Pre-university College Students Research Articles

Scholastic Difficulty: Scale Development and Implications for Future Research

The present study is an attempt to develop a scale to measure Scholastic Difficulty among Pre-University college students. The students of II pre-university courses (PUC) were the real and objective source to identify different scholastic difficulties. So, 140 students of PUC were contacted. The information given by 140 students were pooled and the scholastic difficulties were identified. 68 different scholastic difficulties were adopted by the students. These difficulties were considered as scholastic difficulties. Each of the difficulty was expressed in a statement form. Initially, there were 68 statements, these items with “Always, Sometimes, Rarely and Never” alternatives were administered on 200 II PUC students (108 male and 92 female). The data of these students were subjected to percentage, correlation and t-test analysis. Finally, 66 items were included in the Scholastic Difficulty scale. Scholastic Difficulty scale consisting of 66 items with 5 alternative answers such as always, most of the times, sometime, rarely and never was administered on a random sample of 150 II PUC students to judge the reliability. The coefficient of split-half reliability was 0.93, which was significant at 0.01 level of significance. Test-retest reliability of scholastic difficulty scale was undertaken. The scale was administered on a sample of 35 students of I year B.H.Sc. twice with an interval of 10 days. The coefficient of test and retest scores was 0.800, which was significant at 0.00 level of significance.

Perception on Anxiety among Adolescents and Mental Health Professionals and Development of Comic Strip.

Adolescence is a phase of many physical and psychological developments. This stage is also vulnerable to the development of mental illness. Anxiety is one of the most prevalent disorders among adolescents, which mostly onsets before puberty. This study aimed to understand the perception on anxiety among adolescents and mental health professionals and develop a comic strip on anxiety. This qualitative study involved focus group discussions (FGDs) among mental health professionals and pre-university college students. The FGD data were analyzed through direct content analysis according to the predetermined broad themes. Awareness regarding anxiety was poor among adolescents, and in certain situations they were found to be reluctant to seek professional help. The comic strip on anxiety was developed based on the findings of FGD based on the themes, general awareness, factors responsible, symptoms and coping, management, and barriers to seeking professional help. Adolescents perceived mental health as very important for their overall health. The adolescents did not know that they were going through anxiety, but they noticed that they had some mental health issues and wanted to get out of it. The development of comic strip on anxiety for adolescents was an attempt to overcome these barriers.

The Self-Perceived Problems among Malaysian Pre-university Students: Implications for College Counselling

This study investigates the self-perceived problems among Malaysian pre-university students in a public research university in Malaysia. A survey study using Mooney Problem Checklist of Measurement was conducted in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). A total of 278 pre-university students were selected using simple random sampling. Results indicated that the level of problems faced by pre-university students is low. The study found that the main problems faced by the pre-university college students are related to their future-vocational and educational, followed by adjustment to school work, personal-psychological relations, moral and religion, social-psychological relations, health and physical development, home and family, curriculum and teaching procedures, social and recreational activities, finance, living conditions and employment, and finally, courtship, sex and marriage issues. This study shows that there are major related problems faced by the students at the pre-university level. These findings highlight the importance of considering guidance and counseling services to assist pre-university students to ensure that these self-perceived problems will not affect their emotional and academic achievement. Implications of college counseling were discussed in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 Keywords: Academic Issues, Career Adjustment, College Counselling, Pre-university Students, Self-perceived Problems

Sleep deprivation, stress and anxiety among pre-university college students of Mangaluru city, India

Background: Adequate sleep is extremely important for appropriate physical growth, emotional stability, behavior, and maintenance of cognitive function. Good quality of night sleep will reflect in better school performance and increased motivation to study. The aim of this study is to determine the level of sleep deprivation, daytime sleepiness, stress and anxiety and to associate stress, anxiety with sleep pattern.Methods: A college based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Mangaluru City, Karnataka. The study has been conducted among 5 pre–university colleges (2 from Aided, 2 from private and 1 from government). A total of 634 participants were enrolled from grade 11th and 12th irrespective of their stream and responded to a questionnaire that included socio-demographic characteristics, sleep pattern, daytime sleepiness by using Epworth sleepiness scale, level of stress using Perceived stress scale-10, level of examination anxiety and general anxiety by using Westside Anxiety scale and Anxiety Self-Rating scale. Descriptive statistics, chi square or likelihood ratio test were used. The data was entered and analysed using SPSS 16v.Results: Among 634 students the mean age was found to be 16 years. Prevalence of sleep deprivation was found to be 39%, daytime sleepiness was 66.6%, 77.8% had moderate stress and 9.1% had high stress. Moderately high-test anxiety was observed among 22.6% of the respondents and 1.4% with extreme anxiety.Conclusions: The study showed that 1/3rd of the respondents had sleep deprivation and 2/3rd had daytime sleepiness and the prevalence of general anxiety was higher than examination anxiety and most of the respondents had moderate stress.

Self-Regulated Learning Strategies of Active Procrastinating Pre-University Students

Introduction. A common impediment to any student’s academic achievement and well being is the phenomenon of procrastination. Procrastination has typically been defined as a trait or behavioural disposition to postpone or delay performing a task or making decision. It is voluntary yet irrational delay of an intended course of action and frequently results in unsatisfactory, performance and emotional upset. Whereas, active procrastination is one’s intentional decision to procrastinate in order to cope and focus attention on other tasks at hand and to experience performance pressure.Method. This study attempted to explore pre-University college (PUC) students’ active procrastination in relation to their self-regulated learning. 120 PUC students were selected from four different schools of Gulbarga town in Karnataka state of India through multistage random sampling. With the demographic details of students, they were administered Active procrastination scale and Self-regulated learning measure.Results. Students of Educated parents and boys have higher active procrastination. Urban and rural students do not differ in their active procrastination. Goal setting & planning, seeking information, keeping records and rehearsing & memorizing strategies are significantly related to active procrastinationDiscussion and Conclusion. Urban students have higher organizing & transforming, rehearsing& memorizing and seeking social assistance SRL strategies. Students who engage in more than one hobby have better goal setting & planning, information seeking & total SRL. Active procrastination has significant relation with goal setting & planning, seeking information, keeping records, rehearsing & memorizing SRL strategies.

Planned Teaching Programme Regarding Basic Life Support in Terms of Knowledge and Skill of Pre-University College Students in a Selected College of Moodbidri, Dakshina Kannada District

Planned Teaching Programme Regarding Basic Life Support in Terms of Knowledge and Skill of Pre-University College Students in a Selected College of Moodbidri, Dakshina Kannada District

A study to assess the knowledge and practice of fast food consumption among Pre-University students in Udupi Taluk, Karnataka, India

IntroductionFast food is processed and prepared in an industrial fashion. Vitamins, minerals, fibre and amino acids are low or lacking in fast food but has high energy (calories).The present study was done to assess the knowledge and practice of fast food consumption among Pre-University College students. Materials and methodsThe study design adopted was cross-sectional. Semi-structured self-administered questionnaire were used to collect the data. Time bound enumeration was used to recruit the participants and total 160 Pre-University students were included in the study. ResultAbout 51(31.87%) of the participants had inadequate knowledge, 67(41.88%) of the participants had moderate knowledge and 42(26.25%) of the participants had adequate knowledge about the effect of fast food consumption. The majority of the respondents 116 (72.5%) reported that the main reason for their consumption is a delicious taste of fast food. ConclusionThough fast foods are tasty they have low nutritive value and high calories. Nutrition counselling regarding the significance of a balanced diet and harmful effects of fast foods may help to curb the fast food addiction.

Perception and practice towards alcohol consumption among a government boy’s pre-university college students-a cross sectional study

Background: Harmful use of alcohol consumption can lead to various health hazards and pre-university students are vulnerable for abuse of substances like alcohol. Hence this study was aimed to find out the prevalence and perception towards alcohol consumption among students of government boy’s college and to find out some factors affecting alcohol consumption among students.Methods: A cross sectional study conducted among purposively selected students of government pre-university (PU) college for boys. Data was collected through pre-structured questionnaire. Alcohol consumption was assessed by self-reporting through questionnaire.Results: In the present study 7% students have consumed alcohol at least once in their life time. Mean age of initiation of alcohol consumption was 14.89 years. 23.7% of students said that alcohol consumption can lead to cancer and 13.3% students knew it leads to liver damage, 18.1% felt it leads to heart problems. Among the current alcohol consumers 41.7% said they have driven the vehicle under influence of alcohol. Among the current alcohol consumers 75% have thought to quit the alcohol consumption at least once. Having family history of alcohol consumption was significantly associated with alcohol consumption among students.Conclusions: Alcohol consumption is prevalent in the pre-university college students and family history is a major risk factor for the alcohol consumption. Many alcohol consumers have driven the vehicle under the alcohol consumption in spite of the legal prohibition. Parental and peer involvement is crucial in reducing the prevalence of alcohol consumption among PU students.

Tobacco smoking perception and practice among pre-university students in a government boy’s college: a cross sectional study

Background: Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of death in the world hence this study was aimed at detecting the prevalence of tobacco smoking among students of a government pre-university college for boys, to find out the perception of students about tobacco smoking and factors related to the tobacco smoking among students.Methods:A cross sectional study conducted among purposively selected students of Government Pre-university College for boys. Data was collected through pre-structured questionnaire. Tobacco smoking was assessed by self reporting by filling the questionnaire.Results: The prevalence of ever use of tobacco smoking was 13.7% and current smokers were 5.6%. Mean age of starting smoking was 14.16 yrs. 66% of students were aware that tobacco smoking can lead to cancer. In majority (81.1%) of ever smoked students, their friends have motivated them to smoke for the first time. 93% of students knew that passive smoking is injurious to health. 83% of students felt that tobacco should be banned. Having a smoker in the family (p=0.035) and a student residing away from parents (p=0.007) are positively associated with ever smoking tobacco.Conclusions:Tobacco smoking is prevalent among the boys of government pre-university college students. Majority of students have better perception about tobacco smoking. Familial support and peer involvement are crucial in controlling the tobacco smoking.

Mental Health Literacy Among Late Adolescents in South India: What They Know and What Attitudes Drive Them.

Background:Early recognition of mental health problems gives an individual the opportunity for better long-term outcomes if intervention is initiated early. Mental health literacy is a related concept which is increasingly seen as an important measure of the awareness and knowledge of mental health disorders.Aim and Objectives:This study aimed at assessing the mental health literacy, help-seeking behavior and beliefs and attitudes related to mental illnesses among adolescents attending preuniversity colleges.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected preuniversity college students (n = 916). Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Data were computed using STATA. Analysis and interpretation were carried out using descriptives and Chi-square test.Results:Of the 916 respondents, 54.15% were male while 45.85% were female. The majority (78.60%) of the respondents ascribed to the Hindu religion, hailed largely from rural areas (57.21%) and were mostly studying in the 11th standard (72.49%). The percentage of mental health literacy among the respondents was very low, i.e., depression was identified by 29.04% and schizophrenia/psychosis was recognized by 1.31%. The study findings indicate that adolescents preferred reaching out more to informal sources including family members such as mothers than formal sources for self than for others indicating deeply prevalent stigmatizing attitudes toward mental health conditions.Conclusions:There is a need for immediate improvement in the knowledge of adolescents on mental health literacy which suggests that programs need to be developed such that adolescents can seek help from valid resources if the need were to arise and have appropriate knowledge on whom to approach for help.

Prevalence and Determinants of Tobacco use Among Pre-University College Students, Bangalore, India

: Aim: To assess the prevalence and determinants of tobacco use among the Pre-University College (PUC) students of Bangalore. Material & Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among 1450 Government PUC students of Marathahalli, Bangalore. A self administered questionnaire modified from Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2007 (GYTS) was used to collect data. The data was analysed using SPSS version 17. Descriptive statistics that included mean and percentages were calculated for each of the categories. Results: 1443(99.5%) students had heard about tobacco. 124 (8.6%) students used tobacco in one or other form. Cigarette was the most common form known to the students. About 40% admitted that they were influenced by their friends to use tobacco. About 1247(86%) of the students admitted that they were willing to quit tobacco if assistance was provided. Conclusion: Prevalence of tobacco use among Government PU colleges was 8.6%. There is the need for effective awareness and intervention programs to prevent and control tobacco use among college students.Key words: Prevalence, GYTS, Pre University students, Oral cancer, Tobacco, Smoking.

Assessment of Self-Reported Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties Among Pre-University College Students in Bangalore, India.

Background:The understanding of youth mental health needs and development of service delivery models is a national public health challenge.Objectives:The rates and predictors of emotional and behavioral problems among 1087 youth were assessed in a pre-university college in Bangalore, India. Variations in rates of disturbance, identified by using different cut-off points, were also examined.Materials and Methods:The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used as a self-report screening tool.Results:Results indicated that 10.1% of adolescents had total difficulty levels in the abnormal range, with 9% at risk for emotional symptoms, 13% for conduct problems, 12.6% for hyperactivity/inattention and 9.4% for peer problems. Select gender differences were present. Cut-off scores derived from the sample yielded lower estimates of disturbance than the published cut-offs. Regression analysis identified predictors of total difficulty levels.Conclusions:Implications for assessment of youth mental health and planning targeted services in educational institutions are discussed.

A Study to Assess the Impact of Multimedia Usage on Behavioural Patterns of the Pre-University College Students in Selected Colleges at Mangalore

People use mass media in varying ways and for various purposes. But it is fact that not all the purposes of media are positive gratifications. Some are good and some are not. That is how the media works. However, we can see that media continue to give messages to us as we participate in them. Moreover, some messages or values are rubbed on to us, whether we like them or not. Media education is learning to dissect and identify them. The developing child in the modern society is typically introduced to the mass media at home and it is at home that he is most likely to use several varieties to print and broadcast media. By the time he reaches adolescence, he is plausible to assume that his patterns of media use have been shaped by social influence at home, particularly his parents. Entertainment is something everybody looks forward to. There are many ways to entertain those who need leisure and pleasure. Mass media is one of the most popular entertainments; one has the greatest invention of humankind. It has found place in every home in India. Excessive watching of television programmes has an unhealthy effect on children. Television has become quite popular among all ages. It provides variety for all tastes. On the other hand, television has an adverse effect on children. They get addicted to television. The scenes of sex, crime and violence in our films and programmes have adverse effects on children. Such scenes cause adverse effects on their thought life and work life. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of multimedia usage on behavioural patterns of the pre-university college students in selected colleges at Mangalore. The research approach used for the study was descriptive survey approach. The conceptual framework was based on David Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory (learning styles) Model. The study was carried out in three pre-university colleges of Mangalore. The sample comprised of 120 students who were undergoing their pre-university course in science, arts and commerce as their main stream of study. Samples were selected by using multistage disproportionate stratified random sampling technique. Data was collected by administering tools like demographic proforma, survey questionnaire, and behavioural rating scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of this study show that majority (62.5%) of the students are showed mild behaviour. About 30.8% of the students showed moderate behaviour and 6.7% of the students showed severe behavioural changes due to the influence of multimedia usage.

High blood pressure and its association with obesity among preuniversity college students of Udupi taluk

Background: There is an evidence of tracking of high blood pressure (BP) from childhood to adulthood. Hence detection, assessment, and management of high BP are important. Objectives: To estimate the proportion of adolescents of Udupi taluk having high BP and to assess the association of high BP with overweight/obesity and other correlates. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 838 adolescents studying in preuniversity colleges (PUCs) of Udupi taluk. Of the 49 PUCs of Udupi taluk, 15 PUCs were randomly chosen and one class from each was taken as a cluster. A pretested and structured questionnaire, based on World Health Organization Stepwise approach was used. Weight, height, and BP were measured using standardized tools. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 15.00. Pearson’s correlation and univariate and multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze the data. Results: The prevalence of high BP and overweight/obesity was found to be 23.05% and 9.18%, respectively. High BP was positively correlated with overweight/obesity. Being a male, currently consuming alcohol, and being overweight/obese were the risk factors associated with high systolic BP and factor associated with high diastolic BP was overweight/obesity. Conclusion: The proportion of respondents having high BP as well as overweight/obesity was found to be high. As high BP was found to be strongly associated with overweight/obesity in this study, we recommend screening of BP to be carried out both in children and adolescents and the inclusion of sports hours in their curriculum.

Development of theory-based health messages: three-phase programme of formative research

Online health behaviour interventions have great potential but their effectiveness may be hindered by a lack of formative and theoretical work. This paper describes the process of formative research to develop theoretically and empirically based health messages that are culturally relevant and can be used in an online intervention to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours among new university students. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, a three-phase programme of formative research was conducted with prospective and current undergraduate students to identify (i) modal salient beliefs (the most commonly held beliefs) about fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, binge drinking and smoking, (ii) which beliefs predicted intentions/behaviour and (iii) reasons underlying each of the beliefs that could be targeted in health messages. Phase 1, conducted with 96 pre-university college students, elicited 56 beliefs about the behaviours. Phase 2, conducted with 3026 incoming university students, identified 32 of these beliefs that predicted intentions/behaviour. Phase 3, conducted with 627 current university students, elicited 102 reasons underlying the 32 beliefs to be used to construct health messages to bolster or challenge these beliefs. The three-phase programme of formative research provides researchers with an example of how to develop health messages with a strong theoretical- and empirical base for use in health behaviour change interventions.

Relationship between Inferiority complex and Frustration in Adolescents

The present study is an attempt to investigate the relationship between Inferiority complex and Frustration in adolescents. It was conjectured that Inferiority complex in adolescents is positively correlated with Frustration resulting in reactions of Aggression, Resignation, Fixation and Regression . The sample comprised of 100 pre-University college students in the age range of 16-18. The results revealed that Inferiority complex correlated significantly with Frustration. The correlation was specifically high on Aggression (r=0.516), Resignation (r=0.413) and Frustration on the whole.(r-0.511). Further regression analysis was carried out to see whether Frustration would predict Inferiority complex. It was revealed that Frustration significantly predicts Inferiority complex.