Indian Students Research Articles

Assessing The Psychometric Properties of The Internet Addiction Test (IAT) Among Indian School Students

Background: Internet addiction is found to be a growing global problem and India is not exceptional. Adolescents are more over addicted to internet and suffering with mental confusions and deviation in behaviour. Several instruments have been developed for assessment of Internet addiction. Internet Addiction Test (IAT) is the most widely used tool to assess internet addiction, but psychometric properties of the IAT have not yet been examined in the Indian adolescence. The aim was to examine the validity and reliability of the 20-item Internet Addiction Test in Indian School Students. Methodology: Seven hundred fifty-two students from a CBSE school of Raipur, India was randomly selected in our study. The reliability and validity of IAT was examined. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the structural validity of IAT. Results: It was found that the factor loading of the IAT varied between 0.40 and 0.82. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the scale was found to be 905. The total correlations were calculated and had a value range from 0.406 to 0.659 for the 20 items. The psychometric properties indicate that the factor loading reveal that the test revolve around six factors (Salience, Excessive Use, Neglected Work, Anticipation, Lack of Control, and Neglected Social Life). The Cronbach’s alpha is high for all the 6 components. IAT is a proper tool for evaluating internet addiction in Indian school students. Conclusions: The findings obtained in this study indicate that overall, IAT has adequate psychometric properties for the assessment of internet addiction in Indian school students.

Substance use prevalence and associated factors among Indian college students: A narrative review

Abstract Substance use among college students is increasing in India. This may be linked to a few contextual factors associated with developmental changes. This narrative review used articles about substance use prevalence among college students in India published between 2010 and 2021. Keywords such as college students, undergraduate students, university, India, substance use, drug use, and drug addiction were used in PubMed, Google Scholar, and ProQuest databases. A total of 12 articles were included in the study. Overall, substance use prevalence among college students ranged from 17.15% to 60.26%. Substance use was higher among professional course students (medical: 17.15% to 60.26% and engineering: 26.87% to 47%.) than general degree (arts, commerce, and science) students (31.3% to 31.8%). Tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis were the most used substances. Engineering and medical students had greater accessibility and affordability to illicit substances than general degree students. Stress, peer pressure, curiosity, social celebration, health and academic benefits, family and personal problems, easy availability, and experimental use were associated with substance use. This study has generated insight into many factors associated with substance use among college students in India.

Effectiveness of the Reading Strategies Used by Engineering Students at the Undergraduate Level

Communication skills consist of four primary skills namely listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. This study tries to investigate the effectiveness of the reading strategies used by undergraduate technical students with diverse backgrounds at the intermediate level of learning English. A total of 371 Tamil-speaking Indian students of second-year and third-year of an engineering institute in South India participated in this study. They were provided with a list of questions that were five-point Likert scale closed-ended. The survey was conducted in the presence of the researchers for effective collection of data. To measure the reliability of the data collected, the Cronbach alpha test was conducted and the coefficients were derived. IBM SPSS and the data analysis tools of MS Excel were used for data analysis. The items presented in the questionnaire were divided into three sub-scales and the effectiveness of the same was interpreted. The results showed that the global understanding strategy is predominantly used by the participants followed by problem-solving strategy and supporting strategy. This lays the scope for the enhancement of the items clubbed under the problem-solving strategy and supporting strategy. The study also suggests training the instructors and the students to evaluate the effectiveness of their strategies and compare them with their peers’ strategies for better investigation and learning experience.

Factors Influencing Entrepreneurial Intentions and the Role of Entrepreneurship Education in Indian Universities: A Stakeholder Perspective

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the factors that influence the entrepreneurial intentions of university students in India, with a specific focus on family background, socio-cultural environment, and entrepreneurship education. Additionally, the research seeks to assess the current state of entrepreneurship education in Indian universities. Theoretical framework: A conceptual framework was developed based on an extensive literature review to establish relationships between stakeholders and entrepreneurial intention. This framework serves as a guiding structure for the study, enabling the examination of the various factors influencing entrepreneurial intentions among university students in India. Design/methodology/approach: The study employed an empirical research approach. Data was collected from a sample of 207 students using appropriate research instruments. The conceptual framework was tested using this data, enabling the identification and analysis of four stakeholder factors and three entrepreneurial intention factors. Findings: The findings reveal that specific dimensions of the socio-cultural environment and business development support have a positive and statistically significant impact on the entrepreneurial intention of university students in India. These results shed light on the factors that play a crucial role in shaping the entrepreneurial aspirations of students in the Indian context. Research, Practical & Social implications: The study emphasizes the need for high-quality entrepreneurship education, improved non-academic processes, and leveraging family background constructs to foster entrepreneurial intentions among Indian university students, providing valuable insights for policymakers and educational institutions. Originality/value: The study's conceptual framework, empirical research approach, unique insights, and practical recommendations contribute to the existing knowledge on entrepreneurship among Indian university students, providing valuable guidance for stakeholders in fostering a supportive educational ecosystem.

Spiritual Wellbeing of International Students: A New Zealand Case Study

Wellbeing of international students is an extensively explored topic in international education discourses. A plethora of research has been devoted to general wellbeing of international students. Nevertheless, little is known about international students’ spiritual wellbeing which can be pivotal to their adaptation to the new environment. In the context of New Zealand higher education, utilizing an intrinsic single case study design, this study examined spiritual wellbeing experienced by Indian international students. Phenomenographic interviews were conducted with 13 Indian students who were studying management courses at postgraduate level in an institute of technology in a North Island city of New Zealand. Data analysis generated three dimensions (spiritual cognition, spiritual practice, spiritual efficacy) of spiritual wellbeing which were influenced by four strategies of adaptation (connection, isolation, accommodation, integration). This study provided new insights into the experiences of international students which may influence international education in the long run.

Racial/ethnic differences in anorexia and bulimia diagnoses among U.S. college students

This study examined the prevalence of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) diagnoses among college students from different racial/ethnic backgrounds. Utilizing archival data from the American College Health Association - National College Health Assessment II-C (ACHA-NCHA II-C), information from 426,425 college students collected between 2015 and 2019 was examined. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the prevalence of AN and BN diagnoses among various racial and ethnic groups. The highest odds of AN diagnosis were observed among American Indian, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian (AI/AN/NH) students, with odds ranging from 2.143 (compared to White students) to 3.744 (compared to Black students). White students had higher odds of AN than Black (OR = 1.748), Hispanic/Latino (OR = 1.706), and Asian (OR = 1.531) students. Biracial/Multiracial students had significantly higher odds of AN than Black (OR = 1.653), Hispanic/Latino (OR = 1.616), and Asian (OR = 1.449) students. In terms of BN diagnoses, AI/AN/NH students had the highest odds compared to all other groups, ranging from 2.149 (compared to White students) to 2.899 (compared to Hispanic/Latino students). White students had higher odds of BN than Black (OR = 1.271) and Hispanic/Latino (OR = 1.350) students. Biracial/Multiracial students also had significantly higher odds of BN than Black (OR = 1.388) and Hispanic/Latino (OR = 1.474) students. Asian students had higher odds of BN than Black (OR = 1.252) and Hispanic/Latino (OR = 1.329) students. These findings demonstrate complex patterns of AN and BN diagnoses among different racial/ethnic groups. These results highlight the need for culturally sensitive prevention and treatment plans on college campuses.

A review on understanding the risk factors for coronary heart disease in Indian college students

ABSTRACT College students shift from being adolescents to becoming adults, and they are more likely to embrace habits that increase the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). India has 253 million teenagers and is the second-most populous nation in the world. The current situation in India shows that young people there are at risk for CHD-related diseases. The long-term CHD risk in the future is highly predicted by the current risk factors in young people. The purpose of the current study is to describe all the research that was done among Indian college students to show the depth of CHD exposure in young people. This analysis emphasizes the demand for better risk assessment techniques and more youth awareness among Indians. The evidence of the persistence of CHD risk factors in these college-bound students comes from various cross-sectional studies. However, they are largely modifiable risk factors for diabetes, hypertension, and CHD that are very common among India’s student population. These CHD risks can be changed in 80% of cases. Therefore, a community-based approach will be helpful in this multicultural nation to prevent CHD. To correctly identify and manage CHD, increased screening should play a crucial role in tandem with education.

Chronotype and Its Relationship with Sleep Quality among Professional Students at Indian University

Context: Chronotype varies from one individual to others and thus results in individual difference in physical performance and quality of sleep. Aims: This study’s goal was to determine the chronotype and its relationship to sleep quality in university-level professional students. Settings and Design: This was a cross-sectional survey of professional students at university level. Subjects and Methods: A total of 240 students completed the Horne and Ostberg morningness–eveningness questionnaires (MEQs) to determine their chronotype and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to determine the quality of sleep at university students. Statistical Analysis: The data were analyzed with Spearman’s correlation test and Chi-square test. Results: A total of 240 students, 72 (30%) females and 168 (70%) males, participated in this study (age 18–28 years): 137 (57.1%) intermediate types, 75 (31.3%) morning types, and 28 (11.7%) evening types. Morning typology was more common among Indian males. In terms of MEQ typology, there was no discernible gender difference (P = 0.06 > 0.05). A noteworthy inverse relationship has been observed between the chronotype score (MEQ) and the sleep quality (PSQI) (rho = −0.15). It was noted that 10.4% of individuals had poor sleep quality. Conclusion: The majority of Indian university professionals are of the intermediate type, and it appears that Indian students, particularly males, are slightly more likely to be morning type than people from some Western societies. Evening chronotype students have poor quality of sleep.

Associations of historical trauma and racism with health care system distrust and mental health help-seeking propensity among American Indian and Alaska Native college students.

In the American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) population there is a discrepancy between high rates of mental health needs and low utilization rates of mental health services. This study sought to explore whether historical trauma and racial discrimination are associated with health care system (HCS) distrust and negative attitudes toward seeking mental health services. Participants were AIAN college students (n = 392) who completed a cross-sectional online survey. A sequential mediation analysis examined whether historical trauma (thoughts and associated symptoms) was associated with less favorable attitudes toward seeking mental health services, and whether distrust of the HCS mediated this association. A second mediation analysis examined whether perceived racial discrimination was associated with less favorable attitudes toward seeking mental health services, and whether distrust of the HCS mediated this association. Greater reported historical trauma (thoughts and associated symptoms) and racial discrimination were associated with greater distrust of the HCS, which in turn was associated with less favorable attitudes toward seeking mental health services. Perceived racial discrimination was also directly associated with less favorable attitudes toward seeking mental health services. Historical trauma and perceived racial discrimination appear to contribute to less favorable attitudes toward seeking mental health services through their association with distrust of the HCS. This suggests that attempts to address the underutilization of mental health services in the AIAN population should consider the potential roles of historical trauma, racial discrimination, and distrust. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

INDIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS IN CENTRAL ASIA: A WAY OF COOPERATION BETWEEN TWO REGIONS

The emergence of new international actors put an end to the previous monopoly of national educational systems in Central Asia, which retained significant elements from the old Soviet, as a result the region has seen a rapid growth in the number of students attending Medical education since the end of the Soviet period. Three central Asian countries: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have attracted several thousand students from India for several reasons including low fees, cheaper standard of living and nearness. India’s state governments are active partners in growing cooperation with the region, while there is an active partnership with them in education and high-altitude research. In Kyrgyzstan alone, there are more than 15 000 Indian students pursuing medical education. However, while Central Asia is becoming a hotbed for the Indian students, there a number of challenges which need to be overcome by the region. Amongst the underlying challenges some are as follows: Language sufficiency of academic staff, mobility of staff between two countries, medical practicing of foreign students, cultural adaptation, cultural exchange, medical and educational investments in Kyrgyzstan. This article will shed light on the mobility of Indian students to Central Asia for studying medical science. Points such as how this mobility can contribute to strengthening the relations between two regions, challenges - as mentioned above - will be discussed at length.

IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL & MENTAL HEALTH: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS

Aim of the study: The purpose of this research was to examine how the COVID-19 epidemic affected the mental, social, and psychological well-being of medical students in Delhi-NCR, India. Design/Methodology: Medical students in the 'Delhi-NCR' region of India were surveyed for a pandemic. The hypothesised relationship was examined by regression analysis, and the conceptual model was confirmed through the results. Findings: This study shows that the mental, social, and psychological impact of COVID-19 among Indian medical students is substantial. Medical students' 'mental, social, and psychological' health was shown to be strongly damaged by the identified risk factors, such as having a family member infected with COVID-19 or losing close ones. The study also indicated that the association between the 'Impact of the Covid 19 Pandemic (ICP)' and 'Psychological Health (PH)' was the strongest (0.818), while the relationship between the 'ICP' and 'Social Health (SH)' was the worst (0.587). Practical Implications: This research has the potential to significantly improve people's health and social functioning by assisting in the design of individualised preventative and intervention programmes to lessen the toll the pandemic has taken on people's physical and mental health. Originality/value: The focus of this study was to analyse how the recent COVID-19 pandemic has affected medical students' emotional, social, and mental well-being. Keywords: COVID-19, Psychological, Social & Mental Health, Regression Analysis Paper Type: Research paper

MOOCs Platform: A Review and Sources

Recent years have seen a significant and eye-opening transformation in the Indian educational sector. Although "Massive Open Online Course" (MOOC) platforms have been available to students for learning purposes since the beginning, its potential has only lately been recognised. The purpose of this essay is to examine and contrast the major MOOC platforms utilised to provide courses in India, as well as the numerous difficulties they encounter. To accomplish these goals, a detailed examination of the four most established and popular MOOC platforms is conducted. NPTEL (2003), mooKIT (2014), IITBombayX (2017), and SWAYAM (2017) are among them. The lack of digital infrastructure, the necessity for investment, and learners' capacity to adapt to MOOCs are a few of the researchers' top concerns with relation to how well MOOCs perform in India. It was also realised that there may be a possible compromise in the calibre of the research work done, the requirement to raise the calibre of information produced, and the necessity to address the variety of demands of Indian students

Motivation for solitude, COVID-19-related anxiety and resilience among Indian medical students.

Recent reports indicate that self-isolation because of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related lockdowns had significant influence on mental health of medical students. To understand the relationship between two different motivations for solitude - self-determined versus non-self-determined with medical students' COVID-19-related anxiety and psychological resilience during their self-isolation because of COVID-19-related lockdowns. After the approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee, this online survey was done on undergraduate Indian medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Expressing consent at the beginning of the online form, enabled the students to proceed to the next section comprising their sociodemographic details and clinical details. The last section of the form comprised the Motivation for Solitude Scale-Short Form, the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-Abbreviated. 282 out of 286 students of either sex gave their consent and completed the given form. Both self-determined and non-self-determined motivations for solitude were higher in female medical students. The self-determined motivation for solitude was directly related to all students' resilience. A past history of psychiatric illness was directly associated with the non-self-determined motivation for solitude of the students. The non-self-directed motivation for solitude of female students was indirectly related to their resilience. The COVID-19-related anxiety was not related to either type of motivation for solitude as well as the resilience of the medical students. Indian female medical students are more motivated for solitude, be it self-determined or non-self-determined, than their male counterparts. The student's resilience has a direct relationship with students' self-determined motivation. The COVID-19-related anxiety among the medical students is not related to their motivations for solitude or resilience.

Sir Syed Ahmad Khan’s Multifarious Activities in England

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the British Empire surpassed all the earlier empires in territorial size, during this time period British Empire earned the illustrious title ‘the Empire which never sees a sunset’. From 1858 to 1947, known as the British Crown Raj, the entire territory encompassing India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh was under the direct rule of Britain by the Parliament working on behalf of the British Crown. During this era, a substantial number of Indians - largely professionals - went to Britain. Indian students won scholarships for pursuing higher education and vital professional qualification in the UK, subsequently entering into the established system of colonial hierarchy upon their return to India. Political activists being qualified stayed on to practice their professions in England. Businessmen went to seek economic opportunities. In such an environment, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan decided to visit Britian. As a philosopher, activist, historiographer, thinker and educationist, he was interested in exploring and observing Britain and its culture. He was the first Muslim who intended to visit Britain just to boost up the Muslim community and indeed, his visit made history. The purpose of this article is to narrate Syed Ahmad’s social, political and literary engagements during his stay in England.

South Asian students’ migration to, within and from Finland and Sweden: connecting the dots to arrivals and departures

Much of the current research on international student migration is focused on home-to-host and stay-or-leave migration behaviours. However, there is a possibility that international students might migrate within the host country before making their final stay-or-leave migration decisions. This paper adapts stepwise migration theory as an analytical tool with which to investigate the migration behaviour of Indian and Pakistani students. Based on 57 interviews and extensive participant observation, it analyses the factors that prompt South Asian student migration to, within and, subsequently for some, from Finland and Sweden. The findings support the argument that international student migration is multistage. Initial origin-to-destination migration is often insufficient to meet the high-set ambitions of talented young migrants. Disappointment with perceived missing opportunities in the university city or town lays the basis for subsequent intercity and stay-or-leave migration stages. Subsequent migration within the destination country impacts on the students’ stay-or-leave aspirations, while the origin-country situation influences return-or-onward migration decisions.

‘Study-abroad influencers’ and insider knowledge: how new forms of study-abroad expertise on social media mediate student mobility from India to Germany

This paper examines new forms of study-abroad expertise on social media and their role in mediating Indian student mobility to Germany. Firstly, it explores how mutual-support Facebook and WhatsApp groups—used by prospective international students in India to support each other through the process of applying to German universities—have contributed to the emergence of new forms of education consultancy, offered by Indian students or graduates of German universities, whom I call ‘Student Guides’. In addition, it shows how some Indians studying in Germany have started ‘Study in Germany’ YouTube channels, aimed at aspirant student migrants, and have become important ‘study-abroad influencers’. The paper analyses how these new forms of study-abroad expertise offer prospective international students social and cultural capital important for successful student migration, apart from shaping their imaginative geographies of Germany, and embedding them in cultures of mobility. Furthermore, the paper highlights how these new forms of study-abroad expertise intersect with, and critique, a more ‘traditional’ study-abroad expert: the professional education consultant. The paper draws on a digital ethnography of ‘Study in Germany’ Facebook and WhatsApp groups and YouTube channels, as well as interviews with the YouTubers, Student Guides, and Indian students in Germany.

Psychological Correlates of Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Among Social Media Users

The recent burgeon on social media usage has contributed to much research examining the role of enmeshing psychological and psychosocial factors. Concerning the existing scenario, this study investigates the networking between narcissism, self-esteem and perfectionistic self-presentation among Facebook and Instagram users. Perfectionistic self-presentation is a major constituent of young people's identity development and may intensify during the transition to college. Against this backdrop, the study was conducted on 578 Indian students who belonged to the age range of 18-24 years. The result showed that perfectionistic self-presentation was predicted by self-esteem, narcissism, and intense usage of Instagram. The result also divulged the current trend and proclaimed that Instagram is a major online platform where perfectionistic self-presentation is portrayed to salvage the deflated self-esteem.

Top Talent, Elite Colleges, and Migration: Evidence from the Indian Institutes of Technology

We study migration in the right tail of the talent distribution using a novel dataset of Indian high school students taking the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE), a college entrance exam used for admission to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT). We find a high incidence of migration after students complete college: among the top 1000 scorers on the exam, 36% have migrated abroad, rising to 62% for the top 100 scorers. We next document that students who attended the original “Top 5” IIT were 5 percentage points more likely to migrate for graduate school compared to equally talented students who studied in other institutions. We explore two mechanisms for these patterns: signaling, for which we study migration after one university suddenly gained the IIT designation; and alumni networks, using information on the location of IIT alumni in U.S. computer science departments.

Depression and anxiety symptoms, subjective well-being, and happiness among Indian high school students.

Mental health problems cause significant distress and impairment in adolescents worldwide. One-fifth of the world's adolescents live in India, and much remains to be known about their mental health and wellbeing. In this preregistered study, we aimed to estimate the rates of depressive and anxiety symptoms, examine their relationship with indicators of wellbeing, and identify correlates of mental health among Indian adolescents. We administered self-report measures of depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), wellbeing (WEMWBS), and happiness (SHS) to 1,213 Indian adolescents (52.0% male; Mage = 14.11, SDage = 1.48). Findings from the PHQ-9 (M = 8.08, SD = 5.01) and GAD-7 (M = 7.42, SD = 4.78) indicated high levels of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms. Thirty seven percent of the sample scored above the clinical cutoff for depressive symptoms, and 30.6% scored above the cutoff for anxiety symptoms. Although measures of mental health symptoms (PHQ-9 and GAD-7) were associated with measures of wellbeing and happiness (WEMWBS and SHS), these associations were only modest (Correlation < 0.45). Female students reported higher symptoms (and worse wellbeing) compared to male students, and older students reported higher symptoms (and worse wellbeing and happiness) compared to younger students. This study highlights the high prevalence of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms among Indian high school students. Symptom measures correlated only modestly with measures of wellbeing and happiness, suggesting that wellbeing and happiness reflect more than the absence of internalizing symptoms. Future research is needed to identify effective and appropriate ways to promote mental health and wellness among Indian students.

Exam Anxiety and Its Associated Risk Factors Among Indian Medical Undergraduates

Background: Exam anxiety is a global troublesome psychological problem, impairing the academic performance of medical students. This study was planned to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of Exam anxiety among Indian medical students Methodology: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 230 Indian medical undergraduate students. Westside Test Anxiety Inventory (WTAI) was used to estimate the level of Exam anxiety among medical students. We utilized multivariable logistic regression to identify independent risk factors among medical students. Results: The prevalence of high Exam Anxiety among medical students was 49.6 % (95% CI 43.9-57.0). The mean age of the students was 21.3 years. Multivariable logistic regression revealed the presence of excessive course load [AOR=2.22,95% CI:(1.03,4.78)], the presence of psychological stress [AOR=2.89,95% CI:(1.51,5.48)] and low self-esteem [AOR=8.15,95% CI:(1.51,43.96)] to be independent risk factors for exam anxiety. Conclusions: Our study findings suggest that the prevalence of Exam anxiety is very high among Indian undergraduate medical students. Our study also showed that the perception of excessive course load, psychological stress and low self-esteem were the independent risk factors in medical students.