Sample Of Undergraduate Students Research Articles

Predicting the Effectiveness of a Mindfulness Virtual Community Intervention for University Students: Machine Learning Model.

Students' mental health crisis was recognized before the COVID-19 pandemic. Mindfulness virtual community (MVC), an 8-week web-based mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy program, has proven to be an effective web-based program to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Predicting the success of MVC before a student enrolls in the program is essential to advise students accordingly. The objectives of this study were to investigate (1) whether we can predict MVC's effectiveness using sociodemographic and self-reported features and (2) whether exposure to mindfulness videos is highly predictive of the intervention's success. Machine learning models were developed to predict MVC's effectiveness, defined as success in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress as measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), to at least the minimal clinically important difference. A data set representing a sample of undergraduate students (N=209) who took the MVC intervention between fall 2017 and fall 2018 was used for this secondary analysis. Random forest was used to measure the features' importance. Gradient boosting achieved the best performance both in terms of area under the curve (AUC) and accuracy for predicting PHQ-9 (AUC=0.85 and accuracy=0.83) and PSS (AUC=1 and accuracy=1), and random forest had the best performance for predicting BAI (AUC=0.93 and accuracy=0.93). Exposure to online mindfulness videos was the most important predictor for the intervention's effectiveness for PHQ-9, BAI, and PSS, followed by the number of working hours per week. The performance of the models to predict MVC intervention effectiveness for depression, anxiety, and stress is high. These models might be helpful for professionals to advise students early enough on taking the intervention or choosing other alternatives. The students' exposure to online mindfulness videos is the most important predictor for the effectiveness of the MVC intervention. ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN12249616; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12249616.

Non-Cognitive Skills at the Time of COVID-19: An Experiment with Professional Traders and Students

We study the stability of non-cognitive skills by comparing experimental data gathered before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a sample of professional traders, we find a significant decrease in Agreeableness and Locus of Control and a moderate decrease in Grit. These patterns are primarily driven by those with more negative experiences of the pandemic. Other skills, such as Trust, Conscientiousness, and Self-Monitoring, are unchanged. We contrast these results with those from a sample of undergraduate students whose non-cognitive skills remain constant (except Conscientiousness). Our findings provide evidence against the stability of some non-cognitive skills, particularly among professional traders.

Bimodal diurnal preference in undergraduate students is associated with negative health and sleep outcomes

ABSTRACT The bimodal preference is a fourth diurnal preference proposed by re-scoring the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. The present work aimed to describe the prevalence of the bimodal preference in a sample of undergraduate students and to characterize the bimodal type in terms of their health and sleep-related outcomes. A web-based cross-sectional study conducted between September 2018 and March 2021 (convenience sampling method). The sample was composed of undergraduate students who completed an electronic form that included the Morningness and Eveningness Questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Self-Compassion Scale, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the World Health Organization Subjective Well-Being Index. The final sample consisted of 615 students (82% female, mean age: 23.4 ± 6.5 years), of whom 108 (18%) had positive bimodality indexes. Bimodal subjects comprised 48 students, 8% of the total sample. Bimodal subjects had poorer subjective sleep quality, more daytime sleepiness, lower subjective well-being, greater anxiety and depression symptoms, and lower self-compassion than morning and/or intermediate types; they did not differ from evening types. The description of bimodal diurnal preference in this population may be of interest for the design of academic policies more in line with the circadian reality of students.

Perceptions of undergraduate medical students on artificial intelligence in medicine: mixed-methods survey study from Palestine

BackgroundThe current applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine continue to attract the attention of medical students. This study aimed to identify undergraduate medical students’ attitudes toward AI in medicine, explore present AI-related training opportunities, investigate the need for AI inclusion in medical curricula, and determine preferred methods for teaching AI curricula.MethodsThis study uses a mixed-method cross-sectional design, including a quantitative study and a qualitative study, targeting Palestinian undergraduate medical students in the academic year 2022–2023. In the quantitative part, we recruited a convenience sample of undergraduate medical students from universities in Palestine from June 15, 2022, to May 30, 2023. We collected data by using an online, well-structured, and self-administered questionnaire with 49 items. In the qualitative part, 15 undergraduate medical students were interviewed by trained researchers. Descriptive statistics and an inductive content analysis approach were used to analyze quantitative and qualitative data, respectively.ResultsFrom a total of 371 invitations sent, 362 responses were received (response rate = 97.5%), and 349 were included in the analysis. The mean age of participants was 20.38 ± 1.97, with 40.11% (140) in their second year of medical school. Most participants (268, 76.79%) did not receive formal education on AI before or during medical study. About two-thirds of students strongly agreed or agreed that AI would become common in the future (67.9%, 237) and would revolutionize medical fields (68.7%, 240). Participants stated that they had not previously acquired training in the use of AI in medicine during formal medical education (260, 74.5%), confirming a dire need to include AI training in medical curricula (247, 70.8%). Most participants (264, 75.7%) think that learning opportunities for AI in medicine have not been adequate; therefore, it is very important to study more about employing AI in medicine (228, 65.3%). Male students (3.15 ± 0.87) had higher perception scores than female students (2.81 ± 0.86) (p < 0.001). The main themes that resulted from the qualitative analysis of the interview questions were an absence of AI learning opportunities, the necessity of including AI in medical curricula, optimism towards the future of AI in medicine, and expected challenges related to AI in medical fields.ConclusionMedical students lack access to educational opportunities for AI in medicine; therefore, AI should be included in formal medical curricula in Palestine.

Adaptation to Turkish of the Career Exploration and Decision Self‐Efficacy Scale

AbstractThe aim of this study was to validate the Turkish version of the Career Exploration and Decision Self‐Efficacy (CEDSE) Scale with Turkish undergraduate students. Results show that with the sample of Turkish undergraduate students (N = 202) the Turkish CEDSE Scale had a two‐factor structure with 12 items. The CEDSE Scale's two‐factor structure was validated by a sample of Turkish undergraduate students (N = 255). Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis verified the measurement invariance of the CEDSE Scale across gender groups. The Turkish CEDSE Scale produced positive relations with measures of vocational outcome expectations and career decidedness as well as strong positive correlations with career decision‐making self‐efficacy. The CEDSE Scale scores produced statistically significant beta coefficients predicting vocational outcome expectations and career decidedness. The results support the concurrent and criterion‐related validity of the CEDSE Scale. Calculations of Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's omega, and stability coefficients yielded evidence for the CEDSE Scale's reliability.

Development of the imagination-creativity process scale in design

In this study, the undergraduate students’ Imagination–Creativity Process Scale (ICPS) in design was developed with reference to the Imagination–Creativity Process in design (Wang & Ho, 2021), and the scale reliability and validity were tested. Two samples of undergraduate students participated in test development, one for item revision and the other for validation. Sample 1 and 2 consisted of 285 and 488 students, respectively. Five to ten items were created for each scale dimension, resulting in a total of 31 items scored using a five-point Likert scale. A multidimensional Rasch partial-credit model was employed to verify the content and structural validity, generalizability, substantive validity, interpretive validity, and external validity of the scale. 30 items were retained for the final version of ICPS in design. The person separation reliabilities were 0.84, 0.83, 0.86, and 0.83, respectively for the four dimensions of the scale: (1) ideation and analysis, (2) generation and revision, (3) implementation and evaluation, and (4) communication and optimization. The results indicated that the ICPS had good model–data fit and was suitable for measuring undergraduate students’ Imagination–Creativity Process in design. Recommendations for future studies were proposed regarding the development and application of the ICPS in design.

Level of Internet Addiction &amp; its correlates among Undergraduate Medical Students During Covid-19 Pandemic

Background: The beginning of the 21st century world has witnessed an explosive growth of internet usage, particularly in developing countries like India. The Internet has enriched our life but for many, internet use can grow into a problem, particularly health problems. Objectives: To find &amp; correlate the Pattern of Internet use &amp; Internet addiction level among undergraduate medical students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Material &amp; Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students (sample size=394) during the COVID-19 pandemic (July-August 2022) period by using the Internet Addiction Test scale. Levels of internet addiction and frequency distribution like percentage and proportion were used for analysis. Results: About 49.60% of the students were found addicted to the Internet as per the analysis of the Internet Addiction test (IAT) scale; among them, 71% were addicted mildly, 24% moderately, whereas 5% were found severely addicted to Internet use. The most common reason of internet use among the students was to download/watch videos/movies. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, quarantine &amp; online classes made compulsion to use smartphones Internet has allowed spending more time on the Internet.

A Harmful Scene: Vicarious Exposure to Racism and Negative Affect Among Undergraduate Students in the Context of the George Floyd Tragedy

ABSTRACT Evidence of vicarious exposure to racism has primarily been garnered from in-group racial-ethnic samples to convey its harmful psychological impacts on individuals who share identities with those who are directly experiencing the racist act being observed. The extent to which this evidence applies to out-group members exposed to vicarious racism is underexamined. The present study investigated the extent to which vicarious exposure to racialized violence in policing leading to the death of George Floyd predicted negative affect among a sample of undergraduate students when accounting for other factors that may contribute to negative affect. A sample (N = 683) of nonhomogeneous racial-ethnic (67% People of Color; 33% White) undergraduate students aged 18 to 41 completed an online survey assessing demographic characteristics, vicarious racism exposure, everyday discrimination exposure, and affect during the summer and fall of 2020. Bivariate analyses indicated racial-ethnic disparities in negative affect among the sample. After controlling for race-ethnicity, gender identity, sexual identity, and everyday discrimination, a hierarchical linear regression analysis indicated that exposure to vicarious racialized violence in policing significantly predicted increased levels of negative affect. These findings provide vital insight into the harmful psychological impacts of vicarious exposure to racialized violence on individuals in the U.S. which has individual, population, and public health implications.

Creative Personality, Team Conflict Profiles, and Team Outcomes

We develop theory using a novel conceptualization of creative personality to explain how implicit creative personality predicts the development of conflict in teams. Specifically, we contend that implicit creative personality is useful for predicting differing profiles of team conflict that subsequently predict important team outcomes, including performance. Informed by the complexity perspective on conflict, we demonstrate that higher team average levels of implicit creative personality are associated with functional profiles of team conflict that are indicative of team norms of ‘lively debate’ and a robust work ethic, both of which are ultimately beneficial to multiple aspects of team effectiveness. The findings from two samples (including more than 900 individuals in over 240 teams) of undergraduate students largely support our theory. This investigation of the influence of implicit aspects of creative personality on team effectiveness through team conflict offers clarity regarding the way in which creative personality affects team processes and team outcomes. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Knowledge and self-perceived competence about cardiopulmonary resuscitation among youths: a cross-sectional study in a sample of Italian undergraduates.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is fundamental to improve the outcomes of a life-threatening event. The correct knowledge of first aid actions to provide may guarantee the victim's survival. This study was aimed at evaluating the competence about cardiopulmonary resuscitation and its predictors in a sample of Italian undergraduate students. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, first aid training, knowledge of stroke and heart attack symptoms and perceived ability to provide first aid, were collected through a web-based questionnaire. On a total of 744 respondents (mean age 23.9±5.4 years, 62.5% female), 71.4% identified correctly first aid actions, 59.9% and 60.8% showed a good knowledge of stroke and heart attack symptoms, respectively. However, only 39.0% of them declared their ability to intervene in case of emergency. Attending a healthcare degree course and having had first aid training were associated with knowledge of symptoms and perceived ability to provide first aid. Female gender was negatively related with perceived ability to intervene. In spite of the satisfactory level of knowledge, these findings highlight the need to enhance the competence about cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the lay population, especially among females.

Testing a brief, self-guided values affirmation for behavioral activation intervention during COVID-19

ABSTRACT This pilot study tested a single-session digital values affirmation for behavioral activation (VABA) intervention. Hypotheses predicted the VABA intervention would be more effective than an active control condition in improving mood, decreasing COVID-19 fear/worry and depressive symptoms, and promoting positively reinforcing behaviors during early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were a diverse sample of undergraduate students (N = 296) under a state-wide lockdown. Students were randomized to either VABA, a 10-min values clarification and affirmation task, or Control, a time- and attention-matched task. Positive and negative affects were assessed pre- and post-intervention. At next-day follow-up, positive and negative affects were reassessed, as well as past 24-h behavioral activation and depressive symptoms. Within-group increases in positive affect were observed in both conditions (VABA d = 0.39; Control d = 0.19). However, VABA produced a significantly larger increase than Control (F[2] = 3.856, p = .022, d = 0.22). At 24-h follow-up, behavioral activation, which was significantly higher in VABA versus Control (t[294] = −5.584, p < .001, d = 0.65), predicted fewer depressive symptoms (R 2 change = .019, β = -.134, p = .003). VABA is an ultra-brief intervention that appears to have acute effects on mood-enhancement and behavioral activation.

Doing and Defining Interdisciplinarity in Undergraduate Computing

Interdisciplinarity has been touted as a means to recruit more racially and gender diverse students to computing. In this explanatory sequential mixed-methods study, we investigated demographic characteristics among a sample of undergraduate students pursuing interdisciplinary computing major and minor combinations at 15 institutions in the United States who completed a survey at the end of their introductory course. Descriptive analyses of responses to this survey of introductory computing students revealed that enrollment in interdisciplinary combinations was limited and did not appear to disproportionately attract women or Black/African American, Latine, Indigenous, and Multiracial students. We then conducted a directed content analysis of departmental websites to examine the language and policies that may preclude or encourage students to pursue interdisciplinary computing major and minor combinations. Findings revealed that departmental offerings of such programs were limited, and, among those that did offer such programs, communication about their goals and requirements was often lacking. Implications for research and practice, especially as they pertain to efforts to broaden participation in computing, are discussed.

Maintaining social trust: Family cohesion and enhancing mindset in the face of COVID‐19 stress

AbstractWe recruited a large cross‐sectional sample of undergraduate students in China (n = 1134) early in the COVID‐19 pandemic to investigate how family cohesion may be related to the maintenance of social trust. Family cohesion was positively associated with social trust, and this effect was partially mediated by psychological stress responses to COVID‐19 (PSRC), that is, family cohesion was negatively associated with greater PSRC which was also negatively associated with social trust. Having a “stress‐as‐enhancing” mindset had an additive negative effect on the association between family cohesion and PSRC but only had a weak dampening effect on the negative association between PSRC and trust. Interventions focusing on cultivating positive family relationships and embracing a stress‐as‐enhancing mindset may offer avenues for maximizing protective factors in times of public health crises.

Comparing College Students’ Capacities for Resiliency Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Using data from the 2018 (n = 54,601) and 2021 (n = 35,283) Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership survey, this study compared measures of college students’ resilience before and one year into the COVID-19 pandemic among both the entire undergraduate student samples and among demographic groups (i.e., gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, and first-generation status). Findings revealed a statistically significant decrease in reported resilience from 2018 to 2021 and consistent significant decreases across nearly every demographic group. Results highlight the importance of individual and environmental factors when attending to influences on college students’ resilience.

Validity and Reliability of a Self-Report Likert-Type Measure of Nightmare Frequency

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Background and Objective: Nightmare frequency is typically measured using interval and ordinal, but rarely Likert- type, scales. The current study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of a Likert-type measure of retrospective nightmare frequency.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: Participants included a convenience sample of undergraduate students. They completed a recent- ly developed Likert-type nightmare frequency item, an established Nightmare Frequency Scale, an estimate of nightmare frequency over the past week, and measures of hypothetically related variables including neuroticism, psychological dis- tress, and trauma symptoms. Convergent and discriminant validity was evaluated through relationships between the Likert- type nightmare frequency item with other nightmare measures and hypothetically related variables. Reliability was esti- mated using a correction for attenuation approach designed to provide a conservative estimate of single-item reliability.&#x0D; Results: The sample included 233 (119 female, 51.1%; 114 male, 48.9%) university students (mean age: 19.05 ± 1.91). The average convergent validity coefficient between the Likert-type nightmare frequency item and other nightmare measures (r = 0.647) was significantly different (z = 5.45, P &lt; 0.001) from its average correlation coefficient with hypo- thetically related measures (r = 0.256). The single-item reliability coefficient was 0.722.&#x0D; Conclusion: The reliability and convergent and discriminant validity of the Likert-type nightmare frequency item were supported.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Individual Interest of students in Physical Education and School Engagement in fostering Physical Culture inside the campus: The case of two prominent local colleges in Pampanga, Philippines

Interest has been globally established as a powerful predictor that triggers engagement, especially in fostering physical culture among students. Scholarly works in PE have already shown that situational interest triggers individual interest, which can lead to highly engaged students. However, little is known about the impact of individual interest alone on students’ school engagement. In this regard, this study is focused on determining the significant difference between the sex and institution of students concerning individual interest and school engagement. Moreover, it aimed to assess the relationship and direct influence of individual interest on school engagement. After obtaining data from 1659 samples of undergraduate students from the most prominent local colleges in Pampanga, it was revealed that there is no significant difference concerning individual interest and school engagement between sex and institution. Fascinatingly, a significant association between students’ individual interests and school engagement was observed. Lastly, individual interest, along with its three factors, predicts school engagement. It can be concluded that individual interest has a direct positive influence on school engagement. Recommendations for future research direction and PE teachers to fully translate physical culture to students to improve their overall well-being are hereby presented.

The relation between perceived partner responsiveness and sexual communication in romantic relationships

Sexual communication can be challenging to initiate. Nevertheless, people with a responsive romantic partner may feel more comfortable with sexual communication. Thus, we examined whether there is an association between partner responsiveness and greater sexual communication, and whether greater sexual communication may potentially mediate associations between responsiveness and positive relationship outcomes (i.e. intimacy types, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction). We recruited participants from Amazon Mechanical Turk (N = 119) and a sample of undergraduate students (N = 89) to complete online measures. As hypothesized, partner responsiveness was associated with greater sexual communication. Results from structural equation modeling showed that sexual communication mediated associations between responsiveness and intimacy types, and the association between responsiveness and sexual satisfaction in both samples. Interestingly, sexual communication only mediated the association between responsiveness and relationship satisfaction in the sample of undergraduate students. Other notable differences between the samples are discussed, such as differences in age, relationship length, and sexual satisfaction. These results show the importance of sexual communication for romantic relationships, and that even non-sexual partner characteristics may impact a sexual relationship.

Alone together: the role of existential concerns in symptoms of relationship obsessive-compulsive disorder

ABSTRACT Objective Emerging research has identified the relevance of existential concerns in various subtypes and dimensions of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, at present, no studies have examined these concerns in relation to relationship OCD (ROCD). Method The current study examined the association between ROCD symptoms and all five existential concerns (i.e., isolation, identity, meaninglessness, guilt, and death). Data was obtained from a sample of undergraduate university students in Sydney, Australia (N = 353), Mage = 20.95 years. Participants completed a number of scales including measures of ROCD symptoms, attitudes to relationships, and existential concerns. Results The results revealed significant positive correlations between all five existential concerns and ROCD symptoms. In particular, the correlations found for Isolation and Identity concerns were significantly larger than those found for Meaninglessness, Guilt, and Death. Notably, the relationships between ROCD symptoms and all five existential concerns remained significant after controlling for quality of current relationship, catastrophic beliefs about relationships, and neuroticism. Conclusions The current findings highlight the need to consider existential issues in conceptualising ROCD. Clinical implications are discussed.

Utilizing virtual reality before, versus during, the COVID-19 pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly pushed interior design (ID) instruction online, instructors were challenged to adapt, and students adapted a new method of virtual reality (VR). The VR method before COVID-19 was a Homido V2 VR headset with iPhone viewing 360-degree panorama jpeg, and during COVID-19 a liquid crystal display (LCD) computer monitor viewing 360-degree panorama jpeg. The purpose of this study was, if a statistically significant difference (SSD) in spatial presence was found between the two types of VR, then an argument could be supported to evaluate spatial presence, before VR is implemented into ID curriculum. This study was at one Midwestern United States university with a sample (N = 52) of ID undergraduate students. The results revealed an SSD in the spatial presence in the aforementioned VR types. This SSD was found in two of the three dependent variables: Spatial Presence: Possible Action (SPPA; U = 772, p < 0.001), example survey question feeling you could jump into the action, and Spatial Presence: Self Location (SPSL; U = 789, p < 0.001), example feeling you are in the middle of the action. The third dependent variable, Spatial Situation Model (SSM; U = 1320, p = 0.834) did not reveal an SSD, example imagining the arrangement of the spaces. To support results, the Virtual Reality Spatial Presence Index (VRSPI) applied scored neutral (neither strong, nor weak) for spatial presence in both. This study filled research gaps on VR spatial presence measurement, with implications supporting a measurable advantage in ID students using VR headsets and ID curriculum developers evaluating VR before implementation.

WhatsApp as a Useful Tool to Strengthen EFL Learners’ Academic Writing Creativity: Exploring Students’ and Teachers' Voices

The research initiatives have often delved into the challenges of academic writing creativity, particularly among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. Even though studies have investigated the creativity in writing across different contexts including integrating technology through social media platforms; there remains a dearth of research to explore WhatsApp’s usefulness in improving EFL learners’ writing creativity particularly Arabic speakers’ context. Therefore, the present study attempts to discover WhatsApp as a useful tool to strengthen EFL learners’ academic writing creativity from students and teachers’ perspectives. This study, through descriptive survey research method and a set of instruments: a questionnaire and semi-structured interview, was applied to a sample of (N=50) undergraduate students and (N=20) teachers. According to finding, students opined a ‘high’ perception that WhatsApp significantly enhance their writing creativity in terms of spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar, whereas teachers do not see much advantage of WhatsApp in improving students' academic writing creativity. Also, the participant role (student, teacher) affected views about the usefulness of WhatsApp in enhancing writing creativity, and thus the responses were different based on the participation role. Additionally, the content analysis revealed the challenges encountered by the learners when using WhatsApp as a tool to strengthen their writing creativity. Based on the study findings, suggestions, recommendations, and implications are presented.