delineates counseling strategies, including foundational skills, process frameworks, and emotional regulation methods; the fourth provides targeted support strategies across various domains; and the fifth introduces a mental health screening tool and protocols for appropriate referrals. The manual received an overall score based on evaluations by four experts, who assessed it across three key aspects: format, content, and practical application. The average scores for each aspect were 0.94, 0.90, and 0.88, respectively. The overall average score was 0.91, indicating that the manual is appropriate and practically applicable.