Undergraduate Sample Research Articles

A cross sectional study on internet addiction, locus of control and psychological distress in a sample of Nigerian undergraduates

A cross sectional study on internet addiction, locus of control and psychological distress in a sample of Nigerian undergraduates

Measurement Invariance of the Ruminative Responses Scale Across Gender.

Although women demonstrate higher levels of rumination than men, it is unknown whether instruments used to measure rumination have the same psychometric properties for women and men. To examine this question, we evaluated measurement invariance of the brooding and reflection subscales from the Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS) by gender, using data from four samples of undergraduates from three universities within the United States (N = 4,205). A multigroup confirmatory factor analysis revealed evidence for configural, metric, and scalar invariance of the covariance structure of the 10-item version of the RRS. There were statistically significant latent mean differences between women and men, with women scoring significantly higher than men on both brooding and reflection. These findings suggest that the 10-item version of the RRS provides an assessment of rumination that is psychometrically equivalent across gender. Consequently, gender differences in brooding and reflection likely reflect valid differences between women and men.

Factor Structure and Other Psychometric Properties of the Social Phobia Inventory in Korean Samples

ABSTRACTWe examined the factor structure and other psychometric properties of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN) in Korean nonclinical (N1 = 457, N2 = 444) and clinical undergraduate samples (N3 = 12). Results support the revised 3-factor structure and applicability of the SPIN as a measure yielding valid and reliable scores of social anxiety to Koreans.

On the Prowl: Examining the Impact of Men-as-Predators and Women-as-Prey Metaphors on Attitudes that Perpetuate Sexual Violence

A common metaphor used to describe heterosexual relationships frames men as predators and women as prey. The present work assessed potential consequences of these metaphoric portrayals. Participants read a heterosexual dating scenario that did or did not metaphorically frame the situation in predator and prey terms. Using a U.S. college undergraduate sample of 120 women and 82 men in Study 1, exposure to these metaphors led to greater rape myth acceptance among men (but not among women). Using a broader sample of 76 women and 72 men via MTurk, Study 2 replicated these results and also found metaphor exposure led to greater rape myth acceptance and rape proclivity. Furthermore, a mediation analysis indicated that men exposed to these metaphors were more likely to accept rape myths, which in turn predicted their self-reported greater rape proclivity. Such results demonstrate the harmful outcomes that can result from describing romantic interactions where men are the predators and women are the prey.

Childhood Emotional Trauma and Cyberbullying Perpetration Among Emerging Adults: A Multiple Mediation Model of the Role of Problematic Social Media Use and Psychopathology

Research suggests that a small minority of social media users experience problems as a result of their online use. The purpose of the present study was to examine the association of cyberbullying perpetration and problematic social media use with childhood emotional trauma, Cluster B (narcissistic, histrionic, antisocial, and borderline) personality traits, dissociative experiences (DEs), depression, and self-esteem in a nonclinical undergraduate sample. A total of 344 university students volunteered to complete a questionnaire that included measures on the aforementioned dimensions. Thirty-eight percent of the participants had emotional neglect and 27% had emotional abuse, while 44% of them demonstrated at least one cyberbullying perpetration behavior. Results indicated that cyberbullying perpetrators had higher scores on problematic social media use, dissociative experiences, Cluster B traits, depression and childhood emotional trauma, and lower on self-esteem. Path analysis demonstrated that, while adjusting for gender and age, childhood emotional trauma was directly and indirectly associated with cyberbullying perpetration via Cluster B traits. Moreover, depression and dissociation were directly associated with problematic social media use. The findings of this study emphasize the important direct role of childhood emotional trauma and pathological personality traits on cyberbullying perpetration.

Intimate partner violence, health, sexuality, and academic performance among a national sample of undergraduates

ABSTRACTObjective: To determine the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and academic performance among heterosexual and sexual minority undergraduates, including whether health mediates this relationship. Participants: A national sample of undergraduate students aged 18–24 years old who completed the 2011–2014 National College Health Assessment IIb (N = 85,071). Methods: We used structural equation modeling to create a latent variable of IPV victimization (stalking, physical, sexual, and emotional violence) in order to test its relationship with health (physical and mental) and two indicators of academic performance (GPA and perceived academic difficulties), according to participants’ sexual identity (heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and unsure). Results: Regardless of sexual identity, undergraduates who reported IPV were more likely to have lower GPA and increased academic difficulties. Health mediates this relationship, such that IPV reduces health, which negatively affects performance. Conclusions: IPV poses a serious threat to undergraduates’ health and educational success. Findings warrant universal prevention and intervention.

The Relationship Between Demographic Variables and Substance Use in Undergraduates

The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between demographic variables and substance use during the last month among undergraduates. A self-administered questionnaire “Students 2004” was distributed among a convenience sample of undergraduates (n = 983; between the ages of 21 and 36) at a large, public university in the south of Poland. The data were analyzed statistically, using chi-squared test, logistic regression, and cluster analysis. The results indicated that excessive alcohol drinking and substance use among students are related to being male, studying social sciences, living in a dorm or apartment, and living in an urban area. Binge drinking is related to gender and living arrangement, whereas illicit drug use is associated with faculty and place of residence. Prevention programmes at universities should be targeted at male students, studying social sciences, living in a dorm, and living in an urban area.

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Brief Borderline Symptom List in Undergraduate Students and Clinical Patients.

The brief version of the Borderline Symptom List (BSL-23) is a self-rated scale developed from the initial 95-item version of Borderline Symptom List (BSL-95). The current study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the BSL-23. A total of 570 undergraduate students and 323 clinical patients completed the BSL-23, the borderline subscale of the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire (PDQ-4+), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, 11th version (BIS-11), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ). A Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted to test the one-factor structure of the BSL-23. Cronbach’s alpha, Omega coefficient, Split-Half coefficient, Mean Inter-Item Correlation (MIC) and test-retest reliability were also measured. The correlations between the BSL-23 and other psychological variables were used to assess criterion-related validity and convergent validity. Participants who scored ≥ 5 on the borderline subscale of the PDQ-4+ were placed into the borderline personality disorder (BPD) screening-positive group, while the others were placed into the screening-negative group. Independent sample t-tests were performed to examine the differences in BSL-23 scores between the BPD screening-positive group and the BPD screening-negative group. The CFA results supported the one-factor structure of the BSL-23 in both samples. The internal consistency was high both in the undergraduate sample (Cronbach’s α = 0.93, Omega = 0.95, Split-Half coefficient = 0.89, MIC = 0.38) and the clinical sample (Cronbach’s α = 0.97, Omega = 0.97, Split-Half coefficient = 0.96, MIC = 0.56). The test-retest reliability within 2 weeks was 0.62. The BSL-23 displayed moderate to high correlations with the PDQ-4+-Borderline subscale, the CES-D, the BIS-11, the CTQ and the ASQ (r = 0.35 – 0.70). In addition, the BSL-23 discriminated between the BPD screening-positive and the BPD screening-negative participants, and also between the patient sample and undergraduate sample. In conclusion, the Chinese version of the BSL-23 has satisfactory psychometric properties to assess BPD symptoms.

The Selfishness Questionnaire: Egocentric, Adaptive, and Pathological Forms of Selfishness

ABSTRACTDespite its importance in society, there is virtually no standardized research on the personality trait of selfishness, in part due to the absence of an assessment instrument. The central aim of this study was to develop a brief (2–3 min) self-report personality measure of selfishness with three main subtypes: egocentric, adaptive, and pathological. Questionnaires were administered to an undergraduate sample, with replicability and generalizability tested on a community population. A confirmatory factor analysis supported the existence of the three hypothesized forms of selfishness. Good internal reliability, test–retest reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, factorial validity, incremental validity, and criterion validity were documented. Selfishness was associated with reduced levels of mindfulness and more utilitarian decision making, whereas Tibetan Buddhist monks were less selfish than controls. Findings from the student sample were replicated in the community sample. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic examination of the personality construct of selfishness and the first instrument to assess selfishness and its variants.

Relationships between core ideological motives, social and economic conservatism, and religiosity: Evidence from a Turkish sample

The “conservatism as motivated social cognition” approach posits two core ideological motives underlying political conservatism across cultures. However, there is a scarcity of tests from non‐Western cultures, and much research has failed to distinguish between social and economic conservatism. Using a relatively large undergraduate sample from a non‐Western, predominantly Muslim country (Turkey), we tested the associations among resistance to change and opposition to equality motives, social and economic conservatism, right‐wing political orientation, and religiosity. In line with the “conservatism as motivated social cognition” account, we found that (a) social conservatism is more strongly related to resistance to change (rather than opposition to equality), (b) economic conservatism is more strongly related to opposition to equality (rather than resistance to change), (c) social conservatism is the strongest predictor of right‐wing political orientation among other conservatism measures, and (d) political orientation and religiosity had divergent effects: While right‐wing political orientation was related to economic conservatism, religiosity was inversely related to the latter, providing support for previous work indicating a resemblance between leftists and Islamists in Turkey. The results generally support the motivated social cognition approach to conservatism while also highlighting the importance of distinguishing between social and economic conservatism.

Identification of a Suitable Short‐form of the UCLA‐Loneliness Scale

ObjectiveThe current study aimed to identify the most statistically appropriate short‐form of the UCLA‐Loneliness Scale (LS). This was intended to provide researchers and practitioners with a measure that reduces the burden on participants and measures a unidimensional model of loneliness in accordance with the theory proposed by Russell.MethodEight short‐forms of the UCLA‐LS were assessed in two undergraduate samples (N = 552, 206). Students were from a metropolitan Australian university and completed online surveys.ResultsOne‐, two‐, and three‐factor (i.e., an overall loneliness factor, and two method factors representing positively and negatively scored items) models of the original 20‐item UCLA‐LS provided poor model fit. One 10‐item short‐form provided adequate model fit in both samples. However, all configurations of the measure were generally internally consistent and displayed convergent validity. Greater loneliness was significantly associated with reduced social wellbeing, positive affect, life satisfaction, vitality, and psychological wellbeing, and increased negative affect.ConclusionsIt is recommended that a 10‐item short‐form is used in future applications. This short‐form displayed similar internal consistency and convergent validity as the 20‐item measure despite being half as long, and provided superior model fit.

Ways of Knowing and Appraisals of Intellectual Activities

Abstract This study explored implications of individual differences in epistemological approaches to knowledge and learning. We examine the relationship between “separate” and “connected” ways of knowing and assessments of how enjoyable and how important different intellectual activities are. In Study 1, undergraduates (n = 108) completed the Attitudes Toward Learning and Thinking Survey (ATTLS) and a new instrument, the Intellectual Activities Ratings (IAR) survey, listing 12 intellectual activities, including both academic tasks, such as “writing a proof of a theorem,” and nonacademic tasks, such as “keeping a personal journal.” Study 2 was conducted online with a larger sample (n = 200) of undergraduates from across the United States, with the same 12 IAR tasks but expanding the number of ratings of each task. Study 3 also was conducted online, again with a sample of 200, correlating ATTLS scores with various ratings of ongoing learning tasks: acquiring knowledge of different aspects of a new location-based augmented reality game, Pokémon Go. Our results replicated previous findings of gender differences in separate knowing (SK) and connected knowing (CK) scores in all three studies. SK and CK scores showed different and strong patterns of correlation with individuals’ enjoyment ratings of academic and extracurricular tasks and with different aspects of learning the augmented reality game. Moreover, SK and CK scores showed different patterns of correlation with how important students perceived different intellectual tasks to be in their own self-definition.

Digital Addiction: Increased Loneliness, Anxiety, and Depression

Digital addiction is defined by the American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASAM) as well as the American Psychiatric Association (APA) as “… a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory, and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social, and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors…” with examples such a such as internet gaming or similar behaviors. Symptoms of digital addiction such as increased loneliness (also called “phoneliness”), anxiety, and depression were observed in a sample of university undergraduates who completed a survey about smartphone use during and outside of class. Other observations included observations of “iNeck” (poor) posture as well as how multitasking/semitasking was prevalent in the sample. Implications of continued digital addition are discussed.

The Form and Function of STEM Research Mentoring: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Focusing on Ethnically Diverse Undergraduates and Their Mentors

This mixed-methods study examines mentoring relationships in an ethnically diverse sample of undergraduates in majors related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Guided by an intersectionality framework, we examined whether features of research mentoring differ at the intersection of ethnicity and gender. Survey data from undergraduates ( N = 486; 76% members of underrepresented ethnic groups; 66% women) revealed ethnic and gender variation in the amount of mentoring that participants reported receiving. Findings also showed that higher levels of instrumental mentoring at the study’s outset predicted higher STEM self-efficacy 1 year later. This finding was not moderated by ethnicity or gender, suggesting that instrumental mentoring bolsters self-efficacy among students from diverse backgrounds. To supplement the quantitative findings, we collected open-ended data from a subset of participants’ mentors ( N = 97). Thematic analysis of these data provides insight into the range of strategies that mentors used to bolster students’ STEM self-efficacy.

A Declaration of Independence: Implicit Alcohol Associations Have Independent, not Interactive, Relationships with Alcohol Consumption and AUD Risk.

The current study aimed to test for potential interactive effects of three implicit alcohol-related associations (drinking identity, alcohol approach and alcohol excitement) in predicting concurrent and prospective alcohol consumption and risk of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) in two samples of the US undergraduate drinkers and non-drinkers. We investigated the independent and interactive effects of three implicit associations on alcohol consumption and risk of AUD in two US undergraduate student samples. We found that implicit associations had independent but not interactive effects on concurrent and subsequent alcohol consumption and risk of AUD in two independent samples. Implicit drinking identity, alcohol approach and alcohol excitement associations were assessed in two US undergraduate student samples (Sample 1: N = 300, 55% female; Sample 2: N = 506, 57% female). Alcohol consumption and risk of AUD were assessed at baseline (Samples 1 and 2) and 3 months later (Sample 2). We fit zero-inflated negative binomial models to test for independent and interactive effects of the three implicit associations on alcohol consumption and risk of AUD. Although we found multiple, unique main effects for alcohol associations, we found minimal evidence of interactions between implicit alcohol-related associations. There was no reliable evidence of interactions in models in predicting alcohol consumption or risk of AUD, concurrently or prospectively, in either sample. Contrary to expectations, results from both studies indicated that implicit alcohol-related associations in the US undergraduate samples generally have independent, not interactive, relationships with alcohol consumption and risk of AUD.

The continuous vs discontinuous use of restorative safety behaviors on symptoms of contamination fear: An experimental investigation

Background and objectivesCognitive-behavioral theorists posit that safety behaviors (SBs) interfere with important exposure processes and should be removed from therapy. However, there is growing evidence to suggest that restorative SBs (RSB; those that allow for full confrontation with a core threat) do not adversely affect exposure outcomes, and their implementation during exposure should be further examined. MethodsThe current study evaluated exposure with the continuous use of RSB (E + CONT) versus discontinuation of RSB (E + DISC), in comparison to exposure with no RSB (ERP). Sixty-seven nonclinical participants completed 15 trials of exposure in which they touched a potentially contaminated stimulus with or without RSB. Behavioral approach tasks were completed at pretreatment, post-treatment, and two-week follow-up to examine changes in subjective distress and degree of behavioral approach. ResultsThe three conditions were not different on clinical symptoms and behavioral approach at post-treatment and follow-up, indicating that the hypothesized superiority effect of E + DISC was not supported. However, ratings obtained during repeated exposure trials indicated that E + DISC evidenced greater symptom reduction following the removal of RSB. LimitationsThe use of a healthy undergraduate sample and standardization of the exposure procedure. ConclusionsAlthough findings were contrary to hypotheses, these data provide added support for the benign role of RSB as compared to conventional exposure. Furthermore, the removal of RSB may lead to more favorable process outcomes during exposure. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed, and future directions are provided.

The Impact of Self-Compassion on Shame-Proneness in Social Anxiety

Self-compassion is conceptualized as a particularly useful strategy in regulating shame. However, only a limited number of studies have investigated its effect on shame and shame-proneness. Also, it is not clear if this strategy is equally effective as other well-established techniques used for regulating basic emotions. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of a self-compassion intervention, a cognitive reappraisal intervention, and a wait-list condition in reducing shame-proneness and social anxiety in a high socially anxious undergraduate sample. Participants (N = 136; 88.23% women; mean age = 21.85) completed a 2-week self-compassion or cognitive reappraisal online training in which they were asked to describe a negative event that had happened to them in the past 2 days and then reconsider the situation based on instructions received both in video and written format. Self-ratings of social anxiety symptoms, shame-proneness, trait self-compassion, and irrational beliefs were conducted before and after the training. We also explored the impact of the training on the level of state emotions following a laboratory shame-induction procedure. Both self-compassion and cognitive reappraisal significantly reduced shame-proneness and irrational beliefs from pre- to post-training, while social anxiety symptoms significantly decreased in the self-compassion condition. No significant between-group differences for these outcomes were observed. Self-compassion might be an alternative strategy for cognitive reappraisal in the management of shame-proneness and social anxiety.

Development and initial validation of the Generalized Pliance Questionnaire

Empirical research on functional classes of rule-governed behavior has been scarce, which might be due to the absence of valid behavioral or self-report measures. We describe the development and initial examination of the Generalized Pliance Questionnaire (GPQ) through three studies with a total of 2127 participants. In Study 1, a pool of 77 items reflecting generalized pliance was designed. Thirty-eight of these items were rated as high-quality by at least one of two experts in RFT and were administered to 130 undergraduates. A preliminary version of the GPQ consisting of 18 items (i.e., GPQ-18) was obtained. In Study 2, the GPQ-18 was applied to 410 undergraduates. The results of the exploratory factor analysis showed that the GPQ-18 can be considered as a unidimensional measure and that all items showed good functioning. A shorter, 9-item version of the GPQ (i.e., GPQ-9) was also obtained. In Study 3, the GPQ-18 was applied to three samples, including large samples of undergraduates, the general population and a smaller clinical sample. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the one-factor model obtained a good fit for the GPQ-18 and acceptable for the GPQ-9. Both versions of the GPQ showed excellent internal consistency and theoretically coherent correlations with a wide range of constructs. In conclusion, the GPQ seems to be a valid and reliable measure of generalized pliance.

Association between sleep, childhood trauma and psychosis-like experiences

Psychosis-like experiences (PLEs), or attenuated positive symptoms of psychosis, present along a severity continuum and have been associated with distressing thoughts and impairments in functioning. Although knowledge of the clinical importance of PLEs is expanding, risk factors for their expression are still poorly understood. Sleep disturbances are one known factor that exacerbate PLEs expression and distress, and trauma exposure is associated with occurrence of PLEs, as well as increased risk of later sleep difficulties. This study examined the joint influences of sleep and trauma on PLEs in an undergraduate sample. Self-report questionnaires on presence and distress of PLEs, sleep problems, and occurrence of previous traumatic experiences were completed by participants (N=409). In order to determine the unique impact of sleep on PLEs, three sets of predictors: sociodemographic, psychosocial (including trauma), and sleep were entered in steps into a hierarchical multiple regression model. In the final model, specific sleep domains uniquely predicted PLEs, while previous trauma exposure, which was a significant predictor when entered in step two with other psychosocial variables, was no longer a significant predictor. Results suggest the possibility that disruptions in sleep following or occurring alongside a traumatic experience may somehow contribute to, or exacerbate the presence of PLEs.

Predictors of digital piracy among Turkish undergraduate students

Unauthorized downloading or duplication of copyrighted software has been a serious financial and ethical concern. Thus, the current research addressed predictors of digital piracy across two Turkish undergraduate samples. In Study 1, two structural models were tested with 465 students. Latent variables of interest were measured through 21 indicators to address past piracy, present piracy, prosecution risk and piracy attitudes. Followed by the confirmation of the factor structure, two structural models were retained. In the first model, perceived likelihood of prosecution decreased piracy through full mediation of attitudes, whereas past piracy decreased it through partial mediation of attitudes. In the second model, both variables explained current piracy through full mediation of attitudes. In Study 2, 12 social desirability items were added to current measures and tested with a new group (n = 190). The measurement model was confirmed. While prosecution risk and social desirability was related, their contribution to current piracy behaviors was not significant. The links between past and present piracy and attitudes were still strong.