The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Lockdowns and Virtual Learning on Thai University Students: a Qualitative Study

Background: Dyslipidemia is regarded as a significant risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs). Currently, there is limited data regarding dyslipidemia among Thai university students. Objective: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of dyslipidemia and its related factors among university students in the central region of Thailand. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 434 students aged 18-25 years at Thammasat University and Kasetsart University were recruited using simple random sampling. Fasting venous blood samples were obtained, and plasma lipid profiles were assessed by an automated analyzer. Dyslipidemia was formally characterized according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP-ATP III) guidelines. Demographic information, dietary behavior, and physical activity were collected using questionnaires. Anthropometric measures were also performed according to a standard protocol. Results: The prevalence of elevated total cholesterol, high-risk HDL-C, elevated LDL-C, and elevated triglycerides was 30.4, 18.2, 20.0, and 11.8%, respectively. The most common adverse lipid parameter was total cholesterol in both genders. Obesity and high fat intake were significantly associated with dyslipidemia (p<0.05). Conclusion: This research revealed a significant occurrence of dyslipidemia, primarily driven by elevated total cholesterol, among university students in Thailand. Obesity and high fat intake are significant risk contributors to dyslipidemia. These findings emphasize the need for awareness, prevention, and management strategies targeting this population.

University students have been faced with challenges, including COVID-19 public stigma, which results in increased stress and depression. Few studies have assessed stress, depression, and public stigma of COVID-19 after the pandemic. This paper investigated stress, depression, and public stigma of COVID-19 among Thai University students. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire to assess stress, depression, and public stigma resulting from COVID-19 among Thai university students between 15 and 30 August 2022. The questionnaire was developed by the Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. Public stigma was measured by the COVID-19 public stigma scale. The effects of public COVID-19 stigma on stress and depression were analyzed using multivariable multi-level logistic regression. A total of 2,422 students completed the questionnaire. After multivariable analysis adjustment, students who experienced COVID-19 public stigma showed increased stress (AOR = 1.53; 95% CI [1.27–1.84]) and depression levels (AOR = 1.34; 95% CI [1.01–1.79]). Those who lived with high-risk COVID-19 individuals showed significant risk factors for stress, depression, and public stigma of COVID-19, while income presented the reverse effect. Those vaccinated with over two doses showed significantly reduced chances of depression. The COVID-19 public stigma plays a vital role in stress and depression levels among Thai university students. To mitigate stress and depression, an evaluation of public stigma is needed even after the pandemic. Further cohort studies are required to verify long-term results.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine how Taylor Swift’s music influences language acquisition, gender representation, emotional well-being and cultural awareness among Thai university students within the context of lifelong learning. By exploring these dimensions, the study aims to uncover the transformative potential of integrating popular culture, particularly music, into lifelong learning frameworks, thereby offering insights into the role of music in fostering continuous education, cultural sensitivity and personal growth.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to explore the impact of Taylor Swift’s music on language acquisition, gender representation, emotional well-being and cultural awareness within the context of lifelong learning. Around 32 university students from six prominent universities in Thailand participated in the study. Thematic analysis was used to identify and interpret the recurring themes related to how Taylor Swift’s music influences these aspects of lifelong learning, providing an in-depth understanding of her music’s role in educational and personal development.FindingsThe study found that Taylor Swift’s music significantly impacts language acquisition by providing an immersive and engaging learning environment. Her music also challenges traditional gender norms, promoting self-expression and empowerment. Additionally, the emotional resonance of her songs contributes to students' emotional well-being, offering solace and encouragement. Furthermore, her advocacy for diversity and inclusivity enhances cultural awareness, fostering empathy and cross-cultural understanding. Overall, Taylor Swift’s music serves as a powerful tool for promoting lifelong learning, cultural awareness and emotional resilience among university students.Research limitations/implicationsThis study primarily focused on Thai university students, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other cultural contexts. Future research could explore the impact of Taylor Swift’s music on a broader demographic, including different age groups and cultural backgrounds. Additionally, a longitudinal approach could provide deeper insights into how sustained engagement with music influences lifelong learning and personal development over time. The findings underscore the need for further exploration of popular culture’s role in education and its potential to enhance learning outcomes across diverse contexts.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that integrating popular music, like Taylor Swift’s, into educational curricula can enhance language learning, promote cultural awareness and support emotional well-being. Educators are encouraged to incorporate music-based activities into their teaching strategies to create a more engaging and relatable learning environment. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of using music as a tool for challenging traditional gender norms and fostering inclusivity, suggesting that educational programs should leverage popular culture to promote social empowerment and personal growth among students.Social implicationsThe study demonstrates that Taylor Swift’s music plays a significant role in promoting social empowerment, gender equality and cultural sensitivity among university students. By challenging traditional norms and advocating for inclusivity, her music encourages listeners to embrace diversity and engage in lifelong learning. The findings suggest that popular culture, particularly music, can be a powerful force for social change, fostering a more inclusive and empathetic society. This underscores the potential of music to contribute to broader social objectives, including gender equality, cultural awareness and emotional resilience.Originality/valueThis study is unique in its comprehensive examination of Taylor Swift’s music as a tool for lifelong learning among university students in Thailand. While previous research has explored music’s role in language acquisition or emotional well-being, this study integrates multiple dimensions – language learning, gender representation, emotional well-being and cultural awareness – within the context of lifelong learning. By focusing on a global pop icon’s influence in a non-Western setting, the research provides valuable insights into the transformative potential of popular culture in education, offering educators innovative strategies to engage students through music.

DURING TEN DAYS in October 1973, military government of Field Marshall Thanom Kittikachorn was overthrown as a direct result of demonstrations by Thai university students. Increasing pressure by politically oriented National Student Center of Thailand led to ultimate confrontation between students and forces of authority. Pressure upon government to promulgate a new permanent constitution led to arrest of student leaders. Events quickly escalated from initial demands to release those arrested, to student attacks upon military government and, finally, to resignation of government leaders. The activities of October 6-15, 1973 confirmed importance of students in Thai political system. These students had nort been noted for their active involvement in politics of Thailand. However, as one observer stated, the events of 1973 will certainly result in a revision of customary appraisal of Thai students as interested only in cars, threwv, and high status jobs in civil service.1 This reappraisal of Thai students might best begin with an analysis of formation of political attitudes and beliefs in student population. This study, therefore, focuses on political socialization experiences of students at Thammasat University. The research site is particularly appropriate since most of leadership during October events was provided by Thammasat students and University was primary scene of anti-government activity.

The previous studies found that the Weight Self Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ) and Perceived Weight Stigma Scale (PWSS) have shown well-established psychometric properties for measuring weight stigma with strong reliability and validity from different languages. However, there is a lack of an appropriate instrument in assessing weight stigma in Thai samples. This study aimed to examine the Thai WSSQ and PWSS among Thai university students. Both instruments were also assessed for their measurement invariance across gender and weight status subgroups. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 801 university students in Thailand between January 2022 and July 2022. All participants completed a demographic questionnaire and a Thai version of the WSSQ, PWSS, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) via an online survey. Reliability, validity, measurement invariance, and correlational analyses were performed to investigate whether the Thai versions of the WSSQ and PWSS psychometric properties were acceptable. Both translated questionnaires demonstrated overall acceptable psychometric properties and revealed a two-dimensional structure for the WSSQ, and unidimensional structure for the PWSS. Measurement invariance was obtained across gender and weight status subgroups. Additionally, both translated WSSQ and PWSS were significantly correlated with DASS-21. The Thai-translated WSSQ and PWSS showed strong validity, reliability, and factorial invariance across different subgroups for measuring weight stigma among Thai university students.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, experts warned of the increasing rate of mental well-being issues among university students. The pandemic impacted the university-age populations, which studies have found to be particularly at risk for COVID-related stress, anxiety, and depression. There is cause for concern, particularly in countries such as Thailand that have relatively underdeveloped mental health systems and greater stigmatization of psychopathology. As a step toward addressing this concern, this study assessed student well-being at a Thai university ( N = 367) using three online survey instruments: the EPOCH Measure of Adolescent Well-being, the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Participants’ scores on all three scales were relatively low compared to the results of previous studies conducted in Thailand and internationally. Based on these results, the authors call for further investigation and interventions to address the growing need for the cultivation of well-being among university students in Thailand.

Increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is associated with obesity and metabolic health risks. This study determined the relationship between SSB intake and body composition, with a focus on visceral fat accumulation among Thai university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 387 university students aged 19-22 years. Dietary intake was assessed using a 3-day, 24-hour dietary recall conducted on three consecutive day to quantify SSB consumption. Body composition metrics, including body mass index (BMI), fat mass, and visceral fat levels (VFL), were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Statistical analyses, including t-tests and linear regression, were used to identify the associations between SSB intake and body composition. Sweetened tea, particularly freshly prepared iced milk tea, was most frequently consumed. High sugar consumption from SSB (≥ 24 g/day) was significantly associated with increased fat mass (16.9 ± 9.9 vs. 14.8 ± 7.8 kg, p = 0.021), BMI (22.6 ± 5.0 vs. 21.3 ± 4.2 kg/m², p = 0.007), and VFL > 9 (83.3% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.013). Sugar intake increased progressively across BMI categories: underweight (25.21 g/day), normal-weight (28.78 g/day), overweight (32.18 g/day), and obese (34.00 g/day). Participants with a VFL above 9 consumed over 40 g/day of SSB-derived sugar. At VFL exceeding 10, males had an average BMI of 30.06 ± 2.40 kg/m², whereas females exhibited a dramatically higher BMI of 41.20 ± 3.27 kg/m². Excessive SSB consumption, particularly sweetened tea, is strongly associated with higher visceral fat and unfavorable body composition in young adults. Public health interventions targeting reduced SSB intake are urgently required to address obesity and metabolic health risks. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to confirm causality and inform dietary guidelines.

The authors surveyed 212 university students in Japan and 284 university students in Thailand, using a multiaspect questionnaire that was designed to investigate cultural similarities and differences in gratitude. The questionnaire included the items involved in hypothetical helping situations: (a) perceived gains of recipients, cost to benefactors, and obligation to help as antecedent variables of gratitude; (b) both positive feelings of gratitude and feelings of indebtedness; and (c) requital to benefactors and increased prosocial motivation of recipients as an outcome of gratitude. In both Japanese and Thai students, positive feelings cor-related with facial and verbal expressions of gratitude and increased prosocial motivation. However, the variable of feelings of indebtedness was positively related to increased prosocial motivation only in Japanese male students.

PurposeLittle is known about contact lens (CL) use in young generation. This study aimed to investigate the patterns, behavior and knowledge of CL wear and care in Thai university students.MethodsA cross-sectional study using online questionnaires was conducted during July 2019 to February 2020 in two Rajabhat universities, Bangkok, Thailand. Participant characteristics, CL information, knowledge and behaviors were collected. Factors associated with poor behaviors and CL-related corneal ulcers were analyzed using logistic regression.ResultsOf 493 students participating in the survey, 336 students (66.78%) were current CL users and completed the questionnaires. Mean age was 19.2 ± 1.4 years with female predominance (80.36%). All students wore soft CL with a major replacement schedule of monthly disposable (90.18%). Good CL wear and care behaviors were found in 190 students (56.55%). The most common poor CL behavior and poor CL knowledge were CL overuse (44.64%) and sleeping with lenses (31.85%), respectively. There were no correlations between behaviors and knowledge (r = 0.03). Purchasing lens from internet, wearing experience over one year, and long wear duration (> 12 hours) were significantly associated with poor CL behavior. Male gender and swimming with lens were significantly associated with history of corneal ulcers.ConclusionThe study pointed out a low compliance of CL wear and care in Thai university students. Good CL practices, awareness of CL-related complications and purchasing place should be carefully informed and regularly stressed to minimize preventable visual damage in young population.

There are benefits and challenges related to the recent worldwide Covid-19-driven surge of social-media collaborative learning in higher education. This research examines the antecedents influencing this ‘new normal’ phenomenon among university students to provide a causal model of understanding. This study was based on a purposive sample; a questionnaire was completed by 371 university students. The analysis of the data obtained using applied structural equation modelling of the partial least-squares technique, it was found that the most influential antecedents included collaborative capability and perceived enjoyment. Based on the results, we recommend that, owing to the turbulent and changing requirements of social distancing and distance learning, educational institutions and stakeholders invest in the improvement of implied social-media collaboration and learning platforms.

Due to the internationalisation of higher education, much research has been focused on internationalising the curriculum, while little is known about internationalising research supervision. Research supervision is very pertinent as far as students’ acquisition of sustainable research skills is concerned. This study examined the perceptions of international postgraduate students on research supervision. The study focused on finding out if international postgraduate students are satisfied with their research supervisors and finding out the type of Feedback international students received from their supervisors. Exploratory case study research design was used, adopting qualitative research methodology. The study participants were 60 postgraduate Social Science international students from three comprehensive universities in China. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the participants; only international students in Social Sciences participated in this study. A semi-structured interview guide was used as the instrument for data collection. The data collected was analysed thematically. This study found that only a few students were satisfied with their supervisors. A majority of the respondents were not satisfied with their supervisors’ contributions in their thesis or dissertation writing and the type of feedback they received from their supervisors. This shows that universities striving to achieve their aspirations of becoming world-class universities in terms of internationalisation need to guide and support supervisors who supervise international students. Some recommendations are made that need to be effectively implemented to enhance international students’ acquisition of research skills.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the short- and long-term learning effect of dynamic visual acuity (DVA) tests.MethodsParticipants between 18 and 30 years with corrected to normal visual acuity were enrolled in this study. Three repeated sessions were performed, with 15 minutes and 15 days’ intervals between sessions. Each session included 9 DVA tests of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal motions of E optotypes at 20, 40, and 80 degrees per second (dps). The short- and long-term learning effects were analyzed from repeated DVA tests.ResultsOf the 58 enrolled participants, the mean age was 23.1 ± 2.1 years. DVA significantly varied among motion types and velocities (P < 0.05, respectively). There was a significant short-term learning effect for 20 (P = 0.004), 40 (P < 0.001), and 80 (P = 0.014) dps DVA test of horizontal motion, 40 dps DVA test of vertical (P = 0.003), and diagonal motion (P = 0.036). The long-term learning effect was detected in the 40 dps diagonal motion DVA test (P = 0.015). The short- and long-term learning effects were positively associated with initial DVA in most combinations of motion type and velocity tests (P < 0.05, respectively). The short- (P = 0.031) and long-term (P = 0.024) learning effect of 80 dps horizontal motion DVA test was greater in male than female participants.ConclusionsThere is a significant short-term learning effect in the DVA test of various motion types, but the long-term learning effect was rarely observed, and it is greater in participants with worse initial DVA.

The use of facemasks is essential to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. University students are a significant demographic that generates substantial infectious waste due to the new normal practice of using disposable facemasks. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the facemask disposal knowledge and practices among university students in Thailand between September and October 2022. We used a self-report questionnaire comprising 29 questions to determine the students' demographic characteristics and facemask disposal knowledge and practices. We then applied a logistic regression model to estimate the association between the students' facemask disposal knowledge and practices and their demographic characteristics. A total of 433 participants completed the questionnaire comprising health science (45.27%) and non-health science (54.73%) students. Surgical masks were the most popular masks (89.84%), followed by N95 (26.33%) and cloth masks (9.94%). While their levels of knowledge regarding facemask disposal were poor, the students' practices were good. The factors associated with proper facemask disposal were sex (AOR = 0.469, 95% CI: 0.267, 0.825), academic grade (AOR = 0.427, 95% CI: 0.193, 0.948), and knowledge level (AOR = 0.594, 95% CI: 0.399, 0.886). No demographic factors influenced knowledge. Our findings highlight the influence of facemask disposal knowledge on students' disposal practices. Information promoting the appropriate disposal practices should therefore be promoted extensively. Furthermore, continuous reinforcement by raising awareness and educating students on proper facemask disposal combined with the provision of adequate infectious waste disposal facilities could help reduce the environmental contamination of infectious waste and thus improve general waste management.

The use of facemasks is essential to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. University students are a significant demographic that generates substantial infectious waste due to the new normal practice of using disposable facemasks. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the facemask disposal knowledge and practices among university students in Thailand between September and October 2022. We used a self-report questionnaire comprising 29 questions to determine the students’ demographic characteristics and facemask disposal knowledge and practices. We then applied a logistic regression model to estimate the association between the students’ facemask disposal knowledge and practices and their demographic characteristics. A total of 433 participants completed the questionnaire comprising health science (45.27%) and non-health science (54.73%) students. Surgical masks were the most popular masks (89.84%), followed by N95 (26.33%) and cloth masks (9.94%). While their levels of knowledge regarding facemask disposal were poor, the students’ practices were good. The factors associated with proper facemask disposal were sex (AOR = 0.469, 95% CI: 0.267, 0.825), academic grade (AOR = 0.427, 95% CI: 0.193, 0.948), and knowledge level (AOR = 0.594, 95% CI: 0.399, 0.886). No demographic factors influenced knowledge. Our findings highlight the influence of facemask disposal knowledge on students’ disposal practices. Information promoting the appropriate disposal practices should therefore be promoted extensively. Furthermore, continuous reinforcement by raising awareness and educating students on proper facemask disposal combined with the provision of adequate infectious waste disposal facilities could help reduce the environmental contamination of infectious waste and thus improve general waste management.

BackgroundWe aimed to describe the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses and factors influencing this among Thai university students.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted between July and September 2022. All university students in Thailand were eligible to participate. We explored the acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses and regular vaccines (if available) among university students. Associations between factors influencing the acceptance of vaccination were analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis.ResultsA total of 322 participants were surveyed (78.9% female, age 18 to 49 years (mean = 22.6, standard deviation = 5.47)). Most participants (85.7%) were undergraduate students (Bachelor level), and a proportion (84.8%) had a background in health sciences studies. The proportions who accepted booster doses and regular vaccines were 52.8% and 69.3%, respectively. Vaccine accessibility was found to be significantly associated with the acceptance of booster doses (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.10–6.97), while the availability of scientific evidence (AOR = 3.44, 95% CI = 1.21–9.77) was significantly associated with the acceptance of regular vaccines.ConclusionsThis study contributes to addressing the knowledge gap regarding acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses among university students in Thailand. Our findings revealed that vaccine accessibility and the availability of scientific evidence, as well as vaccination costs, influenced individuals’ decisions around accepting vaccine booster doses. Further research should focus on the dynamics of vaccine acceptance to facilitate the development of targeted strategies and support vaccination policymaking in Thailand.