Colombian University Students Research Articles

Factors Associated with Food Waste Among University Students in Colombia

(1) Background: Globally, millions of tons of food are wasted annually, with a significant portion occurring at the household level. This study aimed to quantify food waste generated by university students and identify key factors associated with this behavior. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a community trial involving 227 Colombian university students. Participants self-reported their daily food waste (grams per person per day), as categorized by food type, which was collected through an online-based questionnaire under prior training. The data were analyzed using a binomial regression model to calculate adjusted prevalence ratios (PRaj) and identify associations between food waste and demographic variables. (3) Results: Of the participants, 63% were women, with a mean age of 20.4 ± 3.8 years. Overall, 65% (n = 148) reported food wastage. The average food waste per person per day was 22.6 ± 15.5 g, increasing to 94.0 ± 5.0 g among those who reported wastage. Significant associations were found between food waste and several factors: Among those with a higher prevalence of food waste were women (PRaj = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.89); students from rural areas (PRaj = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.67); and those with higher income levels, with adjusted prevalence ratios of 1.38 (95% CI: 1.14, 1.68) for those earning 1–2 Minimum Legal Monthly Wages (LMMW) and 1.49 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.93) for those earning 3+ LMMW. Household size and socioeconomic status were not significantly associated with food waste (p > 0.05). (4) Conclusions: On average, the population generates 8.25 kg of food waste per person per year, rising to 34.31 kg among those who report wasting food. Gender, geographic location, and income were key predictors of daily food waste.

Entrepreneurial intention among Colombian university students: A theory of planned behavior analysis in Colombia

Studies on entrepreneurship have used several approaches, among which, research on entrepreneurial intention (EI) can be highlighted. Studies on EI help researchers better understand entrepreneurial behavior. In this sense, one of the most relevant frameworks in EI studies is the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), which stands out for its predictive capacity, mainly in a university context. The aim of this research was to determine the relationship between the variables of Personal Attitudes (PAs), Subjective Norms (SNs), and Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) with respect to the EI of university students in Colombia. For this purpose, we constructed a model that integrates the elements of the TPB with EI with reference to the validated instrument of the Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Student's Survey (GUESSS) project applied to a sample of 12,383 students. The estimation of the model uses structural equations (SEMs) by means of Partial Least Squares-Path Modelling (PLS-PM). The findings show that PAs and PBC are determinants of EI, while SNs have no direct influence; however, their effects are indirect. These results have implications for how to promote entrepreneurship in emerging economies through the university environment. The results indicate that the development of students' capabilities is essential for entrepreneurship and its incorporation into the university's knowledge transfer model.

Forgiveness Psychoeducation with Emerging Adults: REACH Forgiveness and Community Campaigns for Forgiveness

Much attention has been devoted to the effectiveness of forgiveness interventions in children and adolescents featuring two premier programs by Enright and his colleagues. Little attention has been given to psychoeducational forgiveness interventions with emerging adults. This is a narrative review of REACH Forgiveness studies with emerging adults (ages 18–25). The life tasks of emerging adults justify offering psychoeducational interventions to emerging adults. Research studies on REACH Forgiveness (k = 17), non-REACH Forgiveness studies (k = 4), and community campaigns at universities (k = 4) with emerging adults are summarized. Effect sizes per hour (d/h) for REACH Forgiveness studies (k = 13 for psychoeducational groups; k = 4 for self-administered workbooks) are reported. The proto-REACH groups (k = 5) had mean d/h = 0.104; REACH groups (k = 9) had d/h = 0.101; self-administered workbooks (k = 3) had mean d/h = 0.15; non-REACH Forgiveness studies (k = 4) had d/h = 0.09. All studies were from the USA, and most were from universities. However, a recent article reported randomized controlled trials in five non-USA samples of adults (N = 4598). A 3.34-h workbook had d/h = 0.16, suggesting that the workbook might be effective with emerging adults around the world. Finally, three USA Christian universities had public health immersion campaigns to promote forgiveness, and a community psychoeducational campaign in 2878 secular university students in Colombia (of ~9000 total) allowed choices among 16 psychoeducational activities. The number of activities used was proportional to forgiveness experienced. For forgiveness, d = 0.36 plus substantial reductions in depression and anxiety, indicating strong public health potential of forgiveness psychoeducation in emerging adults worldwide.

Information Consumption Habits of Young Colombian University Students

Information Consumption Habits of Young Colombian University Students

Multidimensional Emotional Disorder Inventory: reliability and validity in a Colombian non-clinical sample

BackgroundContemporary diagnostic frameworks in the realm of mental health have garnered criticism due to their categorical paradigm. Given the propensity of emotional disorders to manifest overlapping features, these frameworks fall short in comprehensively encapsulating their intricate nature. As a strategic response, Brown and Barlow introduced an innovative composite approach, amalgamating dimensions and categorical classifications, to adress this concern. Their strategic implementation hinged on the Multidimensional Emotional Disorder Inventory (MEDI), a transdiagnostic self-report instrument. Objective: this study undertakes the task of refining and validating the applicability of the MEDI within a non-clinical sample of Colombian university students (n = 808).MethodsThis study employed Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) to explore the structure of the measure. Results: ESEM suggested that the 8-dimension model with 48 items was the best-fitting solution, aligning with most dimensions identified by the original MEDI validation. Reliability was adequate for almost all dimensions (α: 0.69 – 0.92). An 8-dimension model with 48 items emerged as the most fitting solution, aligning with most dimensions identified by the original MEDI validation.ConclusionThe ensuing validation and contextual adaptation of the MEDI for use in the Colombian population augments the transdiagnostic evaluation of emotional disorders, with potential implications for enhanced stratification of targeted therapeutic interventions. By optimizing the assessment of both dimensional and cross-diagnostic paradigms, the MEDI portends a noteworthy impact in realms encompassing both academic inquiry and clinical practice.

Reliability and Validity of the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II Spanish Version in University Students.

The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) scale in Colombian university students. This was a methodological study to verify reliability and construct validity. A total of 763 undergraduate university students in Cali, Colombia, agreed to participate in the study by filling out a form that included information on sociodemographic characteristics and the HPLP-II scale Spanish version. Data were collected between February and June 2021. To determine construct validity, a confirmatory factor analysis was performed, and internal consistency was determined through Cronbach's alpha. The confirmatory factor analysis of the proposed theoretical model showed that the goodness-of-fit indices of the scale demonstrated an acceptable level of validity nearing an excellent level of fit (χ2 = 7168.98; gl = 1268; p < 0.001; root mean square error of approximation = 0.08; normed fit index, adjusted goodness-of-fit index = 0.95). Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.94, and the subscales ranged from 0.68 to 0.89. The HPLP-II Spanish version is a valid and reliable instrument to assess the health-promoting lifestyle profile of university students.

Predictive model of suicide risk in Colombian university students: quantitative analysis of associated factors

IntroductionThe risk of suicide and completed suicides among young university students presents critical challenges to mental and public health in Colombia and worldwide. Employing a quantifiable approach to comprehend the factors associated with these challenges can aid in visualizing the path towards anticipating and controlling this phenomenon.ObjectiveDevelop a predictive model for suicidal behavior in university students, utilizing predictive analytics.MethodWe conducted an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional, and analytical research study at the University of Manizales, with a focus on predictive applicability. Data from 2,436 undergraduate students were obtained from the research initiative “Building the Future: World Mental Health Surveys International College Students.”ResultsThe top ten predictor variables that generated the highest scores (ranking coefficients) for the sum of factors were as follows: history of sexual abuse (13.21), family history of suicide (11.68), medication (8.39), type of student (7.4), origin other than Manizales (5.86), exposure to cannabis (4.27), exposure to alcohol (4.42), history of physical abuse (3.53), religiosity (2.9), and having someone in the family who makes you feel important (3.09).DiscussionSuicide involves complex factors within psychiatric, medical, and societal contexts. Integrated detection and intervention systems involving individuals, families, and governments are crucial for addressing these factors. Universities also play a role in promoting coping strategies and raising awareness of risks. The predictive accuracy of over 80% in identifying suicide risk underscores its significance.ConclusionThe risk factors related to suicidal behavior align with the findings in specialized literature and research in the field. Identifying variables with higher predictive value enables us to take appropriate actions for detecting cases and designing and implementing prevention strategies.

Environmental awareness of university students in Colombia

The objective of this article was to evaluate the level of environmental awareness of university students in a peripheral region of southern Colombia. Environmental awareness was approached as a multidimensional variable consisting of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions. The study was quantitative, approached from the deductive method and descriptive type. The study population corresponded to young university students, and a non-probabilistic convenience sampling was used. For the environmental awareness variable, an instrument was developed with a Likert-type scale based on multiple research studies. The sample consisted of 527 university students. The reliability of the study was evaluated with Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability, while validity was analyzed with mean variance explained and confirmatory factor analysis, being in all cases satisfactory. As a result, modest levels of environmental awareness were evidenced in all dimensions, which is particularly worrying as most of the young people surveyed were between 18 and 25 years old, indicating low interest, knowledge, and availability for environmental issues among future professionals of the South Colombian region. The results were in line with certain results found in similar research reported in the literature. Nevertheless, the situation is worrisome because young students are the new generation of citizens. Acknowledgment This article was written within the framework of the Special Cooperation Agreement No. 230 of 2023 signed between the Universidad Surcolombiana and the Corporación Autónoma Regional del Alto Magdalena CAM in the project “Implementation of the SENDICAM Science Center as a strategy for the recognition, conservation and social appropriation of the natural heritage in the central and southern area of the department of Huila” BPIN 2021000100425.

Religious/spiritual struggles and whole person functioning among Colombian university students: Longitudinal evidence of mutual influence.

This prospective study examined the primary, secondary and complex conceptual models of religious/spiritual struggles with 18 indicators of whole person functioning across five domains: psychological well-being, psychological distress, social well-being, physical well-being and character. We used three waves of longitudinal data (Wave 1: August/September 2021, Wave 2: October/November 2021, Wave 3: February 2022) from Colombian university students (N = 2878, Mage = 20.88 ± 4.05 years). Adjusting for covariates assessed in Wave 1, our primary analysis applied the analytic templates for outcome-wide and lagged exposure-wide designs to estimate two sets of lagged linear regression models. Religious/spiritual struggles in Wave 2 were associated with a small-to-medium-sized decline in subsequent functioning on 17/18 indicators in Wave 3, and worse functioning on 16/18 indicators in Wave 2 was associated with very small-to-medium-sized increases in subsequent religious/spiritual struggles in Wave 3. The results provided evidence in favour of the complex conceptual model for 16/18 indicators of whole person functioning. Our findings extend existing evidence on the reciprocal association between religious/spiritual struggles and individual functioning to a wide range of indicators, reinforcing the need for practitioners to consider the dynamic interplay between religious/spiritual struggles and individual functioning as they work with younger populations.

Body Awareness as a Protective Factor against Suicidal Orientations in College Students.

In this study, binary logistic regression and linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between interoceptive body awareness and suicidal orientation among Colombian university students. Additionally, the bootstrap technique was employed to resample and estimate the distribution of the data. The results support the idea that greater interoceptive awareness may protect against suicidal orientation by improving emotional regulation. An inverse relationship was found between interoceptive awareness and suicidal ideation. These findings align with previous literature emphasizing the importance of body awareness for emotional well-being. Further longitudinal research is needed to explore this relationship more deeply.

Measuring Hypochondria with Short Health Anxiety Inventory: Psychometric Properties in Colombian University Students

Introduction. The Short Health Anxiety Inventory is a commonly used tool for assessing health anxiety, but its psychometric properties and internal structure have not been examined in a Latin American Spanish-speaking population. This study aimed to establish the psychometric properties among Colombian university students. Method. The goodness of fit of four latent structure models of the Short Health Anxiety Inventory was tested using confirmatory factor analysis in a sample of 1004 Colombian university students. Results. The results show that the original model's structure does not fit well (CFI = .808; RMSEA = .074), and the reliability was .796 and .703 for the original two variables. Conclusions. The findings do not support the utilization of the Colombian version of the Short Health Anxiety Inventory by researchers and clinicians among Colombian university students.

Colombian University Students’ Experiences as Users of the English Language During International Mobility

This exploratory case study analyzes Colombian university students’ experiences as English users during international mobility. Data collected through surveys and interviews were examined based on content analysis and principles of grounded theory. The students’ self-perceived English proficiency and communicative performance before and during international mobility were analyzed, while challenging areas were identified. The results evidence that mobility students have insufficient levels of English proficiency to engage in academic and social activities due to inadequate production skills and a lack of practice. The students also perceive university academic English opportunities for practice as basic, and they underutilize practice spaces. Nonetheless, they highlight that active engagement in autonomous language exposure and developed interpersonal skills positively impact their perception of language performance.

Prospective Teachers' Knowledge of Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents.

Over the past few years, organizations around the world have tried to reach different populations with recommendations about physical activity (PA), due to this subject playing an important role in the phases of intention development and in preparation for it. Thus, the knowledge of future educators in the fields of health and PA is of vital importance when improving the levels of the latter in students. The objective of this research is to determine what knowledge future teachers have about health and PA, examining possible disparities according to the gender, age, and level of physical exercise of the participants. In addition, the psychometric properties of the instrument used were explored. A total of 321 Colombian university students from the Faculty of Education between the ages of sixteen and thirty-five participated in this study, providing sociodemographic information by filling out the CUAFYS-A questionnaire. Significant differences were found in the scale items according to sex and self-perception of being physically active. Also, the findings revealed a single-factor structure with nine items that had satisfactory reliability (α = 0.71; CR = 0.72) and excellent goodness-of-fit indices (RMSEA = 0.055 (90% CI (0.3, 0.8), RMSR = 0.02, CFI = 0.935, NNFI = 0.912, CMIN/DF = 1.97). Therefore, strategies and campaigns to promote PA knowledge in prospective teachers should be tailored according to gender and PA levels. Similarly, the CUAFYS-A questionnaire can be considered a valid and reliable instrument to identify the PA knowledge of future educators.

The Ideal of Profitable: Information Systems, Debt, and the Shaping of Governable College Students in Colombia

Abstract This paper evaluates how higher education information systems have shaped financial subjectivities among university students in Colombia over the past two decades. It analyzes the financial conception of higher education promoted among those aspiring to higher education by exploring the debates on neoliberal governmentality and its impact on higher education. To achieve this goal, it traces the dissemination of human capital theory in the guidelines of multilateral organizations, searches for favorable mentions of financial aid programs in two national newspapers and estimates the intensity of interpellations in college magazine advertisements.

Concepts of Probability: a Study with Colombian University Students

La probabilidad es un concepto complejo de comprender que ha despertado interés en diversos investigadores. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo, explorar la percepción y los obstáculos presentes en estudiantes que cursaban por primera vez asignaturas relacionadas con probabilidad y estadística en una universidad colombiana. La metodología incluyó elementos de investigación cuantitativa y un diseño descriptivo-exploratorio. Se seleccionó una muestra determinista de 313 estudiantes. El diagnóstico evidenció que un 24,92% de los participantes asocian la probabilidad con los juegos de azar, el 29,39% desconoce su uso en su carrera profesional y un 40,58% en su vida diaria. Los resultados indicaron que su enseñanza ha tenido un carácter determinista con presencia de obstáculos epistemológicos, didácticos y cognitivos. Se concluye que el concepto de probabilidad es relacionado con el conocimiento adquirido en su educación pre universitaria y en sus creencias, requiriéndose la implementación de estrategias didácticas para mejorar sus niveles de comprensión.

Excessive Use of Mobile Phones and Social Networks Among Colombian University Students

INTRODUCTION: Social networks facilitate interactions among individuals, organizations, and communities. Their usage, especially among young people, has become increasingly widespread. This surge in usage has been linked to various impacts on individuals' daily lives and well-being, particularly in academic and emotional aspects. OBJECTIVES: This study seeks to examine the extent to which excessive use of social networks (SN) contributes to social isolation among undergraduate students aged 18 to 35, residing in the departments of Cundinamarca, Boyaca, and Meta in Colombia. This phenomenon is primarily due to problematic cell phone use. METHODS: We administered two established instruments: the "Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale (MPPUS-10)" adapted by Foerster et al. (2015), and the "Addiction to Social Networks Questionnaire " developed by Escurra &amp; Salas (2014). Statistical analyses included descriptive techniques, multivariate Henze-Zirkler normality test, univariate Shapiro-Wilk test, as well as non-parametric methods such as Spearman's correlation and the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: Key findings of this study include: (i) the identified intervention and mitigation strategies in the literature predominantly focus on prevention programs and family support with an emphasis on bolstering young people's self-esteem; (ii) 15.46% of the sample exhibited problematic cell phone use, with 25.96% indicating high intensity of social network use; (iii) significant differences were observed in relation to age and geographic location, while gender and socio-economic stratum did not exhibit a statistically significant impact; (iv) the statistical analysis demonstrated a positive and significant relationship with the dimensions of the Escurra &amp; Salas (2014) instrument, namely Interest in Social Media (ISM), concern about lack of control (LC), and Excessive use of SN (EU). CONCLUSION: The Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale (MPPUS-10) emerges as a concise and effective tool for identifying problematic cell phone use, and its association with excessive social network usage underscores the interconnectedness of these behaviours. This research sheds light on the prevalence of these issues among Colombian university students and provides valuable insights for targeted intervention and support strategies, emphasizing the importance of bolstering self-esteem in youth.

Adoption of Fintech Services in Young Students: Empirical Approach from a Developing Country

This work aimed to identify the main variables that determine the adoption of Fintech services in young students in the Colombian context through a model with five factors proposed to explain this behavior in 124 Colombian university students. The methodological design followed a quantitative approach and an exploratory–descriptive scope. For data processing, the statistical techniques exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to extract the relevant factors and evaluate the measurement model. To test the hypotheses about the relationships of the conceptual model constructs, Cramer’s V coefficient was used. The results showed that financial education and social influence have a positive effect on perceived benefit; in turn, low regulation is not strongly related to perceived benefit and is not dependent on social influence. However, digital literacy is affected by financial education and social influence. It is concluded that the number of mobile users in Colombia is increasing rapidly; however, the adoption of Fintech is slow. In addition, most of the university students in this study do not know what Fintech is, but they recognize that they use it frequently.

Validation of a Didactic Model for the Understanding of Academic Texts in Virtual Higher Education

Academic literacy is a crucial aspect of education, yet assessing it remains a challenge for universities in knowledge management. This research focuses on how to support Colombian university students in understanding academic texts in virtual learning environments. To address this issue and fill a gap in the literature, the main objective of this study is to propose a model for assessing academic literacy in virtual learning environments, using the Delphi method as a validation tool. A panel of language experts from various Latin American countries was convened to ensure a diverse and representative perspective of the region for this study. The research involved the participation of 15 experts with doctoral degrees from different countries, which allowed for a broad and heterogeneous perspective on academic literacy in virtual learning contexts in Latin America. Each of the participants contributed their knowledge and experience in the language area. In the results, ten key elements were identified and distributed in different subconstructs that allow for a comprehensive evaluation and improvement of academic competence in virtual learning environments. The identification of these elements provides teachers and university management personnel with a reliable and precise tool for evaluating students’ competence levels in virtual learning environments and designing effective pedagogical strategies to improve their academic performance.

A Qualitative Examination of the Impact of Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior on Help-Seeking Among University Students in Colombia and Mexico.

This study examined descriptions of suicidal thoughts and behavior (STB) to identify risk and protective factors that may present in clinical settings among university students from Latin America. Our focus was on answering the following key questions: How are suicidal thoughts and behavior described? What are reasons for wanting to die and for living? What impact do STBs have on motivations to seek or avoid psychological treatment? To this end, 55 qualitative interviews were completed with university students from Colombia and Mexico who recently endorsed emotional difficulties in the World Mental Health International College Student (WMH-ICS) surveys. Interviews were coded to identify themes specific to STBs. Findings revealed insight on symptom presentations and consequences of STBs. Participants described uncontrollable somatic symptoms during periods of high suicide risk, which serves as a relevant clinical marker for health providers. An important reason for living was to avoid suffering for family, which was protective against suicide and motivates familial involvement in treatment planning. Participants sought solutions to emotional problems after experiencing STBs, including psychological treatment. Cultural stigma of mental illness induced feelings of shame and burden, which led to avolition, avoidance, and nondisclosure of symptom severity. This study provides insight into the utility of evaluating cultural context in (a) detecting antecedents to STBs frequently reported as somatic symptoms, (b) identifying protective factors against suicide, and (c) recognizing how stigma of mental illness and suicide, shame avoidance, and familism might influence personal motivations to seek or avoid help for emotional distress.

Validation of the Hispanic American Version of the Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire (psi-q): A Culturally Adapted Measure of Multisensory Mental Imagery

Mental imagery is increasingly recognized to play a key role in psychotherapy, education, and other domains. The Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire (psi-q) measures the vividness of mental imagery in seven modalities: vision, sound, smell, taste, touch, bodily sensations, and feelings. This study adapted the psi-q for Hispanic-American respondents in Colombia and explored moderators of imagery vividness. Study 1 validated the original psi-q (short version) in a sample of 292 Colombian university students. Study 2 developed and validated a cultural adaptation of the psi-q with 508 Colombian adults from the general population. The Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire-2 (vviq-2) was used to analyze convergent validity in both samples. Thus we propose a new 29-item Hispanic-American version of the psi-q, adapted to cultural differences in the region, that displays good reliability and convergent validity. Imagery vividness was higher in females and at higher education levels. Higher cross-loadings between senses occurred in this sample, which may reflect cultural differences in somatization.