Indian Students Research Articles

Psycho-Social Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among University Students

Background: Students play a significant role in delivering effective messages for better uptake of health promoting behaviour. Understanding factors that are associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake among students will help develop promising strategies in vaccine promotion of the pandemic. The present investigation was undertaken to look into psycho-social drivers of COVID-19 uptake among Indian students. Method: 587 students, aged 18-35 years participated in an online survey. Standardized measures targeting socio-demographic details, health anxiety, preventive health behaviour and constructs of health belief model were used for the present study. Results: The results showed that overall vaccine uptake among students was quite high with nearly 74% of the students reported being vaccinated against COVID-19. Factors like COVID-19 contact, level of education, belief in safety and efficacy of vaccine, social distancing, age, health worry and preoccupation were emerged as the significant drivers of COVID-19 vaccination behaviour increase the probability of vaccine uptake among students. Moreover, factors like Interference with life, Reassurance Seeking, irrational belief about preventive health measures and perceived barriers about vaccination had significant negative link with vaccination decreasing the likelihood of vaccine uptake. Conclusion: Psychological and socio-demographic factors play vital role in the success of public health strategies of COVID-19 vaccine promotion in managing the pandemic.

The mediating role of sleep quality on the relationship between internet gaming disorder and perceived stress and suicidal behaviour among Indian medical students

BackgroundIn the recent digital era, individuals with internet gaming disorder (IGD) have reported a much higher prevalence of poor sleep quality, perceived stress and suicidal behaviour. However, the underlying mechanisms...

A Comparative Study of Hungarian and Indian University Students’ Attitudes Toward Forestry

Attitudes toward using wood as a raw material vary greatly, from anti-logging and anti-felling propaganda to the propagation of wood use. This study examines attitudes toward wood, trees, and sustainable forest management in two distinct cultures – India and Hungary. Our questionnaire survey findings indicate that sustainable forest management is considered more important in India than in Hungary and that environmental education is more widespread in India (40 %) than in Hungary (19 %). Over 30 % of people in both countries do not plan to keep wood-related traditions or customs. Indian students lean more toward discontinuing the wide use of wood than Hungarian students do. However, anti-logging/anti-felling propaganda is more widespread in Hungary (85 %) than in India (62 %). Passing wooden tools to the next generation shows a decreasing trend, which is significant from a carbon sequestration, carbon storage perspective, and climate protection. The study findings suggest that keeping wood-related traditions and customs should be strengthened in both countries through environmental education.

Life Satisfaction among College Students in Relation to Family and Food

Abstract: Overall life satisfaction of college students depends on numerous domains. This study analyzes two of these domains specifically, family life satisfaction and food-related satisfaction in relation to overall life satisfaction of Indian college students. Moreover, the differences in these domains among migrated and non-migrated students were analyzed. Three separate scales, namely, Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Satisfaction With Food-related Life Scale and the Family Satisfaction Scale were used to assess the relationship between the variables. Sample included 148 college going students in India, belonging to the age group of 18-25. Results suggested a positive relationship between family and overall life satisfaction of students. No significant relationship was found between food-related and overall life satisfaction. Food-related satisfaction of non-migrated students was found to be higher than migrated students. No difference was found between overall and family satisfaction among migrated and non-migrated students.

Anxiety level among undergraduate medical students: A cross-sectional study using the Hamilton: A scale

Introduction: Medical education being a stressful course; high levels of anxiety and depression have been studied and documented among medical students all over the globe. Anxiety, being the precursor of depression, needs special attention and screening in Indian medical students. Objectives: To study the level of anxiety in medical students of different academic years. Methodology: A self-reporting questionnaire using ‘Google forms’ format was shared by WhatsApp and emails to undergraduate medical students of college. The questionnaire contained demographic details and Hamilton-A scale to assess the anxiety having maximum score of 56. Written consent was part of questionnaire and only consented forms were accepted. The responses were collected anonymously and analyzed using MS excel 2007 and EpiInfo 7.2 Results: Total 623 students participated in the study, of which 54.4% were male. 73%, students had minimal to mild anxiety, whereas 15% and 13% had mild to moderate and moderate to severe anxiety respectively. Severe anxiety in male students was higher (16.07%) as compared to female students (8.71). Final year medical students (24.11%) and Day Scholars (19.57%) showed highest severe anxiety. Conclusion: Anxiety is prevalent in medical students. Female and final year students reported higher levels on the anxiety score.

COVID-19 epidemic anxiety, mental stress, and sleep disorders in developing country university students

COVID-19 damaged the quality of sleep and mental stamina worldwide despite public health initiatives. Problems with sleep can damage health and academic performance, thus university students should know their frequency and causes. This study explored university students’ COVID-19 Anxiety, Mental Stress, and Sleep Disorders. The internet-deployed transversal analysis includes 443 Indian and Ethiopian students from April 1 to 13, 2021. After creating a Google form link, respondents received the survey via WhatsApp, E-mail, Telegram, and others. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index examined student sleep concerns. Descriptive and inferential studies estimated sleep disruption frequency and causes. Logistic regression and chi-squared testing found sleep problems in Indian and Ethiopian university students. The researcher examined SPSS 25 data. 54.7% had sleep difficulties. Being female [Conditional Odds Ratio = 4.32, 95 percent Confidence interval (Lower-1.807)–(Upper-10.370)], smoking [2.81, 95 percent CI (Lower-1.609)–(Upper-4.920)], spending 14 days in quarantine [1.87, 95 percent CI (Lower-1.042)–(Upper-3.373)], and having a family member with COVID-19 [1.94, 95 percent CI (Lower-1.anxiety [Conditional Odds Ratio = 4.01, 95 percent CI (Lo Ethiopian and Indian pupils sleep poorly. Female gender, smoking, 14-day quarantine, and sleep troubles were connected to COVID-19 dread, COVID-19-infected family member, viral exposure, depression, anxiety, and stress in Indian and Ethiopian university students. Interventions should increase university students’ sleep.

Exploring the Role of Corporate Social Responsibility, Perceived Work Environment and Organizational Reputation in Organization Attractiveness: A Case of Generation Z Students in Indian Higher Learning Institutions

The purpose of this research is to understand the factors affecting attractiveness of an organization to potential talent,specifically among Indian higher education students from Generation Z. The study focuses on the impact of perceived work environment(PWE), social responsibility of organisations (CSR), perceived work environment (PWE), and reputation of organisations (OR) onorganizational attractiveness. With the Zgeneration entering the workforce in large numbers and on track to outnumber previousgenerations, organizations have begun to focus their attention on understanding the unique qualities and preferences of this generation to attract and retain them. This research study has adopted a quantitative approach and collected cross-sectional data using online and offline questionnaires distributed to students from various higher institutions in India. The research tools used in the study were taken from previous studies, and the data collected from 204 respondents were analyzed using appropriate software and evaluated through descriptive statistics, and regression. The results indicate that CSR, PWE, and organizationalreputation significantly influence organizational attractiveness. The research provides valuable inputs for organizations seeking to improve their employer brand attractiveness,particularly among the Z generation. By understanding the preferences and priorities of this demographic group, organizations can design programs and strategies that better align with their values and attract and retain top talent .

Just world belief, religiosity, and attitudes towards homosexuality: a study of indian engineering students

Just world belief, religiosity, and attitudes towards homosexuality: a study of indian engineering students

Exploring the psychometric properties of the digital citizenship scale among Indian students

Purpose Previous studies highlighted a shortage of scale to measure digital citizenship among Indians. Accordingly, this study examined the psychometric properties of Jones and Mitchell’s (2016) digital citizenship scale in the Indian context with the help of two independent studies.Design/methodology/approach In the first study, the factorial validity of the scale was determined using the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). In the second study, Cronbach’s alpha (CA) and composite reliability (CR) values checked the internal consistency reliability of the scale. Also, convergent, discriminant and criterion validity were examined.Findings EFA recommended a two-factor structure explaining 58.219% of the total variance. The item loadings varied from 0.540 to 0.793. The Indian version of the scale showed one variation. In the original digital citizenship scale, the seventh statement (“I like to present myself online as someone was making positive choices”) was part of factor 1 (online respect); however, this study suggested that the seventh statement should be included in factor 2 (online civic engagement). In the second study, the acceptable (>0.70) values of CA and CR concluded the internal consistency reliability of the scale. The convergent validity was suggested by average variance explained values (>0.50). In addition, as expected, the Indian version of the digital citizenship scale reported a statistically significant positive correlation with Internet self-efficacy and a considerable negative relationship with cyberbullying. These findings concluded the criterion validity of the scale.Originality/value The Indian version of the digital citizenship scale showed appreciable psychometric properties among Indian students.

Collaborative online international learning, social innovation and global health: cosmopolitical COVID lessons as global citizenship education

ABSTRACT While COVID-19 has underlined many global interdependencies , it has also made clear the ways in which these globalised connections are structured by profound inequalities. Teaching in this context has been deeply challenging for many educators around the world. For related reasons, though, the pandemic has also created new provocations for global citizenship education (GCE) attuned specifically to the problems of health vulnerability and sub-citizenship caused by socio-economic inequalities. Describing one such educational opportunity, we examine the lessons learned from connecting two university courses across continents through a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) collaboration in the middle of the pandemic. Our courses brought together students from India and the US online to study how health vulnerabilities under COVID compared in the two countries. The collaborations of our Indian and American students helped them to develop practical skills in communication across a vast distance, while also offering cosmopolitical opportunities for learning ‘other-wise’. Based on their reflections on their learning in the course, we suggest that the COIL approach provided a useful set of lessons about how global citizenship education can be enhanced through transnational and collaborative, but also critical and comparative attention to sub-citizenship in the world at large.

Assessing the role of materialism and gratitude in life satisfaction through IPMA: the mediating role of meaningfulness in life

PurposeThis study aims to create a more humane and responsible workplace, individuals’ gratitude and meaningfulness seem of utmost importance. This study is an effort to understand the role of gratitude intent of potential managers.Design/methodology/approachThis study examines the psychological characteristic of business students in India. The researchers surveyed 333 Indian students as future managers. The collected data has been analysed with the Smart PLS 3 version to assess the formative-reflective scale by comparing model fit, measurement model and structural modelling.FindingsThe results establish that gratitude significantly affects the life satisfaction of future managers. Findings also show that materialism is negatively related to life satisfaction and meaningfulness. The importance–performance map analysis finding suggests that meaningfulness in life is a potential indicator of life satisfaction for the population studied.Originality/valueDue to the limited research available on the psychological underpinnings in the Indian context, there is a massive value in examining how materialism and gratitude concurrently and distinctively predict meaning in life and the life satisfaction of future managers. This paper gives a formative explanation of the model consisted gratitude, materialism and meaningfulness in life on the life satisfaction of future managers. This study establishes the importance of meaningfulness of life in attaining life satisfaction for young managers.

Emergence of Social Media as an antecedent of Employability: A PLS-SEM Approach

Purpose : This study intended to investigate the influence of social media on the perceived employability of students, with a special emphasis on the use of social networking sites (SNS) such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Other independent variables of this study are the contacts of students, which can help them find and attain the desired job. Methodology : Using descriptive research design, data were collected through a structured questionnaire using a 7-point Likert scale from 339 management students. The psychometric properties of instruments were determined through validity and reliability. Furthermore, structural assessments were conducted using hypothesis testing, model fit estimates, and predictive relevance (r - square). Findings : The results showed a positive and significant influence of SNS and contacts on the perceived employability of students. SNS and contacts were found to create a variance of 33% in perceived employability. Moreover, the reliability and validity of the adapted instrument were well established, supporting its use and application in the Indian context. Practical Implications : The theoretical implication of this study is for social capital theory and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model. The implications of this study are meant for management students, higher education institutes, career educationalists, and policymakers. Originality : The novelty of this research lies in the fact that it aims at capturing the perception of Indian students regarding the usage of SNS for employability.

The transition from traditional to digital: factors that propel Generation Z’s adoption of online learning

Purpose This study aims to identify factors affecting Generation Z (Gen-Z)’s online learning (OL) behavioural intention (BI) using the extended technology acceptance model by investigating gender differences in the BI of Indian students to adopt OL.Design/methodology/approach The proposed model was tested on 284 students from a higher education institution (HEI) in Gujarat, India, using the partial least square–structural equation modelling. Further, the subgroup analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) to determine male and female OL adoption variances.Findings Based on the research findings, all the constructs positively influence the BI of Gen-Z to adopt OL, except the influence of information technology infrastructure (INF) on perceived usefulness (PU). However, no substantial difference was observed in the BI adoption of OL amongst males and females. Also, when gender was kept as a moderator between computer self-efficacy (CSE) and PU, and INF and perceived ease of use (PEU), no substantial difference was observed in the OL of Gen-Z.Research limitations/implications The study will benefit HEIs and associated government departments from a deeper understanding of Gen-Z’s BI to speed up deployment and consider key elements essential while considering OL.Originality/value This article found major determinants of Gen-Z’s BI to adopt the OL in HEI. To the best of the author’s understanding, this is amongst the few studies to explore these ideas in the context of India. The uniqueness of the topic has been brought to light by the fact that “gender” has been employed as a moderator between attitude and BI, INF and PEU, and CSE and PU.

Development and validation of techno-ethical orientation scale for Indian post-millennial students

Purpose Post-millennial youths are well equipped with internet technology and computers since birth and find it easier to operate computers and technologies than their previous generations. With the advancement of technology, the ethical dilemma associated with its use has evolved. This paper aims to develop and validate a measurement scale for the ethical orientation of post-millennial technology usage by capturing the key factors that best describe the behavior adopted by students. Design/methodology/approach A systematic scale development procedure was used, involving both reviews of the literature and focus group discussions to generate the items that specify the domain of this study. After generating items, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were applied to identify latent constructs of techno-ethical orientation. Lastly, the scale was subjected to reliability and validity testing. Findings The study found that the techno-ethical orientation scale has five dimensions: privacy concerns, classroom behavior, accessibility dilemma, social media usage and assignment ethics. Overall, a scale comprising 17 statements was derived. Research limitations/implications The findings of our study attempt to augment the growing efforts to explore all facets of techno-ethics. It is probably the first attempt to develop a valid and reliable scale for the techno-ethical orientation of post-millennial. Practical implications This scale could be used by academicians and practitioners to assess the techno-ethical orientation of post-millennial for positive interventions. Originality/value This study derives a new reliable and valid scale for measuring the techno-ethical orientation of post-millennial toward technology usage.

Optimism Bias as Moderator to Deal with Anxiety & Depression: Empirical Evidence from PLS – SEM Based Approach

The research aims at examining the influence of loneliness and stress on anxiety and depression. The role of optimism bias in regulating anxiety and depression dimensions among 726 students in India is investigated. Partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach is used to study the relationships between constructs. According to the data, optimism bias significantly moderates the association among stress and anxiety & between loneliness and anxiety. The research enables understanding of the consequences of Covid-19 upon the psychology of the students while providing an insight into the behavioural implications of loneliness, stress and optimism bias on the anxiety level and depression of students. The study enables the academicians and management in formulating communication and management strategies for students. Limited studies have been found on stress and depression in Indian student's context. It is the first study to employ an optimistic bias scale to investigate the behaviour of students in India and its impact on the students’ mental health using anxiety and depression as variables.

Emotional Disorders, Dispositional Mindfulness, and Mediating Role of Acceptance in Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students

‘For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is, let it rain.’ ( Longfellow, 1906 ) Mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and stress, affect a sizable proportion of university students. Yet, little is known regarding the incidence of mental health issues among Indian university students. These mental health issues are generally caused by a range of factors, including academic demands, interpersonal connections ( Steptoe, 2007 ), future prospects, competitive exams, peer pressure, and professional considerations ( Beiter et al., 2015 ). One of the most important mental health problems impacting a large population across India and the world is depression, leading to physical diseases, suicidal thoughts, and suicide, among other negative outcomes ( Gururaj et al., 2016 ). According to the NCRB Report, 2021, the two age groups most susceptible to suicide were between 18 and 30 and 30 and 44. Suicide rates in both age categories were 34.5% and 31.7%, respectively. Family issues (3,233 victims), romantic relationships (1,495 victims), and illness (1,408 victims) were the three leading factors in suicides below 18 years of age, while the victims that were either students or unemployed made up 8.0% (13,089 victims) and 8.4% (13,714 victims) of all suicides, respectively. The objectives of this study were to understand and add to the body of knowledge on the role of mindfulness concerning depression, anxiety, and stress amongst university students; the role of mindfulness concerning avoidant behaviours amongst university students; and the mediating role of acceptance in the relationship between mindfulness and depression, anxiety, and stress amongst university students. The results of the study revealed that depression, experiential avoidance, and mindfulness are all strongly and negatively connected. The study discovered a strong correlation between experiential avoidance and depression, anxiety, and stress (psychological distress). Mindfulness had a considerable impact on the mediator, experiential avoidance, which was postulated.

Mindfulness and Subjective Well-Being of Indian University Students: Role of Resilience during COVID-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is presently a global health issue that negatively affects the mental health and well-being of students globally. The latest investigations have recognized the role of mindfulness in individual subjective well-being. This study explores the mediating role of resilience in the overall relationship between mindfulness and subjective well-being among Indian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data was collected between 10 August 2020 to 24 October 2020 via a self-administered questionnaire from 589 university students in India. Results revealed that resilience has a partial mediating role between mindfulness and subjective well-being. The results substantiate that resilience has an important role in mindfulness, exercising its advantageous effects on mental health of the students in higher education institutions. This research adds to the knowledge base of mindfulness and subjective well-being of university students, especially in contingent times. Lastly, the study contributes to the existing mindfulness theory.

Ear morphology and anthropometry: gender and age differences in Indian college students

The human ear is an important organ that serves as a sensory input for sound and balance. Ear morphology can vary greatly between individuals and can be influenced by various factors such as age, sex, genetics, and environmental factors. This study aimed to investigate ear dimensions and anthropometry of a sample of Indian college students.A total of 100 Indian college students were included in this cross-sectional study. Ear measurements including total ear height (TEH), ear width (EW), lobule height (LH), and lobule width (LW) were obtained using digital calipers. Lobule index (LI) and ear index (EI) were calculated using the following formula: LI = LH/TEH x 100 and EI = EW/TEH x 100. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent sample t-tests.The mean values for TEH, EW, LH, and LW increased with increasing age for both the right and left ears. Male participants had significantly greater TEH and EW compared to females for both the right and left ears. There were significant differences in lobule height (right ear) and lobule index (right and left ear) between males and females, with males having slightly larger measurements than females.Our study provides valuable information on ear dimensions and anthropometry in a sample of Indian college students. The findings of our study are consistent with previous studies conducted worldwide, as well as in India. Our study highlights the importance of considering gender and age when investigating ear dimensions and anthropometry.

INTERNET ADDICTION AND LEVEL OF ANXIETY AMONG SCHOOL STUDENTS

Internet Addiction is a rising problem among the Indian school students. The purpose of this research was to find out the extent of internet addiction among higher secondary level school students and the anxiety of higher secondary level school students having different levels of internet addiction. The research was conducted on 600 students of CBSE schools in Bhopal. The information was collected by Internet Addiction Scale and General Anxiety Scale. The findings revealed that 10% had normal level of internet addiction, 56% had mild level of internet addiction, 33% had moderate level of internet addiction and just 1% had severe level of internet addiction, the lower the level of internet addiction the lower will be the anxiety of the higher secondary level school students and girls are found to have significantly higher anxiety than boys.

Effect on exam performance through massive open online courses versus face-to-face classrooms among Indian medical students: An analytic study

Background & Objective: With the affluence of use and better accessibility, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have become essential in imparting education in the ongoing COVID scenario. The study aims to compare the effect of MOOCs versus face-to-face classrooms on medical students’ learning outcomes in anatomy exams at the end of the first year of a medical course. Materials & Methods: The cross-sectional study included 300 first-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students in two batches (150 each). The first group underwent a one-year MOOCs group, and the second group experienced a one-year face-to-face classroom. The training program and study materials for the anatomy curriculum were kept the same for both groups by the standard National Medical Council curriculum of India. The assessment was standardized and based on summative University examinations. Results: The mean score in the university theoretical exam was significantly higher in the MOOCs group as compared to the classroom learning group (66.68 ± 6.61 vs 63.52 ± 7.97, P-value: 0.001), whereas the mean scores in the practical examination were significantly higher in classroom learning group as compared to MOOCs group (78.71 ± 6.28 vs. 74.19 ± 7.45, P-value: 0.001). The MOOCs group shows better learning in the cognitive domain. Conclusion: The classroom learning groups performed better in the practical examination, which assesses the psychomotor and affective domain of learning. Hence, a blended T/L method involving both classroom and online methods is recommended as India’s preferred approach to imparting medical education.