Sample Of American College Students Research Articles

Acculturation and Depression Help-Seeking Intentions in a Majority Mexican American College Student Sample.

Work has not examined if acculturation or enculturation may predict endorsed benefits, barriers, and intentions to seek mental health services for depression, specifically among Latino students enrolled in a rural and majority Latino immigrant institution of higher education. An improved understanding of factors informing mental health help-seeking is needed to identify possible intervention points to address gaps in accessing depression treatment. Participants (N = 406) read a vignette depicting a person with depressive symptoms. Participants were asked if they would seek help for depression if in the situation described in the vignette. Participants provided text responses about their preferences for managing depression symptoms and their mental health help-seeking history. Additionally, participants completed a self-report depression symptom screener, demographic surveys, acculturation assessment, and questionnaires on perceived benefits and barriers to seeking mental health services. Path analysis was used to test the link between acculturation status and intent to seek services for depression, with benefits and barriers as mediators. The results revealed that higher perceived benefits and lower barriers were directly associated with greater intentions to seek help. Furthermore, an indirect effect of acculturation on help-seeking intentions via higher perceived benefits of seeking care was observed. These findings persisted after controlling for age, gender, depression, and history of seeking care for depression. Future work should test the replicability of this finding with diverse college students living in predominantly immigrant communities. Universities might consider tailoring outreach initiatives to provide information on the range and accessibility of mental health services, the location of mental health service centers, and the procedures for accessing such services.

Reducing safety behaviors to prevent anxious symptoms: a pre-registered prevention intervention study

ABSTRACT The purpose of this pre-registered study was to test the efficacy of a simple, low-impact safety behavior prevention intervention for anxiety. The intervention was delivered online using a 4-week workbook format. Participants (n = 130) were a non-clinical sample of American college students; they were randomly assigned to one of two intervention conditions: safety-behavior reduction or active control condition (academic skills). Results showed that participants in the safety behavior workbook condition did not report fewer safety behaviors or lower levels of anxiety compared to the active control condition post-intervention. Exploratory analyses found that fidelity mattered; participants who completed all the workbook activities reported a significant decrease in the safety-behaviors relative to the control condition. However, those who reduced their use of safety behaviors reported greater levels of anxiety compared to participants in the control condition who reduced their safety behaviors. These results suggest that encouraging safety behavior reduction in non-clinical samples may have the unintended consequence of maintaining anxiety.

What Does it Take to Love a Bug? Knowledge, Emotional Valence, and Politics in Attitudes toward Insect Conservation.

Domain knowledge is often considered a minor contributor to environmental attitudes, with social and motivational factors dominating. Yet, domains may differ. Declining insect populations are a critical conservation concern but are not prominent in public discourse, potentially reducing the impact of social and motivational variables. We present data on the relations of insect knowledge (both propositional and causal), associated emotional valences, and political orientation to concern for insect conservation, for samples of American college students and U.S. and U.K. Prolific workers. We asked whether concern for insect conservation is more associated with knowledge than emotional valence or political orientation, and whether this is especially so for U.K. residents, who have a reputation for a love of nature that is not linked to political identity. We found that U.K. participants did show greater overall concern, consistent with the national reputation. Causal knowledge mattered, but political orientation was the strongest predictor of concern for insect conservation for both U.S. and U.K. participants. Valence contributed for U.S. participants but not for U.K. participants. Our results suggest that politicized public discourse penetrates attitudes toward insects even when it does not explicitly concern insects, and knowledge variation has less impact. However, the emotional reaction has a reduced influence where relevant discourse is less polarized. Insects may often evoke negative emotions and motivations, but it is not impossible to love a bug.

The Impacts of Narrative Perspectives of Anti-Prescription Opioid Campaigns: The Mediating Roles of Identification, Perceived Severity, and Anticipated Guilt

ABSTRACT An online experiment with two between-subjects conditions was conducted among a convenience sample of American college students to test the impact of first-person internally focalized versus third-person externally focalized risk narratives on the effectiveness of anti-prescription opioid campaigns as well as factors that explain such impact. It found that first-internal vs. third-external narratives increased identification with the character, perceived severity of the dangers of prescription opioids, anticipated guilt, as well as negative attitudes toward prescription opioids. The study also found indirect positive impacts of first-internal vs. third-external narratives on negative attitudes toward prescription opioids and intentions to avoid (mis)using prescription opioids via perceived severity and anticipated guilt but not identification. The findings contribute to our understanding of the impacts of narrative perspectives in the context of health communication and provide guidance in the design of effective anti-prescription opioid campaigns.

Six “red flags” in relationships: From being dangerous to gross and being apathetic to unmotivated

Given the emergence of recent factor analytic models of dealbreakers in mate choice, we re-analyzed previously published data revealing 49 negative characteristics (Jonason et al., 2015). Six dealbreaker factors emerged in a sample of American college students (N = 285, 115 men). We called these factors Gross, Addicted, Clingy, Promiscuous, Apathetic, and Unmotivated. Women, and those having more mate value and less interest in casual sex rated dealbreakers less desirable. The most repelling factors in the long-term context were being apathetic and gross, and in the short-term context they were being gross and clingy. We recommend incorporating both desirable and undesirable features of mate preferences in future research.

Examining the Factor Structure of the Posttraumatic Checklist for Civilians.

The Posttraumatic Checklist for Civilians (PCL-C) is one of the most common tools used to assess PTSD among civilian populations. However, the underlying factor structure of the PCL-C remains under examined, with the most recent research relying on small samples with limited generalizability. Thus, the present study used exploratory and confirmatory techniques in a large North American college student sample to investigate the factor structure of the PCL-C. Results supported a 3-factor model for the PCL-C accounting for 59% of the total variance and represented by Suppression (M = 11.2, SD = 5.0); Hyperarousal (M = 6.5, SD = 3.2); and Diminished Reward Processing (M = 5.9, SD = 2.9). Regarding gender differences, females tended to score higher on suppression and avoidance related symptoms, while males scored higher on symptoms related to Diminished Reward Processing. Results also showed that embedded within college campuses are trauma exposed students experiencing distressingly high levels of posttrauma symptoms. In sum, the results revealed three factors in the PCL-C, that could be used to offer insight into assessing and treating posttrauma symptoms on a college campus.

Actual and perceived E-cigarettes behaviors among a national sample of U.S. college students

Objective: Electronic cigarette use represents an important college health concern. This investigation assessed demographic and behavioral correlates associated with actual and perceived e-cigarette use among a national sample of American college students. Methods: Respondents (n = 19,861) comprised college students from over 40 distinct American higher education institutions. Multivariable logistic regression assessed whether (1) alcohol, tobacco or marijuana use were associated with e-cigarette use; (2) perceived peer use of alcohol, tobacco or marijuana were associated with perceived e-cigarette use. Results: Approximately 5% of survey respondents self-reported using e-cigarettes within the past month. More than 7 out of every 10 respondents, however, thought the ‘typical student’ was an e-cigarette user. As perceptions of typical student substance use increased, respondents were far more likely to contend the typical student used e-cigarettes. Discussion: In addition to adopting smoke-free campus policies, university officials should disseminate accurate information regarding e-cigarette behaviors of students.

The Effects of Self-control on the Cyber Victim-Offender Overlap

Increasingly, the overlap between victims and offenders has received empirical attention with regard to traditional forms of deviance. More recently, the growth of cyber offending has led to a need to examine whether traditional criminological theories can be used to explain these crimes in the same manner as traditional offenses. However, limited attention has been given to victim-offender overlap in cyber-offending. The current study uses a sample of American college students to examine the influence of self-control on cyber offending, cyber victimization, and the cyber victim-offender overlap. The results indicate that low self-control significantly predicts participation in cyber offending as well as cyber victim-offending, but has a weak relationship with cyber victimization. Interestingly, associating with deviant cyber peers was a significant predictor across all models. Results are discussed in the context of the existing literature.

Associations Between Motives for Casual Sex, Depression, Self-Esteem, and Sexual Victimization.

People's motives for casual sex moderate associations between their sexual behavior and the outcomes they experience. Derived from self-determination theory, autonomous motives for casual sex (e.g., I wanted the fun and enjoyment) and non-autonomous motives (e.g., I wanted to please someone else) correlated in previous research differentially with measures of well-being and incidence of casual sex. In a sample of American college students (N = 284), we replicated these prior findings and extended them as follows: autonomous and non-autonomous motives for sex were correlated with two measures of casual sex (i.e., the three behavior questions from the Sociosexual Orientation Inventory; the number of partners with whom participants had penetrative sex but did not wish to become emotionally involved); two measures of well-being (i.e., self-esteem, depression), and a measure of overall sexual victimization (i.e., a combined score from the Sexual Experiences Survey). We found that autonomous motives were more strongly associated with casual sexual behavior than were non-autonomous motives in both sexes. Autonomous motives were positively associated with sexual victimization in women but not in men. Compared to autonomous motives, sex for non-autonomous motives was linked to less self-esteem in both sexes, and with more depression and sexual victimization in women. Sex differences in associations between motives and victimization persisted even when the general effects of participant's sex and casual sex were controlled in hierarchical regressions. Our findings further revealed the importance of agency (or lack thereof) in predicting sexual behavior and psychological health.

Millennial ride-share passengers’ pro-sustainable behaviors: norm activation perspective

ABSTRACTMillennials are considered more conscious socially, culturally, and environmentally than previous generations. In addition, ride-sharing has been acknowledged as a means of sustainable consumption, but little empirical research has examined how ride-sharing allows this generational cohort to experience a destination. Drawn on norm activation theory, this paper examines how millennials perceive the wider economic, social, and environmental impacts on a destination of adopting ride-sharing. In a sample of American college students who had used ride-sharing while traveling, our findings indicate that ride-sharing facilitates the activation of travelers’ personal norms and pro-sustainable behaviors. Based on the findings, theoretical and practical implications of this investigation are discussed.

Factor Structure and Concurrent Validity of the British Perceived Inequality in Childhood Scale in a Sample of American College Students

Societal income inequality has been associated with worse health outcomes, including a greater burden of mental illness. However, validated individual measures of relative income are scarce and rarely included in mental health assessments. The psychometric properties of the British Perceived Inequality in Childhood Scale (PICS) were examined in an American college student sample. Eight hundred graduate- and professional- level students at a public university participated. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the PICS three-factor structure measuring childhood deprivation relative to a United States reference group and neighborhood reference group as well as family social capital. Additionally, the internal consistency was high and the concurrent validity of the PICS was supported by positive correlations with the MacArthur Scale of Subjective Social Status in childhood and objective measures of parental income and education. These findings replicate prior research supporting the validity and reliability of the PICS, now in an American college student sample.

Religious and non-religious predictors of life satisfaction in a sample of American college students

ABSTRACTTo promote understanding of young people behavioural mechanisms related to health, we evaluated religious attribution, meaning in life, and emotion regulation strategies as predictors of life satisfaction in the sample of 791 religious and non-religious American college students. Participants completed Religious Attribution Scale, Meaning in Life Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. A multiple linear regression revealed that the strongest predictor of life satisfaction for both groups was the presence of meaning in life, followed by the use of cognitive reappraisal. We found that participants with high levels of presence of meaning in life, regardless of their religious identity, were able to benefit from the use of cognitive reappraisal. Presence of meaning in life and emotion regulation strategy reside outside of the religious confines, supporting the notion that religiosity is not a singular meaning making system. By identifying constructs related to life satisfaction, we can acquire better understanding of what mechanisms contribute to positive coping strategies that religious and non-religious young adults use to achieve positive life outcomes.

An Investigation Into the Structural Form of the O*NET–Interest Profiler–Short Form

Since their introduction, interests have been important to the field of vocational psychology. Within career counseling, they often serve as a starting point to career exploration. The changing nature of the world of work means that accurate assessment is even more imperative. There remain a number of inventories to help assess this construct. The Occupational Information Network–Interest Profiler–Short Form (O*NET-IP-SF) is a public domain assessment utilized to measure Holland’s six occupational profiles: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional. Using confirmatory factor analysis, this study examined the structural integrity of the O*NET-IP-SF and interpretive potential using a regionally and racially diverse sample of American college students. Results suggest that O*NET-IP-SF possesses poor fit with a six-factor structure and that modifications are needed to reach acceptable levels of scale performance. Implications for researchers and career counselors are discussed.

Examining the feasibility of the integrated hope scale in American college students

The Integrated Hope Scale (IHS) provides a multi-dimensional evaluation of factors common across measures of hope, examining social relationships, trust and confidence, perspectives of the future, and a lack of hopefulness. Despite promise for the instrument’s utility, research on the IHS is sparse has been limited to non-English-speaking populations, requiring translated items, and the cross-cultural transportability of hope constructs has previously been raised. Predominant theories of hope used in American populations have been criticized for not measuring important aspects that are included within the IHS. Using confirmatory factor analysis and latent class analysis, this study explored the IHS’s structural integrity and interpretive potential using a regionally and racially diverse sample of American college students. Results suggest that the IHS offers a valid global assessment of hope as well as for targeted measurement of discrete areas identified by instrument factor scores. The IHS also shows promise in differentiating individuals according to their level of hopefulness.

Acculturation and substance use in a Mexican American college student sample

ABSTRACTAlthough the association between acculturation and substance use among Latino groups is important, it is often understudied, especially within specific Latino groups living in geographically distinct communities, such as the Mexican American population in South Texas. The researchers of this study aimed to better understand the effect of acculturation on substance use and alcohol dependence in a Mexican American college student population. This survey study investigated the correlation between acculturation and substance use and dependence by using the Vancouver Index of Acculturation (VIA), items related to substance use (nicotine, marijuana, and cocaine) in a Mexican American college student sample (N = 1,494), and the Short Alcohol Dependence Data Questionnaire (SADD; N = 715). The study was conducted in the Texas–Mexico border region. The results suggest that higher levels of acculturation do not predict increased drug use or alcohol dependence in the Mexican American college students. However, acculturation was found to be associated with lower use of cocaine and marijuana. The discussion examines commonalities and differences in drug use and dependence. Specifically, acculturation seems to have an inverse relationship to substance use and may serve as a protective factor to licit and illicit drug use among Mexican American college students.

Declining loneliness over time: evidence from american colleges and high schools.

We examined changes in loneliness over time. Study 1 was a cross-temporal meta-analysis of 48 samples of American college students who completed the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (total N = 13,041). In Study 1, loneliness declined from 1978 to 2009 (d = -0.26). Study 2 used a representative sample of high school students from the Monitoring the Future project (total N = 385,153). In Study 2, loneliness declined from 1991 to 2012. Declines were similar among White students (d = -0.14), Black students (d = -0.17), male students (d = -0.11), and female students (d = -0.11). Different loneliness factors showed diverging trends. Subjective isolation declined (d = -0.20), whereas social network isolation increased (d = 0.06). We discuss the declines in loneliness within the context of other cultural changes, including changes to group membership and personality.

Impostorism is Associated with Greater Psychological Distress and Lower Self-Esteem for African American Students

The impostor phenomenon (IP) is a feeling of incompetence and inadequacy despite evidence to the contrary. Feelings of impostorism are associated with poor psychological functioning, including psychological distress and low self-esteem. Though particularly salient in college students, samples of African American college students have rarely been studied. The present study seeks to address this gap by investigating impostorism’s associations with psychological distress and self-esteem in an African American college student sample. We hypothesized that higher impostorism predicts higher psychological distress, and that higher impostorism predicts lower self-esteem. One hundred and twelve participants completed online measures of impostorism, psychological distress, and self-esteem. Using simple linear regression analyses, the results supported both hypotheses – higher impostorism predicted higher psychological distress and higher impostorism predicted lower self-esteem. The findings may be useful for mental health professionals working with African American college students to decrease the impact of imposter feelings on self-esteem, psychological distress, and academic performance.

Changes in Adult Attachment Styles in American College Students Over Time

The current article examines changes over time in a commonly used measure of adult attachment style. A cross-temporal meta-analysis was conducted on 94 samples of American college students (total N = 25,243, between 1988 and 2011) who chose the most representative description of four possible attachment styles (Secure, Dismissing, Preoccupied, and Fearful) on the Relationship Questionnaire. The percentage of students with Secure attachment styles has decreased in recent years (1988: 48.98%; 2011: 41.62%), whereas the percentage of students with Insecure attachment styles (sum of Dismissing, Preoccupied, Fearful) has increased in recent years (1988: 51.02%; 2011: 58.38%). The percentage of students with Dismissing attachment styles has increased over time (1988: 11.93%; 2011: 18.62%), even after controlling for age, gender, race, and publication status. Positive views of others have declined across the same time period. We discuss possible implications and explanations for these changes.

Cross-Cultural Validation of a Memorable Tourism Experience Scale (MTES)

The present study seeks to establish the cross-cultural validity of the memorable tourism experience scale (MTES), a recently developed measurement scale designed to assess individuals’ memorable tourism experiences (MTEs). Since the psychometric properties of the MTES have only been examined within a sample of American college students, the aim of this study was to replicate the previous psychometric findings using a sample of Taiwanese respondents. The data confirmed the validity of the previously established seven dimensions of MTES in the Taiwanese sample. Thus, the findings of the study suggest that MTES can generally be utilized to assess individuals’ MTEs in cross-cultural settings.

The Valencia Scale of Attitudes and Beliefs Toward Hypnosis–Client Version and Hypnotizability

The present study examined responses on the Valencia Scale of Attitudes and Beliefs Toward Hypnosis–Client (VSABTH–C) version among a sample of American college students (N = 448) and explored the relationship between VSABTH–C factor scores and measures of hypnotizability, fantasy proneness, and absorption. Scores across three factors (i.e., help, interest, and marginal factors) accounted for 12% of the variance in responsiveness to suggestions administered from the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A. Normative data on the VSABTH–C factors by hypnotizability level and individual VSABTH–C item factor loadings are provided.