Student Life Research Articles

Transitioning to Adult Life for Students With Intellectual Disability in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Literature Review

Although transition services for individuals with intellectual disability (ID) in Saudi Arabia are required by special education law and regulations, no literature synthesizes peer-reviewed studies focused on transition services for individuals with ID in Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this systematic literature review was to describe the peer-reviewed studies that have been published in English and Arabic over the past 15 years (2008–2023) related to transition services for individuals with ID in Saudi Arabia, the period in which the Saudi Arabian government has provided a new focus on the needs of individuals with disabilities. Our search yielded 22 studies that met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. Results were discussed in terms of the lack of research focused on transition services and the lack of transition services available for individuals with ID in Saudi Arabia. A discussion of the limitations of this study, as well as the implications for future research, are provided.

Woven: the intersections of disability and doctoral study, and the lives of students who navigate these intersections

Purpose This paper aims to understand the experiences of disabled doctoral students at one Aotearoa New Zealand University, identifying barriers to accessibility and meaningful participation, and enabling practices. Design/methodology/approach This research was underpinned by the social model of disability and used an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach. A survey comprising closed and freeform questions was distributed to all doctoral students. From the 64 respondents, 12 also took part in an unstructured, narrative interview. Data were analysed using a combination of methods: descriptive statistics, thematic analysis and poetic inquiry. Findings Findings are presented mainly as data poetry. The poems centre on complexities faced by disabled doctoral students, and articulate challenges, enabling practices and possibilities for the future encountered by students in this study. Findings are additionally supported with quotes from narrative interviews, open-ended survey questions and descriptive data analysis. Originality/value The poetic inquiry approach gives voice to the collective experiences of disabled students. The poetic texts bear witness to the intersections of disability, impairment, chronic illness, neurodiversity and doctoral study, and the lives of students who navigate these intersections. These poems voice and seek to be lightning-rods for social change.

MSU — my love!

The article is a generalized analysis of students’ opinions about Moscow University, which they expressed within the study “Moscow State University through the Eyes of Students at the Faculty of Sociology” conducted at the Faculty of Sociology. This study was dedicated to the 270th anniversary of Moscow University. The purpose of the study was to create a holistic view of students’ attitudes to Moscow University, its mission in the development of Russia and Russian science, as well as their own life trajectories, based on the analysis of students’ opinions on the criteria for choosing a university, on various aspects of the educational process and employment prospects. The responses analyzed in the article are a vivid demonstration of the fact that Moscow University has played and continues to play a special role in the lives of students. It is the students who are the main characters of this article. Young people expressed their opinions on why they chose Moscow State University, what factors influenced their choice, how their education is conducted, and how their alma mater influences their life strategies. Instead of a conclusion, the article includes two extraordinary essays that describe the students’ path to admission, their impressions of their studies, as well as their expectations, aspirations, and hopes.

The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and quality of life in Iranian primary school students in Tehran, Iran

The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and quality of life in Iranian primary school students in Tehran, Iran

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Today’s Student Life

AI has profoundly impacted the lives of students by transforming various aspects of their education and daily activities. AI can be a very useful learning tool in a variety of contexts. Students can access learning materials tailored to their needs and learning styles, resulting in more effective learning. AI also speeds up evaluation and scoring. However, there are also issues to contend with, such as the dangers of relying on technology, problems with data privacy, and the possibility of a decline in social interaction. This article discusses the impact of AI on college students and its implications for the future of higher education. The rapid development of technology has made the emergence of the millennial era where technology has become the need of every individual, especially youth and women in the millennial era who are faced with technological advancements, so it is required to always sort out every information obtained, in order to prevent the occurrence of bad impacts because access between the worlds is easy to obtain so that it can be a weapon for irresponsible people to attack an area from the next generation. The purpose of this study is to find out the various impacts of technological developments.

COVID-19 mental health impacts on academic engagement: a study on students of Egypt and India

Purpose This study aims to investigate the association between COVID-19-related fear and academic engagement, perceived stress and life satisfaction among college students in two countries – Egypt in Africa and India in Asia, during the pandemic. The study also aims to analyze the moderating role of gender in these relationships. Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data collected from 1,125 college students from India and 1,145 college students from Egypt. Findings Positive correlations were found between fear of COVID-19 and perceived stress among the college students of Egypt and India, while negative correlations were found between fear of COVID-19 and both student engagement and life satisfaction. The strength of these relationships was found to be stronger in the Egyptian sample compared to the Indian sample. Gender was found to be a significant factor in the relationships between the variables studied. In the Indian sample, female respondents appeared to experience more mental health concerns and academic impacts than male respondents. In the Egyptian sample, however, the gender effects varied for the different relationships between the fear of COVID-19 and the other chosen variables. Originality/value The results emphasize the need to reevaluate and monitor policies and resources to promote positive mental health among adolescents, especially during times of crisis. The study stands among the pioneers that investigated a comparative study of two countries to check the mental health impacts on the study engagement during the pandemic.

Prediction and treatment of joint injuries in basketball training based on improved regression algorithm from the perspective of sports biomechanics

With the increasing popularity of basketball, especially in collegiate competitions like the University Basketball Super League, the sport has become a significant part of student life. The intensity of basketball training and competition has risen, necessitating athletes to have enhanced physical capabilities to meet modern demands. This heightened physical confrontation often leads to various injuries, with joint injuries being particularly common and impactful. This study integrates sports biomechanics with machine learning to address the prediction and treatment of joint injuries in basketball training. By employing an improved regression algorithm and leveraging high-performance computing, we have experimentally analyzed the prediction of joint injuries and proposed effective solutions. Our results indicate that the difference between the highest and lowest predicted residual values for the Back Propagation (BP) model was 0.92, and for the Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) regression model was 0.87. Notably, the improved ELM regression model demonstrated a reduced residual difference of 0.43. This improvement suggests that the enhanced ELM regression model offers superior prediction accuracy for joint injuries in basketball training and provides more comprehensive monitoring of athletes’ physical health, thereby supporting the advancement of basketball training programs.

Between “Storm” and “Privilege”: The Unequal Impact of Online Learning In the Pandemic and its Consequences Among Romanian Graduates

ABSTRACTThe COVID‐19 pandemic impacted the lives of students around the world, forcing them to study remotely through online learning. This article uses 60 in‐depth interviews with students from four Romanian universities (Iasi, Galati, Brasov and Cluj‐Napoca) who had recently completed 3‐year degrees to analyse the impact of remote learning on the lives of Romanian graduates, taking into account inequalities in their living standards. This research contributes to the literature on higher education by analysing the unequal experiences of these graduates and how they have been affected in educational, emotional and professional terms, both during and after the pandemic. The findings show that despite the scarcity and absence of face‐to‐face learning, the students used resilience to overcome this period and graduate, albeit with clear differences: those in rural areas are still suffering severe consequences, while those in urban areas are enjoying the “privilege” conferred on them by their status. The conclusions highlight inequalities and reflect on the (dis)advantages of online learning in students' lives.

Exploring The Impact and Challenges of Chatgpt on Future Primary and Secondary Education from The Perspective of Current Normal Students

Nowadays, the application of ChatGPT has received widespread attention, but there are still shortcomings at the education level. This article explores the impact and challenges of ChatGPT on future primary and secondary education from the perspective of current normal school students through a survey questionnaire method. The analysis shows that ChatGPT has penetrated the lives of normal students as a commonly used tool. Most respondents believe that ChatGPT will have a positive impact on primary and secondary education. However, regarding the educational evaluation of ChatGPT and the dependence of students on ChatGPT, respondents expressed deep concerns. Based on this, this article suggests that teachers should check the generated content and then integrate it into their curriculum design and use ChatGPT to automatically generate multi-form teaching resources. Teachers can use ChatGPT as a language companion for students' foreign language learning, but they must grasp the time for students to interact with artificial intelligence. Teachers should guide students in the use of ChatGPT, teach students to face the generated content, think from different angles, and form critical thinking. Teachers should educate students on ethics in the teaching process, emphasizing the importance of academic integrity, and at the same time, enriching the ways of evaluating students to ensure the fairness of the examination.

Can virtual reality technology be used for empathy education in medical students: a randomized case-control study

BackgroundEmpathy is an important factor in the doctor-patient relationship, but mental illness is more difficult to understand than other diseases. Besides traditional skills, virtual reality (VR) has been identified as a promising tool in empathy education. This study aimed to investigate the ability of empathy enhancement, the feasibility of depression education, and the changes in thoughts and attitudes in medical students through a single VR experience.MethodsWe recruited medical students and randomly assigned them to two groups based on their completed Interpersonal Response Index scores. Two sets of VR systems were provided; the intervention group experienced the daily life of the depressed medical student, while the control group experienced the general medical student scenario. The improvement of empathy was assessed using the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professional Students (JSE-HPS), and the change of attitude was assessed through the Implicit Association Test. In addition, other questionnaires were used to evaluate the user experience of this VR system, and correlation analysis was conducted to examine the association between the use of VR and changes in the JSE and IAT scores.ResultsA total of 59 medical students were enrolled in this study. The intervention group showed a significant increase in the perspective-taking (pre: mean 5.817, SD 0.536; post: mean 5.947, SD 0.620; P = .03) and compassionate care (pre: mean 5.546, SD 0.581; post: mean 5.721, SD 0.629; P = .01) domains of the JSE score and a significant decrease in the standing in the patient’s shoes (SP) domain (pre: mean 3.583, SD 1.253; post: mean 2.967, SD 1.252; P = .002). The Pearson correlation analysis found a significant positive correlation between the JSE score with immersion aspect (r = .308, P = .049) and presence aspect (r = .415, P = .01), and we also found a significant negative correlation between the IAT score and presence aspect (r=-.333, P = .04).ConclusionsThis study is the first randomized case-control study to investigate the effect of two different versions of VR on empathy development toward depression for medical students. Although the single VR experience was unable to induce a great improvement in empathy or attitude, the VR system could help medical students enhance their understanding of depressive disorders.Trial registrationThis trial was retrospectively registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) (21/03/2024, ACTRN12624000297527). https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=386683&isReview=true.

An Exploration of Innovation of Social Practice Model of Ideological and Political Courses in Colleges and Universities

Promoting the innovation and reform of ideological and political courses in colleges and universities with a social practice model is not only the basic requirement for colleges and universities to do a good job in the teaching of ideological and political courses in the new era but also the internal requirement for deepening the reform of ideological and political education in the new era and implementing the fundamental task of “cultivating morality and cultivating people.” At the same time, innovating the social practice mode of ideological and political course is helpful to solve the problems existing in ideological and political education in the past, and integrate the core connotation and spiritual concept of ideological and political education into the ideological life of college students. Based on this, this paper analyzes the basic mode of social practice of ideological and political courses in colleges and universities, and elaborates the direction and strategy of innovative social practice mode of ideological and political courses, to improve the effectiveness of ideological and political courses and promote the sustainable development of ideological and political education.

Comprehensive Wellness in University Life: An Analysis of Student Services and Their Impact on Quality of Life

Higher education regulatory bodies establish that universities should promote cultural, sports, mental health, and psycho-pedagogical programs. However, these initiatives are usually limited to satisfying minimum quality requirements, without delving into a true promotion of these areas. This study aimed to determine the relationship between university welfare services and students' quality of life. For this purpose, the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Methodology (PLS-SEM) was used with a sample of 253 university students from a Peruvian public university, to whom a questionnaire validated by specialists was applied. The results revealed that dropout and graduation promotion influence emotional well-being, mental health affects emotional well-being, the promotion of university life affects personal, physical, and social well-being, and the lack of scholarships and economic support negatively influences emotional well-being. In conclusion, college wellness services are key to improving the quality of life of college students who are prone to suffering from academic stress and frustration. Received: 2 June 2024 / Accepted: 29 October 2024 / Published: 05 November 2024

Academic Performance, Health and Support Needs: Comparing Foster Care Alumni and Peers in Higher Education in Norway

The completion rates of higher education are low among young adults with a history of foster care. Understanding how students from foster care alumni fare is imperative for facilitating attainment and preventing drop-out. The aim of this study was to compare students from foster care alumni and the general student population by examining (1) sociodemographic characteristics, academic functioning and need for special assistance; (2) contextual factors important for student life; and (3) mental and somatic health, loneliness, life satisfaction and use of cannabis and alcohol. Data comprised self-reports from the Norwegian national survey Students’ Health and Well-being Study 2022. Reports from foster care alumni students (n = 508) were compared to those of the general student sample (n = 59,036). Compared to the general sample, twice as many foster care alumni students reported receiving or needing special assistance in their studies. Moreover, they reported substantially higher economic burden than their student peers, by higher frequency of work income, more financial worries, and less parental financial support. Foster care alumni students also reported a higher load of informal care responsibilities, poorer mental and somatic health, more loneliness and lower life satisfaction. Foster care alumni students fare comparably well in terms of grades and study progression despite the reported economic burden and impaired health and well-being. As these are factors shown to impact study completion, policies need to be put in place to ensure that care-experienced students receive adequate support through their young adulthood and specifically in higher education.

The impact of alcohol consumption on the quality of life of college students: a study from three Slovak universities

Alcohol consumption can influence an individual's quality of life, with the impact varying based on several factors such as the amount of alcohol consumed, frequency of consumption, individual tolerance, and overall health. Slovakia is among the countries with the highest incidence of liver cirrhosis in the world, with alcohol representing a significant risk factor. Therefore, it is important to identify at-risk groups and the potential impact of various factors. The primary objective of this study is to examine the relationship between alcohol consumption and quality of life among college students in the Slovak Universities. A cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2021 and January 2022. The study included college students with an average age of 22.3 years. Participants were surveyed about their alcohol consumption and quality of life using the standardized Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) questionnaires. These questionnaires were distributed through online school systems. In the study, 88.7% of the students reported drinking alcohol. A low AUDIT score was recorded for 67.1% of the total participants (2573 students). A medium score was found in 23.3% of the participants (893 students). High scores were identified in 2.4% of the participants (92 students), and very high scores were found in 2.2% of the total participants (86 students). Mild pain was reported in 33.8% of cases, while moderate pain was reported in 5.2% of cases. Mild depression and anxiety were reported in 31.1% of the cases, and moderate depression and anxiety were reported in 13.5% of the cases. There is a statistically significant relationship between AUDIT and EuroQOL variables (p < 0.001). This suggests that the association between alcohol use (measured by AUDIT) and health-related quality of life (measured by EuroQOL) is unlikely to be due to chance. Higher alcohol consumption was associated with a poorer quality of life in Slovak college students. Our results suggest a meaningful connection between alcohol consumption behaviors and overall quality of life, highlighting the potential impact of alcohol use on health outcomes. Further research is warranted to explore the nature and causality of this relationship, which could inform interventions aimed at improving health-related quality of life through alcohol use reduction strategies. The association between higher alcohol consumption and poorer quality of life in Slovak college students raises important questions about causality and the complex interplay between alcohol consumption and one’s overall well-being. The significant relationship between higher alcohol consumption and poorer quality of life suggests the need for targeted public health interventions aimed at reducing alcohol consumption among college students. Programs focusing on awareness and education about the negative impacts of excessive drinking could be implemented to promote healthier lifestyles.

ORGANIZING OUTSIDE-CLASS ACTIVITIES IN EDUCATION LESSONS

Activities organized outside the classroom and school complement the educational activities in the life of students. They help to form their worldview and moral maturity. Creates a foundation for connecting theoretical knowledge with practical production.

Bringing the community into the classroom: professional identity and practice of social workers who studied alongside at-risk adolescent girls

ABSTRACT This study explores the professional identity development of social workers who participated in an academic elective course alongside at-risk adolescent girls aged 16–18. The course, influenced by critical pedagogy, and community and feminist social work, emphasized three core principles: flattening power hierarchies, challenging socio-structural oppression, and mutual learning. In-depth interviews were conducted with course graduates, social workers with 1 to 4 years of experience. Phenomenological analysis uncovered that the course acted as a ‘transitional space’ between student and professional life. Three subthemes emerged: recognizing the vulnerability and strengths of adolescent girls, reflecting on personal life experiences, and learning about forming partnerships with clients. Forming partnerships with clients was enabled by three vehicles: daring to be equal, daring to be authentic, and learning from clients’ knowledge. This study highlights the creation of a ‘community of practice’ through innovative teaching methods and community involvement. It underscores the importance of hands-on experiences and engagement with real-life contexts to bridge the gap between theory and practice, enhancing understanding of concepts like partnership and nonhierarchical approaches in both community and general social work.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on university students' psychological distress, well-being, and utilization of mental health services in the United States: populations at greatest risk.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to major disruptions in the lives of university students, which is a population that is already at a greater risk of mental health concerns. Little is known about how the pandemic impacted distress and mental health services utilization among university students across the United States. Using survey data from the National College Health Assessment, both before the COVID-19 pandemic (pre-March 2020, n = 88,986) and during the pandemic (Spring 2021, n = 96,489), the present study examined mental health symptoms and utilization of mental health services among undergraduate students attending four-year universities in the United States. There were notable increases in measures of psychological distress and reductions in well-being from before the pandemic to during the pandemic. However, overall utilization rates of mental health services slightly decreased from pre-pandemic to during the pandemic. Predictors of severe psychological distress included those who experienced loneliness, COVID-19 related stressors, and loss of a loved one from COVID-19. COVID-related stressors and loneliness were associated with higher utilization rates of mental health services, while well-being and resilience were associated with lower utilization rates. Analyses revealed that several demographic groups were at an elevated risk for severe psychological distress, including non-binary, female, and sexual minority students, and especially those who identify as both non-binary and non-heterosexual. Results indicated that students of color, especially female students of color, were less likely to receive mental health services. Future research is needed to increase our understanding of the barriers to mental health service use among high-risk university students.

Research on the construction of a service quality evaluation system for university student dormitories based on the Delphi method

Student dormitories play a pivotal role in the daily lives of university students in China, significantly influencing their academic, residential, and developmental experiences. However, there is a lack of a standardized framework to evaluate the service quality of these dormitories. This study aimed to develop a customized service quality evaluation index system specifically for Chinese university dormitories. The Delphi method and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) were employed, involving 15 experts from Chinese universities. Two rounds of expert deliberation were conducted, starting with 28 initial indicators. The expert consultations resulted in the identification of six primary and 23 secondary indicators that form the service quality evaluation system. This framework is tailored to the specific needs of Chinese university dormitories and provides a solid technical foundation for future evaluations. It is expected to contribute to the improvement of dormitory management practices across China.

Exploring the Transformative Influence of Dramatic Arts Education on Academic Achievement and Personal Development of Grade 10 Students

This study examined how dramatic arts education affects students in Grade 10 through improving their academic performance and personal growth thereby changing their lives. Using interpretative paradigms based on social interpretative theoretical frameworks, the study used a mixed qualitative and quantitative research methodology. A questionnaire was used to collect data from a purposive sample of 120 Grade 10 dramatic arts students and seven teachers. The case study was conducted in two schools using a descriptive study methodology. An examination of the data showed strong correlations between involvement in the dramatic arts and academic achievement, and discernible behavioural and critical skill gains throughout a student's academic life. Results showed that, because of the topic matter covered, students of the dramatic arts modified their misbehaviours. The results demonstrated that dramatic arts is important for developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and practical communication skills. This study recommends that teachers receive training in dramatic arts teaching and that more students be enrolled in dramatic arts programmes. Even though students enjoy dramatic arts as a subject, the results of this study show that some students were concerned about getting parental approval to enrol in dramatic arts. The study emphasises the transformational potential of dramatic arts education in providing students with the necessary skills for coping in a rapidly shifting world and gives insightful recommendations for educators, legislators, and curriculum designers. The study concluded that studying dramatic arts benefits students’ academic performance and has a transformative effect on their personal lives. The study also found that parents greatly influenced the choice of dramatic arts as a subject taught in schools.

Modification in Quality of Life and Health in Medical Students across Graduation

Abstract Background Medical students experience numerous demands during the education process, determining their quality of life (QoL) and health status. POLLEK study aims to identify and evaluate the quality of life by simultaneously assessing their determinants in Polish medical students during long-term observation. We have also examined the prevalence of chronic diseases, specifically focusing on overweight and obesity, and identified their risk factors. Methods The POLLEK is the follow-up cohort study conducted among medical students at the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. Students were followed during two observation periods: in their first year of studies, the academic year 2021/2022 (T1), and in their second year, the academic year 2022/2023 (T2). Results The total number of participants in the first year of observation (T1) was 427 while in the second year (T2) was 335. We identified that the QoL score significantly decreased in their second year of studies mainly in the somatic and psychological domain. The determinants of QoL domains common to T1 and T2 remained self-declared health status, frequency of physical activity, and current financial situation. In the initial year of evaluation, 56 students (13.10%) were overweight or obese, and 52 (15.8%) in the second. Regardless of the academic year, the increased risk of being overweight or obese was significantly associated with dissatisfaction with personal health, financial deficiencies, and a diet abundant in animal products. Conclusions The QoL of medical students and selected indicators of their health status deteriorated during the observation period. Our findings suggest that medical schools should actively promote the activity needed to achieve a balance between schoolwork and the personal life of medical students from the beginning of university study. Key messages • Medical students experience numerous demands during the education process, determining their quality of life (QoL) and health status. • Medical schools should actively promote the activity needed to achieve a balance between schoolwork and the personal life of medical students from the beginning of university study.