Belarusian Universities Research Articles

The Positive Effect of Nature Connectedness on Psychological Wellbeing: The Significance of Trust as a Mediator

Although the positive effect of nature connectedness (NC) on eudaimonic and hedonistic wellbeing is confirmed by numerous studies, the question of intrapersonal processes that determine such an impact remains open. Wilson’s biophilia hypothesis points to the evolutionary background of NC, as this can be considered pre-trust as an evolutionarily formed trust to the ecological world, to life in its diverse manifestations (Petzold, 2012). It is suggested that pre-trust sets a vector of positive comprehension on what happens while NC actualizes pre-trust, thereby launching a ‘system of psychological wellbeing maintenance’. The hypothesis that trust is a mediator between NC and psychological well-being was tested in two studies. Multiple regression and mediation analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM) were applied. Study 1 (the sample comprised 232 Ukrainian university students) confirmed the model of the NC influence on positive functioning (Ryff's Psychological well-being scale and Hardness test were applied) with trust as a mediator. Study 2 (the sample comprised 276 Ukrainian and Belarusian university students) showed that a latent variable manifested by trust and a sense of coherence index mediated the relationship between NC and subjective well-being. It is shown that trust in oneself is included in support of positive functioning, while subjective wellbeing is supported by experiencing the meaningfulness of life events. Limitations of the studies and their implications for conservation psychology are discussed.

Совершенствование механизма участия белорусских вузов в международных образовательных выставках

Совершенствование механизма участия белорусских вузов в международных образовательных выставках

Assessment of Socio-Health Determinants of Dental Check-Ups Among Students of Selected Polish, Belarusian and Ukrainian Universities.

Systematic dental check-ups play a vital role in maintaining good oral health. When oral examinations are performed as regularly as recommended, the dentist may be the first health care provider to diagnose a health problem in its early stages. The aim of the study was to identify and assess determinants of dental check-up among students of Suwałki (Poland), Grodno (Belarus) or Lviv (Ukraine) universities taking sociodemographic variables into account. Data were collected from 2013 to 2016 among freshman students of Polish (n = 1245), Belarusian (n = 1012) and Ukrainian universities (n = 688). The study was performed with the diagnostic survey method, using a questionnaire designed by the authors. In order to identify the determinants of dental check-ups, logistic regression analysis was applied. A majority of students visited a dentist for a check-up at least once a year (32.7% twice a year; 41.0% once a year). Women from Belarus (OR 1.690; 95% CI: 1.256-2.273) or Poland (OR 1.832; 95% CI: 1.374-2.442) underwent dental check-ups with a higher frequency, as did students whose financial situation was very good or good (Belarus: OR 1.574; 95% CI: 1.184-2.093 or Poland OR 1.604; 95% CI: 1.227-2.096). Variables related to students' health behaviours, i.e. smoking, alcohol consumption or drug use, were not statistically significant. The frequency of stomatological control examinations among students from Polish, Belarusian or Ukrainian universities is high. The frequency of dental examination among students is conditioned by sociodemographic factors. Regular check-ups at the dentist are more prevalent for women and those students from Polish or Belarusian universities who rated their financial situation as good or very good. In Belarusian or Ukrainian respondents, maintaining healthy eating habits was a positive predictor of dental check-up attendance, while in Polish students self-evaluation of health was a negative one.

Russian and Belarusian Students: World Views, System of Values, Self-Actualization Strategies. Part II

The article is based on the results of the study “Young people in the post-Soviet space: pictures of the world, values, strategies of self-realization”, the empirical basis of which were sociological polls conducted in a comparable manner, conducted in October 2017 – February 2018 among the students from leading universities in Russia and the Republic of Belarus. The analysis of the data was carried out from the point of view of the problem of the internal consolidation of the “Russian world” and the prospects for a change of generations in the elites of the post-Soviet states (in this context, the student contingent of leading Russian and Belarusian universities is viewed as a kind of protoelite group). A comparison was made of the world pictures of Russian and Belarusian students, their social perceptions and value orientations, peculiarities of Russian and Belarusian identity, personal self-actualization strategies, including the choice of place of residence and the level of emigration attitudes. Both similarities and differences in the mentality of young Belarusians and Russians are revealed. In particular, the differences in the perception of the arrow of time, as well as in the emotional relation to the concept of “state”, revealed during the study are of great importance. Based on the results of the analysis, the article shows that the ideas about the life of Russian and Belarusian students are largely similar, but the relations between Russia and Belarus in the picture of the world of Russian and Belarusian youth are asymmetric. The article discusses the possible consequences of the difference between the pictures of the world and the value attitudes of student youth in Russia and Belarus for the fate of the “Russian world”.

METHOD OF QUALIFICATION ESTIMATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF PROFESSIONAL TEAMS OF PROGRAMMERS

The problem of building and optimizing the teams of programmers taking into account the qualification and the level of skills in programming technologies and tools is considered. Known technological environments for the management of teamwork, such as Agile, formulate only general requirements and principles for building the teams and the distribution of work between them. A method for formalizing and evaluating the qualification of individual programmers and entire groups of programmers has been proposed. The input data are attributes of the most popular technologies and programming tools, including technology rating, as well as the results of a survey of programmers on their level of skills. The qualification of a group of programmers is evaluated taking into account the requirements for a particular project, which integrates three components: the average qualification of programmers included in the group; the qualification of the group with respect to the best representatives for each of the technologies; threshold values of the levels of programmer qualification and group qualification for each of the technologies, as well as threshold values of the integrated qualification, reflecting the specifics of the given project. The contribution of each component is determined by appropriate weights. The proposed method is a basis for a genetic algorithm that performs the search for the number, size and staff of groups of programmers which yield a maximum of total qualification. Software has been developed and computer experiments have been carried out on a set of programmers who graduated from Belarusian universities. The obtained results demonstrate the real ability of the system to find the number, size and staff of groups of programmers, which increase the overall qualification of groups by 30% while minimizing the number of unemployed developers. The results prove the practical importance of the method and software in the field of technologies and tools for the management of professional teams of programmers.

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE OF SUBJEСT EXPERIENCE OF STUDENTS IN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY

The article addresses the problem of studying the subjective experience of students in educational processes. The article analyzes the concepts of “experience” and “subject” that allows the author to define the term “subjective experience in educational activities”. Based on the analysis, the author identifies the structure and content of subject experience of students in educational process. The last decades in Belarus are marked by a whole range of reforms in the higher education system, such as: reduced period of study for a number of specialties, introduction of the rating system of academic achievements of students, optimization of the educational process, increased proportion of independent work of students, active use of new information and communication technologies, distance learning development. Under such conditions, Belarusian university students are in a completely new situation and become active participants in educational activities, determining the achievement of educational goals and levels. Modern students should be able to determine the goals and objectives of the educational activities, to choose the direction and individual educational trajectory, organize their own learning activity, monitor its progress and results, choose the appropriate ways and means of its implementation, solve the emerging difficulties, evaluate objectively the results obtained, be ready for creative perception and transformation of environmental activities. In this context, the problem of formation of students’ individual experience in educational activities acquires special importance.

Prevalence of alcohol-related problems among the Slavs and Arabs in Belarus: a university survey

Background: Alcohol abuse is a major problem among students in Belarus. Alcohol-related problems might vary among students of different cultural backgrounds. Objectives: To examine the different patterns in alcohol use and related problems among students of different cultural groups – the Slavs and Arabs, in major Belarusian universities. Methods: 1465 university students (1345 Slavs and 120 Arabs) from three major universities in Minsk, Belarus, were administered the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, the Cut, Annoyed, Guilty and Eye questionnaire, and the Michigan Alcohol Screening Test, including other alcohol-related questions. Results: Overall, 91.08% (n = 1225) Slavs and 60.83% (n = 73) Arabs were alcohol users. A total of 16.28% (n = 219) Slavs and 32.50% (n = 39) Arabs were identified as problem drinkers. Different patterns of alcohol use and related problems were characterized for the Slavs and Arabs. The level of alcohol-related problems was higher among the Arabs, compared to the Slavs. Conclusion: Significant differences in the pattern of alcohol use and related problems exist among the students of various cultural groups – the Slavs and Arabs in Minsk, Belarus. Scientific significance: This is the first empirical study to investigate the prevalence of alcohol use and related problems among the Arab and Slav students in Belarus.

PW01-239 - From first to final year of university education: trajectory of alcohol problems in Belarusian universities

ObjectivesThe problem of alcohol use is a major public health problem in the general students’ population in Belarus. We therefore screen for the prevalence and trace the order of increase in alcohol use and related problems among freshmen and seniors in Belarusian universities.Materials and methodsA total of 565 (1st - 2nd courses, mean age - 18.9yrs), 537 (3rd - 4th courses, mean age - 20.9yrs) and 397 (5th - 6th courses, mean age - 22.8 yrs) university students in Minsk (Belarus) were administered the AUDIT questionnaire, including other alcohol related questions. The cut-off point on the AUDIT was set at 8. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 16.0 version for Windows; the criteria of Pearson, X2 and Student's t testsñ. The probability value for significance was set at p< 0.05.ResultsAlcohol use and related problems increased with increase in the average age and year of study. In the 1st - 2nd, 3rd - 4th, 5th - 6th courses, alcohol users were 83.56%, 85.64%, 94.22% respectively and problem drinkers were 14.51%, 17.88%, 20.91% respectively. The use of strong strength alcoholic beverages was linked with a high risk of alcohol related problems, than the use of weak alcoholic beverages in the general students’ population.ConclusionThe level of alcohol use and related problems in the general students’ population in Belarus are high and show increase in order of increase both in the average age and in the year of study.

Binging: a prevalence study in Belarusian universities

Background The extent of binging (≥5 drinks/session) largely contributes to the burden associated with alcohol use in most countries [1-3]. Binging among undergraduate students in Belarus is a major public health problem, leading to violence, injury, unsafe sexual activities, as well as conduct problems. The high level of alcohol-related problems in this country is caused by combination of factors like high level of alcohol consumption per capita and hazardous drinking patterns. High level of alcoholism in the society calls for the necessity of carrying out preventive measures aimed at early diagnosis of alcohol related problems, with subsequent consultation and therapeutic intervention [2,4]. In particular, this concerns the students’ population, inasmuch as recent epidemiological data show high level of alcohol related problems among students [1-4]. This study was aimed at identifying the prevalence of binging and its associated harm among undergraduate students in Minsk, Belarus.

The Belarusian University in Exile

The Belarusian University in Exile