Undergraduate University Students Research Articles

Disability Identity Development Scale: A validation study among college students with disabilities.

(a) To investigate the construct validity of the DIDS scores at the item and factor level using item response theory (IRT) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA); (b) to investigate convergent validity of the DIDS scores with related constructs; and (c) to determine the reliability of each DIDS factor. A convenience sample of 210 undergraduate college students with disabilities enrolled in a west coast 4-year public university participated in this study. Measures included the DIDS, the University Belongingness Questionnaire, and the College Self-Efficacy Inventory. Data were analyzed using the Rasch IRT framework, CFA, Omega reliability, and correlational analyses. IRT and CFA results revealed the data fit a 36-item, four-factor DIDS structure. Three items in the factor measuring adoption of disability community values items were easier, and four items in the factor measuring contribution to the disability community were difficult as compared with other DIDS items. Omega reliability analyses showed strong reliability for each DIDS factor. Correlation analyses found convergent and discriminant validity evidence for the DIDS with correlations with the University Belongingness Questionnaire and College Self-Efficacy Inventory in the hypothesized direction and magnitude. Findings provide evidence for Forber-Pratt and colleagues' theoretically and empirically derived DIDS, advancing the research, measurement, and practical application of disability identity development. Results are aligned with Forber-Pratt's psychosocial model of disability identity theoretical framework. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Knowledge and Attitudes of Undergraduate University Students in Oman With Regard to People Living With HIV.

There is scarce literature from the region pertinent to university students' HIV-related knowledge, perception, attitudes, and behavior toward people living with HIV. Moreover, university students in Oman are remarkably uninformed about HIV, resulting in misconceptions and stigmatization among students. This research aimed to examine HIV-related knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate medical and non-medical university students toward people living with HIV in Oman. This was a qualitative cross-sectional study using convenience sampling to recruit participants from nine colleges at Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman. An online questionnaire composed of 17 Likert scale statements examining students' knowledge and nine Likert scale statements exploring students' attitudes was used. A knowledge score ≥ the mean was considered good knowledge, whereas a stigma score > the mean was regarded as stigmatization. A sample size of 376 students was computed using a Raosoft calculator (Raosoft, Inc., Seattle, Washington, United States) with a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of 5%. Cronbach's alpha for the 26-item questionnaire was α = 0.716. Responses were collected and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26, (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). The questionnaire and the study protocol were approved by the institution's medical research and ethics committee. A total of 678 undergraduate university students responded to the questionnaire including 450 (66.4%) and 228 (33.6%) female and male students, respectively. Medical students represented 20.8% of the responders. The mean knowledge score was 12.3 ± 1 signifying good knowledge in 72% of the students and the mean stigma score was 6.03 ± 3.51 indicating that 43.4% of the responders had a negative and stigmatizing attitude. Medical students had the highest mean knowledge score (14.2 ± 1.8) denoting good knowledge in 83.5% of the students. Additionally, medical students had the lowest mean stigma score (4.64 ± 3.32) implying that 29% of the surveyed medical students had negative attitudes toward people living with HIV. No significant association was found between students' academic performance or students' sex with mean knowledge scores. Contrarily, male sex was found to be significantly associated with lower mean stigma scores. No significant relationship between students' knowledge scores and stigma scores was observed. The findings of this study denote a substantial gap in HIV-related knowledge among university students, leading to undesirable attitudes toward people living with HIV. These findings call for an urgent need to escalate HIV awareness and educational programs tailored to university students in Oman.

Modeling L2 motivation change and its predictive effects on learning behaviors in the extramural digital context: a quantitative investigation in China

Abstract Language learning in the extramural digital (ED) context has recently gained momentum because it focuses on second language (L2) learners’ autonomous, unstructured, online learning activities beyond the classroom. Drawing upon Dörnyei’s L2 motivational self system (including the ideal L2 self, ought-to L2 self, and L2 learning experience) to operationalize L2 learners’ motivational mindsets, this study aims to investigate whether L2 English learners’ ought-to L2 self can be translated into their ideal L2 self and predict learning behaviors within the ED context. Survey data from 310 undergraduate students in a top-tier Chinese university were collected and analyzed following a structural equation modeling approach. The results indicate that participants’ ought-to L2 self can facilitate the development of their ideal L2 self only through the full mediation effect of the L2 learning experience in the ED environment. Also, while students’ ought-to L2 self cannot directly predict their motivated learning behaviors in the ED context, there exists a significant indirect impact through the joint mediation of the L2 learning experience and ideal L2 self. These findings contribute to the ongoing conversation about L2 motivational dynamics by unveiling the conversion and interaction of different L2 motivational forces in digital and out-of-class settings.

An Exploratory Study of Sensory Processing Patterns of Undergraduate College Students: Implications for College Campuses

Abstract Date Presented 03/22/24 This study explored sensory processing patterns of a diverse college population today. Findings indicate diversity in sensory processing and support the need for varied sensory-informed learning and living environments to support student success. Primary Author and Speaker: Alexis Viray Additional Authors and Speakers: Teresa Sharkey Eustace, Brittany Dreyhaupt, Hogai Balouch, Catherine Cavaliere Contributing Authors: John A. Damiao

Anthropometric Measurements of Foot in Undergraduate Medical Students of a Medical College: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Anthropometry is one of the important parameters for differentiation of sex which varies significantly based on hereditary, geographical, racial, sexual, and other factors. This study was done to provide baseline foot anthropometric data for Nepali medical students to improve the accuracy of stature estimations and enhance forensic and clinical applications. The aim of the study was to calculate anthropometric measurements of foot in undergraduate medical students of a medical college. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on medical students studying at a tertiary care hospital during the period of November 6, 2022 to February 28, 2023 after obtaining ethical clearance from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 06/2022). A total population sampling method was used. The present study was conducted to determine the mean foot index from the right and left foot, mean measurements of the left and right foot, and sex-related dimensions of the foot in Nepalese medical students. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS. Out of 115 participants, the mean foot index for male and female were 38.34±2.13 and 39.33±2.22 respectively. The mean length of the right foot for males and females were 24.12±0.98 cm and 22.10±1.25 cm respectively. The mean length of the left foot for males and females was 24.20±1.06 cm and 22.07±1.24 cm respectively. This study provides mean values of different measurements of the right and left foot of both sexes of the age group of 18-24 years in the students of a medical college.

Knowledge and perception of university undergraduate students about invasive alien species

The pet trade often introduces invasive alien species (IAS), causing harmful effects on native species. Additionally, limited awareness of the origins and impacts of IAS prevails among the public. This study aims to assess the knowledge and perceptions of university students regarding exotic species and the factors motivating the acquisition of exotic pets. To achieve this, an online survey was conducted among undergraduate students. From the surveyed group, 84% recognized IAS. However, misconceptions persisted, with 58.6% wrongly identifying IAS as native. The survey findings also revealed that social media motivate exotic pet ownership. Interestingly, while some IAS were perceived with tenderness and deemed deserving of legal protection, others were considered unsuitable for presence in Chilean ecosystems. Overall, the study underscores the significance of promoting awareness regarding IAS, their effects, and responsible exotic pet ownership to protect the fragile equilibrium of Chilean ecosystems.

TikTok and Romantic Relationships: A Qualitative Descriptive Analysis

<i>Although research has identified how and why individuals use TikTok, it’s unclear how these behaviors and motivations impact close relationships. Using tenets from the uses and gratifications theory and media multiplexity theory, the goal of this study is to describe how emerging adults </i><i>use TikTok in the context of romantic relationships. This qualitative study employed a descriptive design, where undergraduate college students completed an individual interview via Zoom (N = 64) describing how TikTok was used during relationship development and maintenance. Four research assistants and two principal investigators analyzed the data using reflexive thematic analyses applying Braun and Clarke’s (2022) six-step approach. The resulting themes regarding how emerging adults used TikTok in relationships were: (1) relationship initiation, (2) viewing relationship content, (3) sharing content in relationship, and (4) posting relationship content. Participants also described their use of TikTok in relationships as a potential source of conflict. Implications for TikTok use in relationships, including comparisons to other social media platforms, are discussed.</i>

Perceptions of Makerere University Undergraduate Radiography Students on Clinical Rotations in Mulago National Referral Hospital

Introduction: Clinical rotations are an integral component of the radiography programs worldwide as it is a practice-based profession and the effectiveness of clinical training is responsible for the competency level demonstrated by radiography students after qualification. Clinical rotations provide opportunities for radiography students to apply theory into practice. The effectiveness of the rotations is greatly affected by the setting of the clinical area. Makerere university undergraduate radiography students experience various circumstances that facilitate or inhibit their clinical learning process in Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH). Aim: The study aimed at exploring the perceptions of Makerere University undergraduate radiography students on clinical rotations in Mulago National Referral Hospital. Methodology: A cross-sectional exploratory, qualitative study was done. 19 third- and fourth-year Makerere University undergraduate students offering Bachelor of medical radiography were sampled purposively. Data was collected using semi-structured face to face interviews and analysed thematically. Results: Three major themes emerged from the data: (1) learning experience, (2) effectiveness of clinical rotations in MNRH and (3) challenges faced. Most factors related to the themes above positively impacted the students’ perceptions on clinical rotations in MNRH radiology department with more positives and the rotations meeting expectations of the majority, though with some challenges like limited clinical supervision by university lecturers and inadequate time for practicing some modalities. Conclusion: Clinical rotations can be effective and beneficial when a supportive learning environment is provided. This study reveals mixed student perceptions regarding clinical rotations in radiology department of MNRH, with predominant positive perceptions. Addressing identified challenges can significantly improve the clinical learning environment and thus the effectiveness of clinical rotations.Top of FormBottom of Form

Knowledge and prevalence of substance abuse among undergraduate students of a Nigerian university

Knowledge and prevalence of substance abuse among undergraduate students of a Nigerian university

Sleep Quality, but Not Personality Traits, Mediates the Relationship between Chronotype and Life Satisfaction: A Study in Young Adults.

Chronotype reflects the morningness-eveningness preference over a 24 h period. Significant data indicate meaningful differences between evening types (ETs) and morning types (MTs) in behavior, personality traits, health, and well-being. This study explores the interactions between chronotype, sleep, personality, and life satisfaction among 254 undergraduate college students (mean age 23.79 ± 1.85). Using online questionnaires, the participants provided demographic information and completed assessments, including the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a shortened version of the Big Five Inventory (BFI-10), and a life satisfaction uniscale measure. The results revealed a significant association between chronotype and both life satisfaction and sleep quality, where ETs exhibited poorer outcomes compared to MTs. Additionally, the chronotype correlated with agreeableness and conscientiousness, with later chronotypes linked to reduced scores in these personality traits. A key finding in this study was revealed in a mediation analysis in which sleep quality was found to mediate the relationship between chronotype and life satisfaction. The mediation analysis highlighted sleep quality as a crucial process connecting chronotype to life satisfaction. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing sleep quality in interventions aimed at enhancing life satisfaction and overall well-being among ETs. Overall, our results provide valuable insights into the intricate relationships between chronotype, personality, sleep quality, and subjective well-being.

Feedback engagement as a multidimensional construct: a validation study

While the term feedback engagement has become a buzzword in higher education, the constructs of feedback engagement have remained inadequately investigated, and research on the conceptualization and instrumentation of feedback engagement in the literature is limited. This paper presents the development and validation of a feedback engagement scale that both reflects a prevalent multidimensional perspective of engagement in general education and is grounded in the prior empirical feedback research. Psychometric tests were conducted with a large disciplinarily diverse sample of university undergraduate students (N = 872). Findings of both confirmatory factor analysis and multi-group confirmatory factor analysis provide evidence of reliability, validity, and measurement invariance, for capturing the behavioural, cognitive, emotional, and social components of feedback engagement in higher education settings. The feedback engagement scale can be utilized both as a diagnostic tool for teachers to assess the level of student feedback engagement in academic learning and as a research tool for researchers to investigate the dynamic interplays between student feedback engagement and other learner/learning achievement variables.

Gender awareness among the undergraduate medical students: A cross sectional study from Hyderabad, India.

Physician trainees need to have robust gender awareness for better professional relationships and patient outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate (UG) medical students (MBBS) of a medical college in Hyderabad, India, in November 2022, to assess their gender sensitivity (GS) and gender-role ideologies. A pretested, structured English questionnaire was used for the study, to compute the Nijmegen Gender Awareness Scale in Medicine (N-GAMS) of the participants. The mean age of the students was 20.51 years, with the majority being women (112, 61.2%). The mean GS score was 3.11, while the mean scores for gender-role ideology towards patients (GRIP) and gender-role ideology towards doctors (GRID) were 2.56 and 2.56, respectively. In the adjusted analysis, a significantly better GS score was seen among medical students from urban backgrounds. Significantly more egalitarian GRIP was found among women, participants from urban backgrounds, and among those whose mothers were employed. Significantly more egalitarian GRID was found among women and participants whose mothers were employed. There was a significant negative, but low, correlation between the GS domain and the GRIP (r = - 0.241; p < 0.001) and GRID (r = - 0.192; p = 0.009) scores. There was a high, positive correlation between GRID and GRIP (r = 0.812; p < 0.001). Gender awareness is relatively low among Indian medical students and lower still among male students. It was higher among women, particularly among those whose mothers were employed and those who were from urban areas.

Investigating the Relationship between Recycling/Reuse Knowledge and Recycling/Reuse Intention: The Moderating Role of Self-Efficacy

This study examined whether an individual’s self-efficacy has a moderating role in the relationship between the different types of recycling/reuse knowledge they may have and their recycling/reuse intention, and the positive relationship between recycling/reuse intention and recycling/reuse behavior. A total of 725 undergraduate and graduate university students were recruited to complete an online survey via MTurk, with the survey covering topics such as recycling/reuse knowledge, intention, behavior, and self-efficacy. Five hypotheses were tested via structural equation modeling. The results showed that even with low self-efficacy, acquiring “effectiveness” recycling/reuse knowledge can enhance recycling/reuse intention and behavior. Conversely, the respondents with high self-efficacy were shown to have positive recycling/reuse intentions and behaviors due to their “social” recycling/reuse knowledge. In general, recycling/reuse intention and behavior were positively related. These significant findings imply that educators, environmental agencies, and brand managers must develop efficient education and/or advertising strategies to provide appropriate action-related recycling/reuse knowledge (including both effectiveness and social knowledge) to university students with either low or high self-efficacy in order to enhance recycling/reuse intention and, ultimately, behavior.

Effect of smartphone addiction on mental health and sleep quality among undergraduate pharmacy students in a Nigerian public university

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between smartphone addiction, mental health and sleep quality among undergraduate pharmacy students in a Nigerian public university.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate pharmacy students in a Nigerian university. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires, including Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short version, Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test and the Pearson correlation. Probability values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.FindingsA total of 410 undergraduate pharmacy students participated in the study, giving a response rate of 95.57%. The prevalence of smartphone addiction, depression and anxiety symptoms were 40.24%, 28.30% and 23.66%, respectively. Most students had poor sleep quality (96.10%). The prevalence of smartphone addiction had a moderate positive correlation with the severity of depression (r = 0.363, p < 0.01) and anxiety (r = 0.261, p < 0.01) symptoms. Nevertheless, smartphone addiction showed no connection with sleep quality (r = 0.022, p = 0.663).Research limitations/implicationsThe study was conducted in a single public university in Nigeria, hence this might limit its generalizability. The provision of mental health support within universities could help address the high prevalence of smartphone addiction, mental health issues and poor sleep quality.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this was the first study to examine smartphone addiction among pharmacy students in a resource-limited setting with multicultural and multiethnic groups.

Correlates of Social Phobia among Undergraduate Students in Universities in Rivers State

Correlates of Social Phobia among Undergraduate Students in Universities in Rivers State

Reliability Analysis of Psychological Measures Related to STEM Persistence in Undergraduate Students at a Hispanic Serving Institution

ABSTRACT Research suggests that psychological factors are related to persistence in science, especially for underrepresented students; however, most psychological instruments have been validated through studies conducted at predominately White institutions. In the current study, we report reliability estimates for measures of science identity, science motivation, and science self-efficacy with a sample of undergraduate college students from a Hispanic Serving Institution (N = 309). Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were estimated with Cronbach’s alpha and intra-class correlation coefficients, respectively. We report Cronbach's alpha values separately for male (N = 152), female (N = 152), Hispanic (N = 111), and White (N = 115) students. We also examined whether there were statistically significant differences in the Cronbach’s alpha values between these groups. The results demonstrated good to excellent reliability estimates for internal consistency (α ranged from .89 to .96) and test-retest reliability (ICC ranged from .76 to .80) for all groups. There were no significant differences in Cronbach’s alpha values between students identifying as male versus female or between Hispanic and White identifying students. We conclude by urging science education researchers to examine, report, and interpret reliability estimates for their measures for each dataset.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards E-learning among Medical Undergraduate Students in a Medical College of Maharashtra

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards E-learning among Medical Undergraduate Students in a Medical College of Maharashtra

Selfie Phenomenon among a Sample of Egyptian University Students: Rate and Psychiatric Correlates

Abstract Background The SELFIE phenomenon being an emanating one, specifically affecting adolescents and young adults. It emerges as a reflection of a wide spectrum of Neuro- psychiatric disorders. Based on this, the current study aimed to assess the rate of the selfie phenomenon among Egyptian university students, and its sociodemographic and psychiatric correlates. During the study procedure we enrolled 200 undergraduate Egyptian university students from two different faculties and were assessed using the Selfie Behavioral Scale, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV- TR Axis I Disorders, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV- TR Axis II Disorders, and Global assessment of functioning scale. Results 49.5 % of the students being assessed had borderline selfitis with a higher rate among females, we found a highly significant relationship between the selfie phenomenon and depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and other psychiatric disorders and personality disorders, we also found that selfie had a significant negative correlation with the level of functioning among students. Conclusions results concur with previous existing literature regarding the magnitude of the selfie phenomenon and its relationship with .different psychiatric disorders and personality disorders.

Reliability and Validity of the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II Spanish Version in University Students.

The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP-II) scale in Colombian university students. This was a methodological study to verify reliability and construct validity. A total of 763 undergraduate university students in Cali, Colombia, agreed to participate in the study by filling out a form that included information on sociodemographic characteristics and the HPLP-II scale Spanish version. Data were collected between February and June 2021. To determine construct validity, a confirmatory factor analysis was performed, and internal consistency was determined through Cronbach's alpha. The confirmatory factor analysis of the proposed theoretical model showed that the goodness-of-fit indices of the scale demonstrated an acceptable level of validity nearing an excellent level of fit (χ2 = 7168.98; gl = 1268; p < 0.001; root mean square error of approximation = 0.08; normed fit index, adjusted goodness-of-fit index = 0.95). Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.94, and the subscales ranged from 0.68 to 0.89. The HPLP-II Spanish version is a valid and reliable instrument to assess the health-promoting lifestyle profile of university students.

Mental Health Trajectories in First-Year Undergraduate University Students

Mental Health Trajectories in First-Year Undergraduate University Students