Student Life Research Articles

Efficacy and underlying mechanisms of three-circle post standing qigong on insomnia in college students: a four-arm, double-blind, randomized controlled trial protocol

BackgroundInsomnia is common in college students, but its impact on health and wellbeing is often neglected. Enhancing sleep quality through targeted interventions could improve overall health and reduce the risk of consequent co-morbidities and mental health problems. Qigong exercises have been shown to significantly improve sleep quality and relieve insomnia. Three-circle Post Standing (TCPS) can help integrate body, breath, and mind, a fundamental principle of Qigong that promotes holistic wellbeing. In this clinical trial, we aim to (1) evaluate the feasibility, safety, and therapeutic efficacy of administering TCPS to improve sleep quality and quality of life in college students with insomnia; (2) explore the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the mind adjustments mediated by TCPS in insomnia; (3) investigate body and breath pathophysiology mediated by TCPS in insomnia; and (4) assess the long-term efficacy of TCPS in terms of sleep quality and quality of life.MethodsThis will be a prospective, parallel, four-arm, double-blind randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of TCPS on college students with insomnia. One hundred college students meeting diagnostic criteria for insomnia will be randomly assigned to receive either 14 weeks of standardized TCPS training (two weeks of centralized training followed by 12 weeks of supervised training) or sham-control Post Standing training. Efficacy outcomes including sleep quality, quality of life, neurophysiological assessments, plantar pressure, biomechanical balance, and physical measures will be collected at baseline, eight weeks (mid-point of supervised training), and 14 weeks (end of supervised training). Sleep quality and quality of life will also be evaluated during the four- and eight-week follow-up.DiscussionThis trial will be an important milestone in the development of new therapeutic approaches for insomnia and should be easily implementable by college students with insomnia. The neuro- and pathophysiological assessments will provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying TCPS.Clinical trial registrationThis trial has been registered in the China Clinical Trials Registry (registration number: ChiCTR2400080763).

Sense of relatedness and study engagement as mediators between students’ peer support and life satisfaction

Previous research suggests that peer support is an essential component of adolescents’ sense of relatedness in peer relationships and correlates with study engagement and life satisfaction. However, what the underlying mechanisms of these relationships are, has remained unclear. This study examined 1) whether the sense of relatedness or study engagement mediate the effect of peer support on students’ life satisfaction, and 2) whether sense of relatedness mediates the effects of peer support on students’ study engagement. The data were analysed with the structural equation modelling (SEM), using a cross-sectional sample of Finnish upper secondary education students (n = 293) (63% female, 31% male). The results showed that the relationship between peer support and the student life satisfaction beyond the school was fully mediated by students’ experiences of study engagement and sense of relatedness. This suggests that peer support for studying by itself is not sufficient for cultivating student life satisfaction, but its effectiveness depends on whether it positively impacts their study engagement and sense of relatedness. To improve the life satisfaction of upper secondary education students, study-related peer support needs to be cultivated so that it triggers students’ sense of relatedness and study engagement.

The Contribution of Religious Instruction to the Contemporary Challenges of Central African Republic Youth: A case study of FATEB Secondary School

This article explores the contribution of the teaching of religious instruction in the lives of students at the FATEB Evangelical Secondary School in the face of the challenges that young people are going through today. Data were collected through interviews with teachers and students, and from unpublished sources. The FATEB secondary school was created to allow student pastors and their wives to follow classes well while their children are taken care of in the classrooms. With the military-political crises that have shaken the country, parents of students have preferred to enroll their children in FATEB schools. This is what has driven the FATEB schools to grow. Very early on, the religious instruction course was included in the curriculum of the student's training in addition to the official curriculum developed by the Ministry of National Education. However, the pastors who teach the religious instruction course have an aptitude for the pastoral side. The data showed that they lack professionalism on the pedagogical side. The ministry of these teachers has contributed spiritually as some conversions to Christ are recorded and also some students have changed their behavior. However, much remains to be done to improve the contribution of the teaching of the Religious Instruction course in the lives of these students. Some suggestions and recommendations were made towards the end of the article to achieve these results.

Intelligent Matching Method for College Dormitory Roommates: Chameleon Algorithm Based on Optimized Partitioning

A chameleon algorithm based on optimized partitioning was studied to solve the intelligent matching problem of college dormitory roommates. Using quantitative research methods, data on personal preferences and lifestyle habits of college students were collected, and the K-center object chameleon algorithm was used for data analysis and roommate matching. Test the algorithm performance on the BBC dataset, compare clustering quality indicators such as entropy, purity, and RI value, and verify the effectiveness of the algorithm. This algorithm can accurately assign students to their respective dormitories, avoiding overlapping situations and achieving excellent matching results. In terms of matching accuracy and running time, the K-center object chameleon algorithm shows superior performance compared to other algorithms. In terms of clustering quality evaluation, comparisons were made from three dimensions: entropy value, purity, and RI value. The experimental results show that the closer the entropy value is to 0, the closer the purity and RI value are to 1, and the better the matching effect. This result further validates the effectiveness of the algorithm in the intelligent matching problem of college dormitory roommates. The matching accuracy of this algorithm on the BBC dataset reached 98.82%, showing better clustering quality than other algorithms in terms of entropy, purity, and RI values. The entropy value approached 0, while the purity and RI values approached 1, verifying the efficiency of matching quality. The chameleon algorithm based on optimized partitioning proposed in the study has shown excellent performance in intelligent matching of college dormitory roommates, with the characteristics of high-precision matching and fast running time. It has important practical significance for improving the quality of life and learning efficiency of college dormitory students, and provides new research methods and ideas for related fields.

Implementasi Etika Profesi dalam Kehidupan Mahasiswa Sastra Inggris Universitas Bumigora

The role of ethics in the lives of students is very important. It equips them with the ability to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong, thus enabling them to behave in a polite, courteous and responsible manner. Violations or deviant behaviour committed by prospective lecturers need to be observed, especially those related to professional ethics. Therefore, there is a need to conduct research on the application of professional ethics early in the lives of English Literature students who aspire to become lecturers. This research will use a literature review approach, involving a collection of books, academic articles and other relevant sources that explore the application of professional ethics in the lives of students. The data collected will be analysed descriptively. The findings of this study highlight the need for continuous effort in the application of professional ethics. Future teachers of English literature will develop the habit of implementing effective learning strategies by consistently practising the suggested efforts, which will prove beneficial when working with students in the future.

Impact of Stress on the Academic Performance of University Students

The study was made to explore the impact of stress on university students’ academic performance. The study was designed as a descriptive quantitative research paradigm. A self-designed Likert scale questionnaire was used for the study. The population of study comprised all university students of district Lahore. 300 students were selected by convenient sampling techniques. Data was analyzed using frequency distribution, t-test, and ANOVA. The findings of the study revealed that the personal-family lives of students were the most influencing factor that caused stress among them, followed by educational, and environmental factors respectively. Gender was found to have an insignificant association with stress. It was recommended that the parents, teachers, and university administrations should remain in good liaison for all-around personality development and to adopt stress observing and coping plans accordingly. Students need to adopt a healthy lifestyle and balance between working and relaxing hours.

MYKHAILO SIKORSKY AND SHEVCHENKO UNIVERSITY: STUDENT YEARS

The article is devoted to Mykhailo Sikorsky, a well-known cultural and public figure of Ukraine, historian, ethnographer, museum expert, archaeologist, and creator of the National Historical and Ethnographic Reserve ‘Pereyaslav’. The historiography of the topic is briefly presented. Attention is focused on the fact that to date, the student period (1946-1951) of M. Sikorsky's biography has been little studied. The factors that influenced the formation of the young man's values and worldview are revealed. The article describes the teachers whose courses Mykhailo studied. It describes the first stepsof research work, the choice of topics for term papers, and diploma theses. The authors do not avoid the problems of student life during the years of study.

Review of Digital Campus Construction Led by Virtual Reality Technology

In recent years, the government has issued a series of documents to promote the construction of digital campuses. This initiative serves to encourage the deep integration of information technology and intelligent technology education and digital reform, the combination of virtual reality and campus management is the need for innovative thinking and economic and social development, and then better change our learning style and living environment. The construction of the digital campus is based on virtual reality technology, BIM, GIS, and three-dimensional modeling technology to provide an immersive platform for students, promote the integration of virtual reality technology and education, help teachers, students, and parents to understand all kinds of education information and resources, to achieve their interoperability. From the off-campus environment to the school teaching equipment, teachers to teaching quality certification, and learning, to extracurricular entertainment, opening ceremonies to graduation parties, to bring more efficient, convenient, and safe campus life for teachers, students, and staff in school, and break the traditional information restrictions.

From lost to leading: How undocumented student resource centers are transforming student lives

From lost to leading: How undocumented student resource centers are transforming student lives

Medicinal plants as a generative theme for the study of organic functions and scientific literacy in chemistry

Chemistry teaching requires the use of approaches that provide students with conditions so that they can critically interpret the reality in which they live. This implies the need to link the content worked with the social context in which the student is inserted. However, the practice of contextualizing is rarely addressed in the classroom, especially when it comes to teaching Organic Chemistry. Therefore, this research aimed to propose a didactic intervention based on the theme of medicinal plants as a proposal to integrate the student's daily life with the construction of knowledge about Organic Functions, in order to make the teaching and learning process more meaningful in accordance with the proposal for Scientific Literacy. The research was carried out with students from a 3rd year class of Integrated Technical High School in Computer Science for the Internet at the Federal Institute of Education Science and Technology Baiano - Campus Guanambi, in the period between November 2022 and May 2023 and involved six stages, with diverse activities. The use of the theme met the objectives of the study proposal, as, depending on the receptivity of the participants, it constitutes a teaching resource that brought the study of Organic Functions closer to everyday life, favoring more meaningful learning. The proposed use of the generating theme also demonstrated that it aroused the students' curiosity and interest, given their active participation in the construction of knowledge, which may have contributed to the teaching and scientific literacy processes.

Social Anxiety in Students with Specific Learning Disorders Based on Emotion Regulation and Emotional Intelligence: The Mediating Role of Perceived Self-Efficacy

Background: One of the basic challenges faced by children with specific learning disorders (SLD) is social-emotional problems. Objectives: Considering the importance of social anxiety in interacting with others and its negative consequences in the family, society, and academic life of students with specific learning disabilities, the present study aims to develop a causal model of social anxiety in these students based on emotion regulation and emotional intelligence, taking into account the mediating role of perceived self-efficacy. Methods: The research employed a descriptive approach and utilized path analysis. The statistical population of this research comprised all the students with SLD who were referred to the student counseling centers and LD centers affiliated with the education organization of Sanandaj city in the academic year 2022 - 2023. The research sample consisted of 360 students aged between 8 and 12 years old with SLD, selected from the statistical population through purposeful sampling. In this research, the self-report version of Leibovitz's Social Anxiety Scale for children and adolescents by Masia-Warner et al., Shields and Cicchetti's emotion regulation inventory, Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire by Mavroveli et al., and Muris' Children's Self-Efficacy Questionnaire were utilized. The fit indices of the model were also confirmed. Results: The variables of emotion regulation, perceived self-efficacy, and emotional intelligence directly affected the social anxiety of students with SLD. Additionally, the social anxiety of students with SLD was significantly related to the mediation of perceived self-efficacy with emotion regulation and emotional intelligence (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Therefore, to reduce the social anxiety of students with SLD, it is recommended that educators and experts develop educational programs to increase adaptive emotion regulation strategies, enhance perceived self-efficacy, and strengthen emotional intelligence.

The University Teachers’ Perceptions of their Family Illness Affect Students’ Motivation and Interest in their Studies

This research delves into the intricate interplay between parents' illness and its impact on the well-being and academic interests of their children. As health is a cornerstone of family dynamics, understanding the consequences of parental illness on students becomes imperative. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining surveys and qualitative interviews to gather comprehensive insights. The research examines the psychological and emotional dimensions of students facing parental illness, investigating the potential correlations with changes in academic motivation and engagement. Through a diverse sample representing various socio-economic backgrounds and educational levels, the study aims to provide a nuance understanding of the multifaceted aspects of this phenomenon. Additionally, the research explores the support mechanisms available to students coping with parental illness, both within and outside the educational context. Identifying coping strategies and resilience factors becomes crucial in formulating recommendations for educators, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to enhance the overall well-being and academic performance of students in these challenging circumstances. The findings of this study contribute to the growing body of literature on the intersectionality of health, family, and education. By shedding light on the often-overlooked consequences of parental illness on student life, this research seeks to inform interventions and support systems that can mitigate the negative effects and foster a conducive learning environment for students facing such challenges. Ultimately, this exploration aims to promote a holistic approach to education that recognizes and addresses the diverse needs of students navigating the complexities of familial health crises.

An Assessment of the Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on University Students' Lives in Kenya

The Covid-19 pandemic remains a historical world disaster, which affected all sectors. The suspension of physical learning in universities in Kenya raised eyebrows. This could not have been the case if proper disaster and business continuity plans were in place. The researchers were provoked to find out how the pandemic affected the lives of university students. The study was carried out across public and private universities targeting a population of 1110 students. A mixed methods approach was used, survey design was applied, simple random sampling was used to select the respondents, and primary data were collected using a semi-structured online questionnaire developed from Google Forms where instant data from respondents was analyzed. It is evident that students’ lives in the university were adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Flexibility and adaptability are needed to be able to respond to change. It is paramount that universities develop quality disaster management and business continuity plans (QDMBCP) to counter and manage disasters in future.

Perpustakaan sebagai pusat kegiatan keilmuan dan pergerakan mahasiswa dalam novel Babel

Introduction. This paper investigates how the academic library's concepts, functions, and roles as the center of scholarly and student activities are portrayed in the novel Babel by R.F. Kuang. Data Collection Methods. This research used Bengtsson’s qualitative content analysis model. Data was collected through an extensive reading and found 111 data that matched with the research focus. Data Analysis. Data were analyzed through decontextualization with open coding and then recontextualized into 89 data to categorize and interpret. Results and Discussion. The library supported students by being portrayed as a learning commons, co-working space, and makerspace; hence it became the scholarly activity center for scholars. Libraries are not portrayed neutral in providing services and tend to limit students’ research scope and public access to information. The libraries are also used for non-academic activities, such as a source of magical power production and knowledge development center, the center of social and student movements. The library representation in the novel is not only a critique towards academia and its information institutions, but also an example of the library’s negative stereotype. Conclusion. From the author's perspective, the library is portrayed as a center for scholarly activities and directly involved in student political life as it becomes the center of student movements.

Research of the Values of Modern Youth as a Guidance for Preparing Student Groups Curators for Educational Activities

Introduction. The organization of educational activities in the process of vocational education is one of the pressing open issues for modern pedagogical science. Active educational practices and forms of educational work become effective if their implementation is based on a serious study of the values of students as representatives of modern youth. Methodology. The article provides an overview of research into the value orientations of young people, presents a description of students’ opinions about traditional values, and presents the results of an analysis of a survey of 3,000 students about patriotic values, carried out during the project “Student communities as a space for patriotic education”. Results. The article shows how the values of young people can be taken into account when organizing educational work. Using the example of the design and implementation of a training program for student group curators, the areas of activity that can become the most significant and effective in working with young people are presented. Conclusion. In conclusion, the authors note that it is important for curators in their activities to think over the forms of pedagogical support for studentsʼ activities, competently build a system in the educational process that unites students of different faculties, analyze the problems of student life, monitor the dynamics of studentsʼ attitudes to what is happening, and change their value attitude.

Health Behaviours and the Quality of Life of Students of Medical Fields during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

(1) Background: Social distancing and closing down public spaces associated with learning, leisure and physical activity limited the spread of COVID-19. These measures had an impact not only on the economy and education but also on health behaviours and the quality of life of individuals affected by the restrictions. The aim of this study was to identify the role of health behaviours in the perception of the quality of life of students during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: This study was conducted among 796 students of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn in the first quarter of 2022. Subgroup 1 consisted of students at the Public Health School (n = 428; 53.8%) and subgroup 2 consisted of students belonging to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (n = 368; 46.2%). The diagnostic survey method was applied, and an original survey questionnaire, the Health Behaviour Inventory and the Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQoL-Bref version) were used. (3) Results: The largest contribution to the prediction of quality of life of students in subgroup 1 was made by a positive mental attitude related to avoiding too strong emotions, which explained 19% of the result variability in the somatic domain (ßeta = 0.24; R2 = 0.21), 20% of the result variability in the psychological domain (ßeta = 0.36; R2 = 0.20), 16% of the result variability in the social domain (ßeta = 0.52; R2 = 0.17) and 17% of the result variability in the environmental domain (ßeta = 0.19; R2 = 0.19). Moreover, in subgroup 2, a predominantly positive mental attitude significantly predicted quality of life in the somatic domain, explaining 23% of the result variability (ßeta = 0.24; R2 = 0.26), while it explained 25% of the result variability in the psychological domain (ßeta = 0.47; R2 = 0.25), 16% of the result variability in the social domain (ßeta = 0.46; R2 = 0.17) and 21% of the result variability in the environmental domain (ßeta = 0.38; R2 = 0.23). (4) Conclusions: Positive correlations between health behaviours and the quality of life among the study participants were determined. Health-promoting behaviours had a beneficial impact on the respondents' quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The category of health behaviours described as a positive mental attitude was an important predictor for the participants' quality of life.

Look into the Future: Life Values and Orientations of Modern Youth in Yakutia

The article contributes to the discussion about the values and life strategies of modern youth using the example of a study of students in the northern region of Russia. The article presents some results of a sociological survey aimed at studying the life world, social and political orientations of students of three federal universities of Yakutia (NEFU, ASICA, ChSIPhES). Special attention is paid to the peculiarities of the distribution of life values and orientations, factors of success and happiness, as well as the ratio of the respondents' civil and regional identities. The sociological study ‘Students of Russia: Civic Culture and Life Strategies’ was conducted by the Centre of Political Science of SPR FCTAS RAS in April-May 2023. The object of the study is Russian students. The study used a quota-proportional all-Russian sample with interdependent characteristics of the general population: gender, age, place of residence, level of education received and areas of higher education. The sample size is 6389 respondents, with 468 students in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The data analysis revealed the priority of material-economic and socio-emotional life values in the individual matrices of young people. Material prosperity, interesting work, family stability, emotional ties with family members and friends, education, as well as autonomy, independence, individualism are the most significant in the lives of students. The spatial levels of identity and the degree of emotional attachment to local and global territorial communities, as well as the attitude of young people in Yakutia to Russia have been revealed. Student youth optimistically builds an image of the future of Yakutia and Russia, relying on traditional values and family, while being open to the global society, mostly relying on their own experience and competences.

Explaining the experiences of married students from childbearing challenges during their student life: A Qualitative study

Explaining the experiences of married students from childbearing challenges during their student life: A Qualitative study

Evaluation of the Socio-Emotional Competences of the Prioritized Curriculum in the Exit Profile of the Ecuadorian Bachelor: From Curriculum to Practice

Educational programs are increasingly inclined to promote values that favor the integral development of students, for which various formulas are implemented that seek from the methodological point of view to adjust to social, educational and curricular demands. The new curricular proposal with an emphasis on competencies focuses on the development of students' abilities so that they are competent in their lives. It is proposed as an objective to evaluate if the student has obtained the socio-emotional competences according to the prioritized curriculum of the Ecuadorian high school. A documentary and field research is carried out, with the application of an instrument designed for the collection of data in the study population made up of students of the first semester of the Bachelor's Degree in Education Sciences, at the Faculty of Sciences of Education from Milagro State University. As a result, it was shown that the students were able to develop the skills provided for in the prioritized curriculum and are able to show them in their continuity of studies, both in their student life and in social and family life.

Social Life Influences on the Academic Success of Neurodiverse University Students

Abstract University academic success is influenced by a number of variables. One of the factors influencing both neurotypical and neurodiverse students’ academic success at university is their social life. Students that are neurodiverse, however, also face additional challenges in maneuvering through their social life in comparison with neurotypical students. This paper argues that academic success for neurodiverse individuals is significantly influenced by their experiences in university social life. The social model of disability is the theoretical framework used in this article to examine and understand the relationship between the experiences in the social life of neurodiverse university students and their academic success. This paper argues that to increase the level of support provided to neurodiverse students, all stakeholders must work together.