University Students In Turkey Research Articles

The Relationship Between Anti-Mattering Perceptions and Social Health Among University Students

This study investigated the effect of anti-mattering perceptions on social health levels among university students in Turkey. A total of 494 university students, including 311 domestic and 183 immigrants from Syria, participated in the study. Anti-mattering and social health scales were used to collect data. The LIFESCREEN for College Students (TLS-C) is an 18-item scale that measures the social health needs of college students, the measure is guided by the five key areas of social determinants of health (SDOH) and asks questions related to topics such as safety and food security. Descriptive, difference, correlation, and regression analyses were conducted to analyze the data. The findings showed that anti-mattering perceptions had a significant impact on social health levels. Additionally, the immigrants and economically disadvantaged students had higher social health needs and behaviors. The study concluded that anti-mattering perceptions, which are shaped during childhood and adolescence, are an influential factor on social health behaviors and needs of university students.

La correlación entre la adicción a las redes sociales, la soledad y el miedo a perderse algo: Una propuesta de implementación de un programa de psicoeducación

Objective. This study aimed to examine the relationships between social media addiction, loneliness and fear of missing out among university students in Turkey. Method. The sample group of the study consisted of a total of 466 students comprised 239 males (51%) and 227 females (49%), of which 83 were freshmen, 131 were sophomores, 98 were juniors, and 154 were senior students. Results. The study showed that there is a positive relationship between social media addiction and loneliness and that the fear of missing out mediates this relationship. The findings were evaluated in the context of Self-Determination Theory and contributed to understanding of the impact of these relationships on students' psychological needs. Conclusion. The findings provide an important basis for the development and implementation of practical psycho-educational programs for students. Such programs are crucial in helping students to consciously manage their social media use and improve their emotional well-being.

The mediating role of psychological resilience, anger, and hostility in university students’ attachment styles and life satisfaction

This study examined the function of psychological resilience, anger, and hostility as mediators in the connection between attachment styles and life satisfaction among university students in Turkey. The sample size of the study was 326 university students, consisting of 218 (66.9 %) females and 108 (33.1 %) males. The mean age was 21.4 and the standard deviation of the statistic for their age was 2.7. The distribution of the sample according to grade level was as follows: first year, 92 (28.2 %) second, 152 (46.6 %) third, 46 (14.1 %) and fourth, 36 (11.1 %). The Three-Dimensional Attachment Styles Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Brief Psychological Resilience Scale, and Symptom Screening List were used to collect data. The study’s findings indicate that secure attachment, anxious attachment, psychological resilience, anger, and hostility are statistically significant determinants of life satisfaction. Bootstrapping analysis revealed that psychological resilience, as well as anger and hostility, partially mediated the association between secure and anxious attachment styles and life satisfaction. These results improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms between attachment styles and life satisfaction by considering the roles of hostility and psychological resilience. We can design prevention and intervention programs to enhance psychological resilience and reduce hostility, thereby reducing the impact of anxious attachment on life satisfaction. Similarly, interventions to increase the impact of secure attachment on life satisfaction can focus on developing psychological resilience and reducing hostility.

The effect of web based reproductive health education on sexual myths and risky behaviours in university students: a randomised controlled trial

ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the effect of web-based reproductive health education provided to university students in Turkey on their belief in sexual myths and risky behaviours. A randomised controlled trial was conducted in a state university between March-October 2021 with 96 students. The web-based health education was developed using the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) model, and was delivered by means of a special platform. An intervention group of 48 students received 5 modules of education, while a control group of 48 students received none. Performance on two scales measuring information gained and risk behaviours, and sexual myths, respectively, was assessed at the beginning of the study and 5 weeks following the intervention. A statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups on both scales at the final evaluation. Additionally, a significant difference was observed in final sexual myths evaluation scores between the intervention and control groups for sexual orientation, age and sexuality, masturbation, sexual violence, sexual intercourse, and sexual satisfaction, as subdimensions of the sexual myths scale. Our findings suggest that web-based reproductive health education can be effective in reducing sexual myths and increasing knowledge about risky behaviours among university students relevant to sexual and reproductive health in young adults.

Addressing the Housing Crisis: Insights from a Study on University Students in Turkey

Housing stands as a fundamental human right, acknowledged by numerous international bodies and statutes. Despite this recognition, only a handful of nations ensure adequate housing for their populace. This research endeavors to forge a connection between housing rights and social policy through a comprehensive literature review. Drawing from data provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the study addresses the escalating housing concerns among university students in Turkey. With an increasing student population and insufficient accommodation facilities, the issue has reached a critical juncture. Most students are compelled to reside in state dormitories, which lack the capacity to meet demand. Moreover, economic hardships and a dearth of financial aid exacerbate the housing crisis. The findings underscore the urgent need for the development of policies and solutions tailored to address the housing predicament faced by university students in Turkey.

Culturally adapted Turkish version of an internet-based mindfulness intervention for university students: a randomized controlled feasibility trial

Abstract Background Studying at university is a stressful time for many, which might result in the development of mental health problems. In the first wave of Covid-19, university students in Turkey reported suffering from an elevated level of stress compared to their peers in other countries. Mindfulness-based interventions could provide the means of successfully decreasing the stress level of university students. Moreover, offering interventions via the Internet could be a scalable option to prevent and treat mental health problems, while offering time/place flexibility, anonymity, and cost-effectiveness. Method In a randomized controlled trial of parallel design, the feasibility of a culturally adapted internet- and mobile-based intervention (IMI) (StudiCareM-TR) to promote mindfulness among Turkish-speaking university students was tested. Participants (N = 58) of a public university in Istanbul were randomized into an intervention (IG) vs. waitlist control group (WL). Measurements took place at baseline (t0) and 10 weeks post-randomization (t1). Intervention adherence, acceptance, and potential negative effects were feasibility outcomes. Levels of mindfulness, perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and wellbeing were analyzed in linear regression models to assess the potential efficacy of StudiCareM-TR. All analyses were conducted with the intention-to-treat sample, adjusting for baseline values. Results Based on participants’ feedback, StudiCareM-TR was perceived as acceptable, resulted in few negative effects (n = 7), and yielded improvements in mindfulness (β = 0.70) and presenteeism (β = − 0.61) compared to WL. Secondary outcomes of depression, anxiety, stress, and wellbeing did not show significant improvements. Assessment dropout was 31% (IG: 50%: WL: 89%), and intervention dropout was 45%. Conclusions StudiCareM-TR is feasible and acceptable to use among university students in Turkey and has the potential to improve their mindfulness levels. The intervention should be further developed with a focus on engagement-facilitating features in order to reduce intervention dropouts. Trial registration ID DRKS00024557.

First year and adjustment in university life: A qualitative study to determine the needs of first year university students

This study was conducted to identify the adjustment needs of first-year university students during their transition to university. The first year at university is a time when students review and organize their needs, their expectations from the university, the quality of their communication with other students, academic and administrative staff, the rules and working methods of the new academic environment, and the personality traits that students bring to the university. In the first year, most university students have to deal with many stress factors such as economic difficulties, academic difficulties, loneliness and homesickness, and difficulties in establishing social relationships. Based on this information, this study aims to explore in depth the needs and experiences of first-year university students in Turkey. In this study, the case study model, which is one of the qualitative research methods, was used to determine the adjustment difficulties and first-year needs of first-year university students. The participants were asked 11 open-ended questions with a semi-structured interview form. Content analysis, which is a qualitative data analysis method, was conducted by creating themes and codes for the data obtained from the interviews. The findings from the research were discussed in the context of the literature.

Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Kahve Mağazalarındaki Duyusal Pazarlamanın Deneyimsel Değer Açısından Değerlendirilmesi

This research aimed to examine the effect of sensory marketing in coffee shops on experiential value among university students. The research was conducted in the relational screening model. The sample of the research consisted of a total of 388 volunteer participants selected by convenience sampling method among university students in Turkey. In the research, primary data was collected using a demographic information form, Sensory Marketing Scale and Experiential Value Scale. SPSS was used in the analyzes carried out in the research. Regression analyzes were conducted to test the research hypotheses. As a result of the research, it was determined that sensory marketing had a positive and significant effect on experiential value. In the analysis of the sub-dimensions, it was determined that all dimensions of sensory marketing had positive and significant effects on experiential value.As a conclusion, sensory marketing contributes to experiential value both in general and in all its dimensions.

Perception of Gender by University Students in Turkey

Perception of Gender by University Students in Turkey

The relationship between chronotype, psychological pain, problematic social media use, and suicidality among university students in Turkey

ABSTRACT Chronotype has been extensively linked to various psychological outcomes, including suicide, which significantly impacts the mortality rate among young adults worldwide. Research on the extent of these links is still ongoing. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the complex relationships between chronotype, internet addiction, problematic social media use (PSMU), psychological pain, and suicidality in a student population. A total of 571 Turkish students (65.3% female, mean age 20.3 ± 1.63 years) completed the following scales: the Suicide Probability Scale (SPS), the Mee-Bunney Psychological Pain Assessment Scale (MBPPAS), the Social Media Disorder Scale (SMDS), the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Morningness – Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The results showed that the relationship between chronotype and suicidality was partially mediated by SMDS and MBPPAS but not by anxiety, depression, or IAT. These findings suggest that psychological pain and PSMU may be important factors that contribute to suicidality in evening-type individuals. These findings have significant implications for the development of interventions aimed at reducing suicidality among evening-type individuals. By addressing the underlying factors of psychological pain and PSMU, it may be possible to mitigate the increased risk of suicidality among this population.

Social Media and Its Reflections on University Students in Turkey As a Global Phenomenon: A Study in the Case of ASU

Bu makale küreselleşme ürünü olarak son yıllarda bireysel ve toplumsal alanda belirgin bir etkisi olan sosyal medyaya ve onun üniversite gençliği üzerindeki yansımalarına odaklanmaktadır. Sosyal medya, küreselleşme ve tüketim olgusunun toplumlara sunduğu yeni nesil iletişim ve sosyalleşme biçimidir. Dahası sosyal medya geleneksel medyadan farklı bir formata sahip olup, bireyin tutum ve davranışlarını etkilemede aktüel bir yönlendirici araç konumundadır. Geleneksel medyaya karşı sadece prosumer konumunda olan birey, sosyal medyada bir taraftan tüketici diğer taraftan da kendi düşüncelerini aktararak üretici konumunda bulunmaktadır. Bu bağlamda makalede ilk olarak kavramsal çerçeve çizilmektedir. Akabinde küreselleşme ve medya ilişkisi ele alınmakta, sosyal medyanın öğrenciler tarafından alımlanması Aksaray Üniversitesi örneği üzerinden analiz edilmektedir. Makalede teorik arka planın yanında nicel araştırma yöntemlerinden birisi olan ‘anket tekniği’ kullanılmaktadır. Aksaray Üniversitesinde eğitim gören öğrencilerle gerçekleştirilen anket sonuçları analiz edilmektedir. Böylece sosyal medya kullanımının üniversite öğrencileri üzerinde olumlu/olumsuz etkiler yaratıp yaratmadığı test edilmektedir. Elde edilen bulgular sosyal medyanın öğrenciler tarafından bağımlılık düzeyinde kullanıldığını ve kültür, inanç, değer, iletişim, tüketim gibi birçok alanı etkilediğini göstermektedir.

Deizmin Üniversite Öğrencileri Arasındaki Etkinliği: Ankara Üniversitesi Örneği

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether or not deism is effective among students at Ankara University, as well as to develop a deism scale appropriate for the Turkish context. For this purpose, it was necessary to operationalize the concept of deism to identify four subcategories within it. These subcategories include distrust of religious institutions and organizations, the belief that God does not intervene in the world, independence from religious taboos and rules, and the choice of rationalism when reason and revelation conflict. The ranges in the deism questions, which were designed according to the Likert scale, were converted into a hundred-point system, and scored using an ideal theist scoring system of zero and an ideal deist scoring system of 100 to determine the level of influence of deism in each category. The research project was designed in 2018 and approved as decision number 289 at meeting number 09 of the Ankara University Ethics Committee on 19 July 2019. The study was conducted online using a haphazard sample of 453 students as a result of a number of difficulties encountered during the data collection period. There were 918 participants in the first phase of the study, but since the goal of the study was to measure the effectiveness of deism, atheists were excluded from participating in the study. The researchers found that one in five students were atheists, and one in four were deists or held another religious belief that was not related to Islam. A random sample of 1% of the student population at Ankara University was selected for the remaining participants. The demographic data obtained were regarded as independent variables, while the deism score was regarded as a dependent variable. As a result of these scores, political identity polarization among Ankara University students can be related to the effectiveness of deism. The political climate has an impact on the ongoing debates regarding deism. The cross-tabulations showed no significant differences between the scores of the independent variables such as age, gender, place of residence, and socio-economic status groups. It is notable that deism is more commonly respected by the students of the social sciences as compared to the students of the natural sciences in terms of faculties. It is also noteworthy that according to the results of the study, there is a tendency for some subcategories of students who declare themselves to be Muslim to exhibit deistic tendencies. As a traditional theistic religion, Islam, which is a very influential religion among its members with its congregational activities and cultural institutionalization, has a strong influence over the participants, but when it comes to rationality and the absence of God's intervention, there is a tendency towards deism. In the conclusion of this article, the shortcomings of this scale developed for Turkey are discussed and suggestions are made for further research in this area. International scholars will be able to gain deep insight into how deism affects university students in Turkey as a result of the study and will be able to gain valuable information about religious life in Turkey as a result of the study.

Nutrition Knowledge and Diet in Female College Students in Turkey: Youth Education in Nutrition Initiative/Nutrition Education Works (YENI/NEW)—A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

Healthy dietary patterns can play a major role in preventing chronic diseases. Improving nutrition-related knowledge in young individuals is considered a promising approach to adopting healthy dietary behaviors, thus improving outcomes later in life. However, healthy eating habits in college students may prove challenging to acquire and maintain. This cross-sectional pilot study aimed to investigate the relationship between nutrition knowledge and its effect on dietary factors, body weight, and body composition in female college students in Turkey. Second- and third-year female college nutrition students (NS), (n = 85) and corresponding non-nutrition/non-health sciences students (NNS) (n = 80), aged 20–22 years old, were evaluated using a validated nutrition knowledge questionnaire, 24 h recalls, anthropometry, and body composition analysis using bioelectrical impedance during the 2015–2016 academic year. The findings revealed that nutrition knowledge was positively associated with increased intake of water, fruits and vegetables, grains, and fiber, whereas total carbohydrate intake exhibited an inverse relationship with nutrition knowledge. Moreover, protein and lipid intake, while not significant, appeared to show higher and lower values, respectively, for the NS participants compared to NNS, revealing a healthier trend for more nutrition-knowledgeable students, which was similar to the finding of a marginally better body composition profile in nutrition-knowledgeable students. As young adulthood is critical for the development of dietary habits, demonstrating the effectiveness of nutrition education is important as a potential tool for public health in terms of improving the risk of chronic diseases.

Continuity and improvement in the individual preventive attitudes of university students in Turkey even after the Covid-19 vaccination

Aim: Vaccination is one of the most important and effective treatments for protecting the health of individuals and preventing infectious diseases. Effective and safe vaccination is very important in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), which is accepted as a global epidemic today. Establishing vaccination strategies and initiating and maintaining vaccination studies are extremely effective in ending the pandemic. In addition, it is known that individual preventive attitudes and their dynamic change are effective in preventing the spread of Covid-19 in society. This study aims to evaluate the changes in individual protective attitudes of Turkish university students post-vaccination compared to pre-vaccination. Material and Methods: In this study, a total of 499 students at Turkish universities completed an online questionnaire about their knowledge of Covid-19 infection and individual preventive attitudes pre-and post-vaccination. Results: 94.8% of the respondents were vaccinated. Most of the students who were expected to have better knowledge about virus transmission gave better self-reports. University students kept a similar number of daily handwashing even after vaccination. However, the rate of wearing masks increased post-vaccination. University students were quite afraid of Covıd-19 infection pre-vaccination, and they were relieved, the feelings of fear were significantly reduced post-vaccination. Conclusion: Turkish university students maintained and improved their protective attitudes after vaccination, so it is hypothesized that individual protective attitudes in addition to vaccination might reduce the potential risk of infection in new variant virus waves.

Gender moderates the relationships between childhood abuse experiences and mental disorders later in life: a cross-sectional study among university students in Turkey

ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the moderating role of gender in the relationship between childhood abuse and mental disorders in the population of a country that has been little studied. This research was designed by the correlational model, one of the quantitative research designs. 272 university students attending a state university in Turkey participated in the research. For sample selection, the convenience sampling method was used. As a result of analyses within the scope of the present study, it was concluded that gender had a moderating effect on the relationship between sexual abuse and somatisation, emotional abuse and negative self and physical neglect and hostility. This finding may help clinicians and researchers in providing optimal health services.

The Role of Online Communication Platforms in Maintaining Social Connectedness When Face-to-face Communication is Restricted

Social connectedness, an indicator of psychological well-being, requires social interaction and communication among individuals. Prior research usually examined the relationship between the use of online communication channels and the sense of social connectedness under the circumstances where face-to-face communication was readily available. Pandemic provided an excellent setting to study the sole effect of the use of online communication on social connectedness as online communication was not accompanied by in-person communication due to restrictions such as lockdowns. Seizing the opportunity, this study aims at investigating the relationship between the use of online communication platforms and social connectedness at a time when face-to-face communication was not an option and individuals employed online communication channels heavily. To this end, a survey was conducted online on 406 college students in Turkey in November- December 2022 to present retrospective analyses. The findings indicate while face-to-face communication is the prime component to build social connectedness, the use of online communication channels, particularly WhatsApp, social networking sites, video call helped to maintain social bonds among individuals when in-person communication was virtually absent. The research provides insights on how different communication channels can promote social connectedness with varying degrees depending on their social presence.

SEM Modelling of Coronavirus Burnout and Psychological Resilience Affecting the Attitudes of University Students towards Distance Education

This study aimed to make a comparison between the levels of attitudes towards Distance Education, Coronavirus Burnout and Psychological Resilience levels of university students in Turkey with the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and to determine the level of relationship among them during the pandemic period, which was defined as COVID-19 by the World Health Organization and declared as a global pandemic. In order to collect data from the sample, the Attitudes towards Distance Education Scale, the Coronavirus Burnout Scale and the Psychological Resilience Scale were implemented together. In the study, a structural model was tested by analysing the data obtained from the scales in order to determine whether the level of attitudes towards Distance Education is affected by the level of Coronavirus Burnout and Psychological Resilience. The findings of the analysis indicates that the level of Coronavirus Burnout negatively affects the level of Attitudes towards Distance Education, the level of Psychological Resilience positively affects the level of Attitudes towards Distance Education, and the level of Psychological Resilience negatively affects the level of Coronavirus Burnout. It is clear that there is a need for further measurement and evaluation in order to minimise the impact of global crisis periods on education and to produce effective and correct policies in the field of education. We believe that the findings of our study will help in the planning of national education systems in a more effective way after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effect of an educational intervention on knowledge of human papillomavirus infection among university students in Turkey: A quasi-experimental study

Aim: This study aimed to determine the knowledge level of university students outside the health field on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and evaluate the efficacy of educational interventions provided on HPV infection. Method and Material: This was a quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design. This study was conducted on undergraduate students outside the health field at a public university in Izmir. HPV education was provided to the students in classes with a PowerPoint presentation, and the “Fall in Love, Not in HPV” brochure was distributed. Results: Of 873 students participating in the pretest, 48.7% and 42.5% heard of HPV infection and vaccine, respectively. While the response rates of the students participating in the pretest of the 16-question HPV knowledge survey ranged from 13.9% to 58.8%, a significant (51.4%–91.6%) increase was observed in the percentage of answers to the posttest HPV questions after the educational intervention (p < 0.001). The total HPV knowledge score was 5.17±4.33in the pre-test, and the post-test was 13.37±2.66 (p<0.001). The biggest barriers to those who did not want to be vaccinated were the cost of the vaccine and the lack of information about HPV infection. Conclusion: The educational intervention has greatly increased the knowledge of HPV infection among university students. Continuing education programs are needed to bridge the knowledge gap on HPV infection and HPV-related diseases among young adults.

The relationship between depression, healthy lifestyle behaviors and internet addiction: a cross-sectional study of the athlete university students in Turkey.

Mental health research exists for university students in the areas of prevalence and association of depression, internet addiction and healthy lifestyle behaviors. However, the studies examining prevalence rates and these relationships in athlete university students are needed. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between depression, healthy lifestyle behaviors and internet addiction among athlete university students in Turkey. A cross-sectional design was conducted, measuring depression using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, healthy lifestyle behaviors (HPLP-II), and internet addiction (YIAT-SF). Predictive factors associated with depressive symptoms were estimated using binary logistic regression. Of the 501 participants, 61.3% were male, with a mean age of 21.45 years (SD: 3.19). Student-athletes were at risk of depressive symptoms (76.4%), internet addiction (34.4%) and had moderate healthy lifestyle behaviors (130.41 ± 22.93). No significant differences were found for age, smoking, time spent on social network, number of sports days, number of social networks use for depressive symptoms (p > 0.05), however significant differences were found for depressive symptoms by sex and living with family status (p < 0.05). Pathological internet addiction (OR: 12.74, 95% CI: 2.91-55.77) and low spiritual growth (OR: 0.854, 95% CI: 0.79-0.92) were found to be predictors of depressive symptoms within the athlete university students (p < 0.001). The athlete university students are at increased risk for depressive symptoms and internet addiction and decreased healthy lifestyle behaviors. It is essential to establish programs to improve the mental health of students in universities and to strengthen the psychological counseling services offered to students. These findings can assist universities in establishing effective measures to improve mental health outcomes.

Bursa Uludag University’s Contribution to the Society with Sustainability Projects

Universities bring solutions to society’s problems with academic research and education and by raising leaders who would be role models. There are more than 8 million university students in Turkey. Approximately ten percent of the population is university students in Turkey. Therefore the positive influence of sustainability projects at universities will be undeniable. Bursa Uludag University (BUU) is a large state university with over 60 000 students and 6000 staff. The vision of BUU Sustainable Campus Project, which was launched in April 2021, was stated as “Being a university that lives sustainability in all activities such as research, education, and campus operations.” This paper aims to present the contribution of BUU’s sustainability efforts to the social cohesion between the university staff and students and among the members of the society and city. BUU’s short but significant journey toward sustainable development will be shared. Several projects such as seed balls, ecological gardens, waste-to-art, an introduction to sustainability, a walk for the Environment, no elevators day, rainwater harvesting, and corporate sustainability expert program will be presented to this aim.