Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among hope, purpose in life, gender, place of residence, and mental health in college students. To fulfill the stated goal, 299 female and 264 male students were drawn by means of stratified random sampling. Then hope scale, purpose in life (PIL), and Symptom Check List 90-Revised (SCL 90-R) were administered on them. To analyze the data correlation coefficient, regression analysis, and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) were used. Results indicated that “purpose in life” and the place of residence predicted mental health in college students. In addition, further analysis revealed that college students residing in dormitory showed more symptoms than students who lived with their own parents. Findings indicated the importance of meaning in life and its implication for health indicators. Moreover, paying closer attention is required by the university officials to improve and enhance the situation in dormitories and make necessary adjustments to fit psychological and social needs of the students residing in dorms.