Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Commuting college students – Health aspects'

Waterpipe tobacco smoking has migrated from being a custom of some cultures to becoming a staple around college campuses. The social nature and flavored tobacco encourage initiation in this tobacco naïve age group. The study was a sequential mixed method design, employing primary data collection and analysis of a random sample of university students who live on campus at a single university. The study involved observations (N=6), intercept interviews with smokers and nonsmokers (N=63), three focus groups (N=31), and an online survey (N=288). Findings were centered on the constructs of the Theory of Reasoned Action by Ajzen and Fishbein (1975), who propose there are specific precursors that lead to intention to perform a behavior. The data suggested that attitudes were more positively correlated with intention to smoke waterpipe tobacco than subjective norm. Attitude is influenced by outcome expectancies. The data suggest that positive outcome expectancies are influenced primarily by the social nature of hookah smoking and other perceived positive benefits. Negative health effects and family/culture were also influential, albeit to a lesser extent. Development of interventions focused on an attitudinal shift may help to decrease uptake and continuation of waterpipe tobacco smoking in this population.

Background: Evidence has indicated a high prevalence of physical inactivity and insufficient consumption of fruit and vegetables among Chinese college students. As college students are in a crucial transition stage from adolescent to adulthood, such unhealthy lifestyle behaviors at this stage can result in nemerous negative consequences for both individuals and society. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to promote health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) and fruit-vegetable consumption (FVC) among Chinese college students. Interventions focused on multiple health behavior change (MHBC) have shown advantages over those targeting only a single health behavior, and have therefore gained popularity over the last decade. Despite the increasing use of Internet technology and apparent promise of web-based MHBC interventions, there have been few such interventions for HEPA and FVC among Chinese college students. In addition, within the overarching scope of web-based MHBC interventions, there are several remaining questions that need to be addressed, including the timing of MHBC intervention delivery, the high dropout rate of participants, and the psychological mechanisms behind MHBC. Purpose: The main purposes of the thesis were to (1) examine the comparative effectiveness of sequentially delivered web-based MHBC interventions for HEPA and FVC in Chinese college students from both quantitative and qualitative perspectives; (2) investigate characteristics of dropouts (using quantitative method) and the underlying reasons (using qualitative method); and (3) identify the active ingredients ("key mediators") of successful health interventions for changing single health behavior (HEPA or FVC), and examine the psychological mechanisms of MHBC (HEPA and FVC) in Chinese college students based on an integrated social-cognitive model. Method: In Study 1, two web-based MHBC interventions were developed based on the health action process approach (HAPA) model. In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), 552 eligible college students (M = 19.99 years, SD = 1.04, 58.3% female) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: HEPA-first (4 weeks of HEPA followed by 4 weeks of FVC intervention), FVC-first (4 weeks of FVC followed by 4 weeks of HEPA intervention), and a control group (8 weeks of placebo treatment unrelated to HEPA or FVC). All of the participants were asked to complete online questionnaires at four time-points: at baseline (T1, the beginning of the intervention), after 4 weeks (T2, after the first behavior intervention), after 8 weeks (T3, after the second behavior intervention), and after 12 weeks (T4, 1-month post-intervention follow-up). The questionnairs addressed health behaviors (HEPA and FVC), social- cognitive determinants of behavior change (intention, self-efficacy, planning, and social support for each behavior) and health outcomes (BMI, depression and perceived quality of life). All of the data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 25.0, applying a series of generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) to evaluate the intervention effectiveness. The mediation analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Process, with residualized change scores and the bias-corrected bootstrap approach (5000 resamples). Following the quantitative intervention study, to further evaluate the effects of aforementioned web-based MHBC interventions and to address dropout issues from a qualitative perspective, 30 students (M = 19.53 years, SD = 0.92, 56.7% female) who had participanted in Study 1 (18 completers and 12 dropouts), were invited to attend one-to-one and face-to-face semi-structured interviews (Study 2). The interviews covered three topics: 1) students' perceptions about their changes after participating in the web-based health program, 2) students' user experience and suggestions related to the design of the intervention content and the website layout and functionality, and 3) the reasons for dropping out. The audio-recorded interview data was transcribed orthographically and organized using QSR NVivo 11. Thematic analysis was adopted to analyze the qualitative data. In addition, a two-layer integrated social-cognitive model was hypothesized in Study 3 based on the HAPA model and Carry-over and Compensatory Action Model (CCAM). With a prospective design, 322 college students (M = 19.47 years, SD = 0.99, 55.6% female) were invited to report their past HEPA and FVC behavior, HEPA and FVC intentions, and demographics at baseline. After two months, an online questionnaire survey was used to collect data on their compensatory cognitions, combined volitional predictors of behavior change (self-efficacy + planning), and current HEPA and FVC behavior. All of the data were analyzed using Mplus 8.0. The proposed model was examined using structural equation modeling (SEM) with path analysis approach. Results: (1) Both the quantitative and the qualitative data fully supported the effectiveness of the web-based MHBC interventions for HEPA and FVC behavior. In addition, the effects on social-cognitive determinants of behavior change were partially supported by the quantitative data, and fully supported by the qualitative data. For health outcomes, the quantitative data supported the intervention effects on body mass index (BMI), and the qualitative data supported the effffects on both BMI and perceived quality of life. Moreover, the two delivery sequences did not show significantly different effects on HEPA after either 8 weeks or 12 weeks, whereas the FVC-first sequence showed superior effects over the HEPA-first sequence for FVC behavior after 12 weeks. (2) In terms of dropout, more male than female students withdrew from the interventions, and the dropouts showed lower HEPA self-efficacies, lower FVC planning, and inferior BMI status than completers. The interview results indicated two themes of dropout reasons: internal reasons (e.g., participants perceiving the health interventions as less necessary and less important) and external reasons (e.g., unfavorable living surroundings and problems with the program's delivery mode, intervention content, and technology). (3) In terms of the mediators of successful interventions for changing each single health behavior, the RCT results indicated that self-efficacy and intention mediated the effectiveness of the intervention on immediate changes (after 8 weeks) in HEPA and FVC, and that intention had a mediating effect on sustained change (after 12 weeks) in both HEPA and FVC. In addition, the prospective study found that the two- layer integrated social-cognitive model proposed in this thesis successfully explained the psychological mechanisms of MHBC in Chinese college students. In particular, the first layer identified the mediating effects of the volitional predictors on the intention-behavior relation for each type of health behavior. The second layer identified a positive association between volitional predictors of HEPA and volitional predictors of FVC, as well as a mediating effect of compensatory cognition between FVC intention and HEPA behavior. Discussion and Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the comparative effectiveness of sequentially delivered web-based MHBC interventions on HEPA and FVC in Chinese college students, and the first to identify the psychological mechanisms of MHBC in a Chinese context. The findings provide both theoretical and practical implications for future research and the application of MHBC. Future studies should more comprehensively compare simultaneous vs. sequential designs, more systematically examine dropout and its determinants, and further explore the psychological mechanisms of MHBC, especially the transfer mechanisms between the volitional predictors of one health behavior on another

The problem_ of the study was to compare honors college students with non-honors students on physical activity levels, perceived benefits of physical activity, and perceived barriers to physical activity. Two measures were selected to test the hypotheses and were combined into one questionnaire. A purposive sample of 500 students from Honors College classes and Health Science classes were given the questionnaire to complete during class. Multiple Analysis of variance (MANOVA), univariate f-tests following significant MANOVA's, and a t-test analysis were used to test the hypotheses.Results of this study indicated that honors students and non-honors students perform similar amounts of physical activity. Time is a more important perceived barrier to physical activity for honors students than for non-honors students. No significant differences exist for honors students and non-honors students regarding perceived benefits. It is suggested that additional research involving physical activity and time factors be conducted on college students enrolled in both honors programs and non-honors programs.
Department of Physiology and Health Science

Research has clearly shown that all individuals will benefit from regular physical activity. Unfortunately, young adults including college and university students are not physically active on a regular basis worldwide. In the developing world particularly in Sub- Saharan Africa, physical inactivity along with tobacco use, poor diet and nutrition are increasingly parts of today&rsquo
s lifestyle. Physical activity declines with age and the most important decline appear to be during the transition period from high school to university and during university years. The aim of this study was to assess the level of physical activity, to investigate the perceived constraints to physical activity and to determine whether socio-demographic characteristic have an influence on participation in physical activity and perceived constraints to physical activity among paramedical institutions students in Uganda. A cross-sectional study with descriptive quantitative design was conducted. Four hundred (400) paramedical institution students were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire adopted from the literature was used to collect the data. A response rate of 90% was obtained. Descriptive and inferential statistics using the statistical package for social sciences were used to analyze the data. The relationships and associations between different variables were determined by carrying out significant tests using chi-square tests. Alpha level was set at 0.05. The mean age of the sample was 22.44 years (SD = 2.03). Males constituted 73.9% and females constituted 26.1% of the sample. Students from eight (8) health professional courses participated in the study. Over half (59%) of participants were classified as physically active and 41% were classified as inactive or sedentary. For male participants, lack of the right equipment to exercise and wanting to do other things in their free time were perceived as the major constraints to physical activity. For female participants, lack of motivation and tiredness after exercise were perceived as the major constraints to physical activity. The findings of this study demonstrate that there is an influence of socio-demographic characteristics such as gender, year of the study and different departments/schools on participation in physical activity and perceived constraints to physical activity. They also indicate the need of health promotion intervention aiming at promoting physical activity among paramedical institution students in Uganda.

Purposes for engaging in physical activities were examined from the perspective of university students enrolled in physical activity classes and kinesiology faculty. Data was collected from 473 students and 20 faculty members. Both groups completed the Personal Purposes and Meanings in Movement Inventory (PPMMI). Independent t-tests were conducted for each of the twenty-two purpose statements to determine differences between faculty and students in the rating of purposes. Students attending individual sport activity classes rated self-knowledge, transcendence, object projection/reception, awareness, competition, neuromuscular efficiency, movement appreciation, and muscular strength significantly lower (p<.01) than the faculty. Students attending team sport activities rated self-knowledge, transcendence, participation, object projection/reception, teamwork, awareness, competition, leadership, and expression significantly (pc.01) lower than the faculty. Students attending fitness activity classes rated self-knowledge, competition, leadership, transcendence, participation, teamwork, circulo-respiratory efficiency, and personal integration significantly (p<.01) lower than faculty.

Physical activity plays a crucial role in contributing to psychological stability regarding physical concept. However, the evidence for showing the association between levels of physical activity and the psychological state has not been closed to focus on college students. This study was to examine the importance of physical activity by investigating the effects of different levels of physical activity on physical self-concept and social physique anxiety among college students. This study used a secondary data set approved by Institutional Review Board, and obtained a written permission and approval for data use. The data set used for this study was not previously analyzed and published. A total of 238 participants (99 males and 139 females) were 4-year comprehensive university students in Southern California. Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Scale (GLTES), Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ), and Social Physique Anxiety Scale- 7(SPA-7) were used to analyze levels of physical activity, physical self-concept, and social physique anxiety, respectively. The SPSS version 19 was used to analyze the data for the purpose of this study. Results showed that there were statistically significant differences in physical self-concept and social physique anxiety among the levels of physical activity. There were statistically negative correlations between social physique anxiety and physical self-concept.

Currently, the prevention and control of the spread of AIDS is one of the foremost international health concerns and one of the biggest social expectations in the United States as well. Until a medical solution to AIDS is found, the only viable means of AIDS prevention is to educate the public about AIDS and persuade those who are sexually active to avoid high-risk sexual behaviors.Because many studies have showed that college students are considered to possess the highest risk toward AIDS, in this study, possible factors that can change college students' behavior were examined.One hundred and ninety seven students who enrolled in two undergraduate general classes (biology and anthropology) at Ball State University were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning their sensation-seeking type and level, frequency of their interpersonal communication with their sexual partners, and quality of their AIDS/HIV education in middle and high schools. One student from this population refused to complete the questionnaire.This study showed that public relations practitioners would need to stimulate the target audience to interpersonal communication with their sexual partners, know each type of risk takers need different information from each other, and educate the target audience how to talk about this issue with their sexual partners, rather than educate them knowledge of AIDS or social norm of safe sex.
Department of Journalism

A limited amount of research has been conducted on college students' physical activity levels. According to the 1996 Surgeon General's Report, only one fourth of young adults regularly exercise vigorously. Therefore, there is a need to develop effective exercise intervention programs for young adult populations. There has been no previous research using the variables of outcome expectancy value, exercise role identity, and self-regulation skills. The purpose of the study was to describe the relationship among self-regulation skills, outcome expectancy value, and exercise role identity as predictors of exercise levels. Subjects (n=1 83) represented a convenient sample of students from Personal Health classes at Ball State University. All subjects completed a four-part questionnaire divided into: self-regulation, outcome expectancy value, exercise role identity, and seven day recall. Results revealed that selfregulation and exercise role identity were predictors of vigorous activity, but not moderate activity. Outcome expectancy value was not significantly correlated with any of the dependent variables, except for male vigorous days. This study further support self-regulation and exercise role identity as predictors of physical activity.
Department of Physiology and Health Science

According to literature, particularly from data obtained from the World Health Organisation, physical inactivity or sedentarism is one of the leading causes of the major non-communicable diseases, which contributes substantially to the global burden of diseases, death and disability. The burden of mortality, morbidity and disability attributable to non-communicable diseases is currently greatest and is continuing to grow in the developing countries. Most declines in physical activity are during the transition from high school to college or university. The aim of the study was to ascertain perceptions of physical activity, specifically
perceived benefits of, perceived barriers and perceived helpful motivational factors to physical activity among tertiary institution students in Rwanda, and to find out whether demographic and background characteristics have an influence on these perceptions.

This research examined the relationship between beliefs about physical activity, physical activity levels, age and the promotional practices for physical activity employed by Air Force squadron commanders. Additionally, differences in levels of promotional practice were evaluated based on group, MAJCOM and rank of the commander. Web based surveys were completed by 178 commanders at bases world-wide.Positive correlations were observed between physical activity and both personal benefit beliefs and organizational benefit beliefs (417 and .298, p <.001, respectively). Using a step-wise linear regression, only age and personal benefit beliefs had small predictive value for promotion practices score (R2 = .063 for age and personal benefit beliefs combined, p < .001). The difference in mean promotion practices score between some MAJCOMs was significant. Open-ended responses provided insight into practices and beliefs.
Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology

Thesis (M. A. (Psychology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2018
Upon entering the university environment, first year students encounter what could be described as a “foreign culture”, and have to reconcile conflicting transitional spaces of their home and university identities. This adjustive demand can lead to some considerable levels of psychological distress. This study examined the level of psychological health in first year students. It also evaluated whether factors such as monetary background, residential area, race and the availability of bursaries affect students’ transition into “university life”. First year students (N = 300; male = 135; female = 165) completed the General Health Questionnaire-12 at the University of Limpopo. A substantial percentage (that is, 30.33%) of the participants was found to have or is prone to psychological health problems. This finding is consistent with the results of previous studies which have found that some students may be susceptible to mental health problems predating their entry into university. There was no significant difference between the levels of psychological health between males and females and bursary users and those that are funded by their parents or guardians. There was also no significant difference between those that live in the rural areas and those from the cities. However, the figures between those that are poor and rich were strikingly noteworthy.

In this study, the relationship between the risk factors of perfectionism and depression and eating disorder symptomatology was examined. A sample of female undergraduates completed the following three measures: the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), and the Questionnaire for Eating Disorder Diagnoses (Q-EDD). Results indicated that perfectionism is significantly positively correlated with depression. Higher levels of perfectionism were also associated with the presence of eating disorder symptoms, whereas lower levels of perfectionism were associated with the absence of eating disorder symptoms. Finally, an increase in perfectionism levels was predictive of eating disorder symptoms. Directions for future research and clinical implications are discussed.
Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different strength training modes on joint range of motion. The problem of the study was to compare Nautilus to free-weight training modes in terms of selected joints' ranges of motion before and after an eight-week strength training program. The hypothesis asserted was that there was no difference between pre-test and post-test scores when comparing Nautilus to free-weight training modes. Subjects were thirty college-age students enrolled in beginning weight-training classes at the University of the Pacific. The subjects were acquired from intact classes and comprised two groups of 9 males and 6 females each. Pre-test and post-test flexibility measures were acquired by use of a Leighton Flex-o-meter and sit-and-reach protocols. Single joint measures of shoulder flexion, extension and abduction, hip flexion, extension and abduction, elbow flexion, knee flexion, and low back flexion were acquired. For eight weeks, two times per week, each class completed an 8 to 12 repetitions per each exercise protocol following the principles of training asserted by Nautilus. Pre-test data for all bilateral joints were statistically analyzed with paired t-tests in order to determine any differences. No significant bilateral differences were found; consequently, these data were converted to eight single measures of average range of motion of the joints respectively. Pretest data then were analyzed with two-factor ANOV A (group x gender) in order to determine if the two intact classes initially represented the same population. The only measure in which a group difference was found was shoulder extension (p

A random sample of 365 students attending a university in northern Texas returned a mailed questionnaire measuring the students' knowledge of Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), their perceived susceptibility to AIDS, and their sexual practices during the last year. The students had high knowledge levels about AIDS in general. However, 70% did not worry about getting AIDS. Collectively, there was a display of concern until it became a personal issue. The students (59%) saw themselves as less likely than most people to get AIDS. Although 70% of this sexually active group did not use condoms, they still did not perceive themselves as susceptible to AIDS.

The present study set out to investigate the biopsychosocial model of illness using variables previously identified as directly impacting illness or as mediating the relationship between other variables and illness. Oral contraceptive use, stress, and negative affect were investigated as predictors of immunological competence, measured by the level of Immunoglobulin G antibodies to Epstein-Barr Virus Viral Capsid Antigen (EBV-VCA IgG).

This study explored how students utilized spirituality as an effective coping mechanism for the stress they faced while in the Master's of Social Work program at California State University, San Bernardino. A stress and spirituality scale was used to measure each student's spirituality and perceived stress. Most students stated that spirituality and religious activity was helpful in coping with the stress of the MSW program. In addition, spirituality was found to have a strong positive impact on a person's abilities to cope with the stress of the program.

This study examines how African American gender scripts influence condom use for disease and pregnancy prevention. One-hundred African American California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) students were selected to participate in this study. Fifty African American males and fifty African American females were surveyed for this study to be representative of the African American community on campus.

Explores the relationship between recollections of parenting, Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS), and symptoms of depression and anxiety in a sample of undergraduate students attending California State University, San Bernardino (N = 232). A correlational-regression approach was adopted to test the hypothesis. Parental socialization was measured with three different subscales. Psychological adjustment was measured by the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. Early Maladaptive Schema was measured with the Schema Questionnaire-Short Form. Partial mediation of EMS was found with maternal connection and psychological control, but not with paternal socialization. Findings lend support to the schema model and suggest that clinical work with adults suffering from depression and/or anxiety may need to identify and re-structure EMS that develop from "toxic parenting."

University attendance includes various activities and experiences that can have a unique impact on psychosocial development and adult health behaviors, and can influence life course outcomes such as short- and long-term health and quality of life. College attendance and health are cyclical and reinforcing factors. Healthier students do better while at college, which allows them to effectively progress through university. College graduation is closely associated with improved health status in later life. In addition, students' personal development as part of their transition to adulthood during college, which includes psychosocial and interpersonal growth, is associated with greater gains in health and personal success in later life. Identifying the factors associated with enhanced health status while in college would ensure that a greater number of the overall population has access to the potential health benefits of progressing through and graduating from an institution of higher education. Because health behaviors can have a significant impact on how well a student progresses through college, as well as future quality of life, colleges and universities should recognize the role health is playing in the student experience. This study explored the connection of how factors such as student sub-group participation, health behaviors, and particular negative experiences affect the health status of college students attending a large, urban, top-tier university. It investigated which students were at an increased risk for negative mental health symptoms and overall lower general health and how students' participation in various groups (student athletes, students who are members of sororities and fraternities, and students who volunteer) is associated with health behavior (alcohol and other drug use, sexual behavior, and sleep), negative experiences (bias/discrimination and interpersonal violence), and health outcomes. In addition, the study analyzed how personal development at college mediates those relationships. This study is based on non-experimental cross-sectional survey data from the National College Health Assessment that was collected in collaboration with the American College Health Association at Columbia University (CU). All enrolled undergraduate students at CU in Columbia College or the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in the spring semester of 2009 (n=5708) were invited to participate in the survey, and 31.8% of the sample responded. This research used the Baron and Kenny model to examine the mediation effects of personal development on general health and mental health via a series of bivariate and regression analyses. While the overall general and mental health of respondents was good, particular groups were less likely to report overall excellent or very good general health and more likely to report mental health symptoms. Negative experiences and health behaviors varied significantly between student sub-groups. Health behaviors and negative experiences were predictive of overall general health and mental health symptoms. Sleep, drug use, and experiences of bias/discrimination and interpersonal violence (IPV) were most predictive of health. Personal development was found to partially mediate the relationship between IPV, sleep and overall general health. In addition, personal development was found to partially mediate the relationship between IPV, drug use other than or in addition to marijuana, and sleep and mental health symptoms. The findings from this study suggest that college and university administrators should consider directing resources into targeting particular groups of students for focused health promotion interventions related to specific topics as a method for improving overall general health and reducing mental health symptoms of students. College and university administrators are encouraged to consider the role of personal development as a unique factor in improving student health.

Offering courses that promote, encourage, and support physical activity among college students has been an aim of physical education departments for the past century (Sargeant, 1900). Even so, this population has been identified in Healthy People 2010 as a target population segment in need of physical activity intervention. Historically, such coursework has almost exclusively been activity and skill-based, which made it particularly appealing to students who were already active while those who were not physically active generally avoided such courses (Scantling, Strand, Lackey, & McAleese, 1995). Over time, alternative courses and course formats began to evolve, including conceptually-based Lifetime Fitness for Health (LFH) courses (Corbin, 1969). Such courses were designed to promote wellness-related behaviors among college students, including physical activity participation. These courses have increased in popularity over the past 30 years (Hensley, 2001) and are now included by some colleges and universities as part of the students' graduation requirements (Cardinal, Jacques, & Levi, 2002). Some colleges and universities have also begun offering on-line versions of their LFH courses (Conlee, 2000), but little research has been done on the effectiveness of these courses and the influences delivery format (i.e. face-to-face vs. web-based) may have. The purpose of this study was to determine the relative effectiveness of a theoretically-based, LFH course on college students' behavioral and psychological physical activity orientation. The independent variables were course format (i.e., face-to-face vs. web-based vs. control) and time (i.e., baseline and post-intervention). The study was conducted over 10 weeks, using intact groups. The dependent variables were exercise behavior, and self-efficacy, decisional balance, and the behavioral and cognitive processes of change (all from the Transtheoretical Model). Of the initial 151 people enrolled in the study, 109 (72.2%) returned post-intervention questionnaires and were therefore retained in the study. Retention rates did not differ across groups (p>.30). The majority of participants were female (60.3%), Caucasian (81.5%), and held either freshman or sophomore class standing (80.1%). Participants were, on average, 21.3 (SD = 5.7) years old, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 24.3 (SD=5.4). The majority of participants were in the preparation stage of change (45.7%), followed by maintenance (35.1%), action (12.6%), contemplation (5.3%), and precontemplation (1.3%). Exercise behavior improved significantly over time (p<.0 1); however, the main effect for groups (p=.06), and the group by time interaction were not significant (p=.31). Significant main effects were observed between groups (p<.01), and over time (p<.01) for the vector of means comprised of self-efficacy, decisional balance, and the cognitive and behavioral processes of change. The group by time interaction for the vector of means was not significant (p=.17). Follow-up F-tests revealed the group differences were due to differences in the cognitive (p<.05) and behavioral (p<.05) processes of change, with no differences observed for either self-efficacy (p=.35) or decisional balance (p=96). Time effects were observed for self-efficacy (p<.05), and the cognitive (p<.001) and behavioral (p<.01)processes of change, with no difference observed on decisional balance (p=.39). While not entirely supportive, the results due suggest some promising strategies for enhancing the efficacy of LFH courses, regardless of delivery format.
Graduation date: 2004

Lau, Chun Hong.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 224-256).
Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.
Abstract also in Chinese.
Some appendixes in Chinese.

The illicit use of prescription stimulants (IUPS) is a critical Public Health problem in the college population that represents a unique form of substance use. Namely, the primary motives for IUPS by college students are academic in nature (e.g., Teter, McCabe, LaGrange, Cranford, & Boyd, 2006), which may explain why usage rates as high as 43% have been reported on college campuses (Advokat, Guidry, & Martino, 2008). As the field of IUPS is in its infancy, the IUPS-literature lacks 1) a consistent definition of "illicit use of prescription stimulants", 2) an instrument designed to assess the multiple influences on IUPS behavior, and 3) a theoretical lens (Bavarian, 2010a). Accordingly, the goal of this study was to address these research gaps by examining IUPS at one university located in the Pacific Northwest using the theory of triadic influence (TTI; Flay & Petraitis, 1994; Flay, Snyder, & Petraitis, 2009), an integrated, ecological approach to explaining and predicting health behaviors. The study included five phases of research. The first phase began with a systematic approach to measurement development resulting in a 97-item preliminary instrument, the Behaviors, Expectancies, Attitudes and College Health Questionnaire (BEACH-Q). The measure was reviewed by the dissertation committee, leading to revisions in content and structure. During phase II, the BEACH-Q was evaluated by a convenience sample of five health and measurement professionals, and results suggested good content validity of the instrument (i.e. 35 of the 37 TTI-based covariates received a median rating between "agree" and "strongly agree", and 34 received a mean rating between "agree" and "strongly agree"). In phase III (instrument review by a convenience sample of six undergraduates), all 37 covariates received a median and mean rating between "agree" and "strongly agree", confirming good face validity. In phase IV, one undergraduate classroom was selected to participate in a pilot test of the BEACH-Q, using test-retest methodology. Results from the pilot (N = 39) showed that the instrument had moderate to high internal consistency reliability and modest to high stability reliability. In phase V, the final 96-item version of the BEACH-Q was administered throughout campus using one-stage cluster sampling, with classrooms as the sampling unit and students as the observation unit (N = 520 students in 20 classrooms, eligible student response rate = 96.30%). The prevalence of IUPS during college self-reported by the phase V sample was 25.58%, and the probability of engaging in IUPS did not differ between classrooms (Median Odds Ratio = 1.00). In crude logistic regressions, 24 out of 37 hypothesized theoretical covariates were significantly associated with IUPS in the expected direction, suggesting predictive validity of the BEACH-Q. Nested logistic regression analyses illustrated that, for the full multivariate model including ultimate, distal, and proximal covariates, the following measures in the intrapersonal stream were significantly associated with IUPS during college: race/ethnicity, year in school, academic concern, academic grades, diagnosis with Attention Deficit Disorder, and IUPS avoidance self-efficacy. Significant social situation/context stream covariates in the full model included: residence, varsity sports participation, perceptions of IUPS by friends, family, and faculty, endorsement of IUPS by friends, and perceived prevalence of IUPS among friends. With respect to the sociocultural environment stream, in the full multivariate model, the following covariates were found to be significantly associated with IUPS: financial-related stress, participation in religious activities, positive IUPS expectancies, prescription stimulant knowledge and perceived costs/benefits of IUPS. Lastly, intention to engage in IUPS (an immediate precursor) was positively associated with IUPS. Structural equation modeling was used to test models of IUPS for each of the three streams, as well as one integrated model that included covariates from each stream. The models all demonstrated good model fit, and provided insight into the factors that influence (and suggest the mechanisms of causation) intentions to engage in, and ultimately the behavior of, IUPS. In the intrapersonal stream model, inattention was positively associated with academic concern and inversely associated with avoidance self-efficacy, and avoidance self-efficacy was inversely associated with intentions to engage in IUPS. Moreover, intentions to engage in IUPS and avoidance self-efficacy were both significantly associated with IUPS. In the social situation/context stream model, living on-campus was negatively associated with friends' endorsement of IUPS which was positively associated with perceived prevalence of IUPS among friends, and perceived prevalence was positively associated with intentions to engage in IUPS; all of the direct paths to IUPS, excepting the path from perceived prevalence of IUPS among friends, were significant. In the sociocultural environment model, perception of course demand was significantly associated with both the perception that professors give the most attention to top academic students and attitudes about the impact of prescription stimulants on academics, and these attitudes had a positive association with intentions to engage in IUPS. Moreover, the direct paths from attitudes and intentions to IUPS were significant. The mixed model, including participation in religious activities (sociocultural environment stream), friends' endorsement of IUPS (social situation/context stream), and avoidance self-efficacy (intrapersonal stream), also had significant paths from ultimate to distal to proximal to immediate precursor, and significant direct paths to IUPS. This study successfully achieved its goals. First, the instrument developed was theory-driven, broadly defined IUPS, and was psychometrically strong. The cross-sectional study illustrated that IUPS was prevalent on the campus under investigation, as one in four students had engaged in the behavior during college. Associations of use with theoretical correlates were tested for, and structural equation modeling was used to support one premise of the TTI (i.e. that behavior is multifaceted, and covariates from different streams may interact to influence behavior). The findings also suggest that prevention and intervention plans should be multifaceted in nature. Given that this study's cross-sectional nature limited the ability to make causal inferences, future research involving the BEACH-Q should use longitudinal designs.
Graduation date: 2012

Mode of access: World Wide Web.
Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005.
Evidence suggests that routine screening of primary care patients for exposure to traumatic life events, and particularly assaultive trauma, may yield both clinical and cost benefits for healthcare systems (e.g., Green, Epstein, Krupnick, & Rowland, 1997; Lecrubier, 2004). However, although advocated by authorities, such screening has yet to be widely adopted. A sample of female university healthcare patients (N = 339) was assessed for exposure to trauma in order to examine several unaddressed issues that may diminish the clinical utility of screening for trauma in primary care patients. First, because the length of the traditional trauma history assessment makes it less acceptable for use in time-pressured primary care settings, the discriminative validity of a brief, self-administered screening question about exposure to trauma, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) module's screening question (First, Spitzer, Williams & Gibbon, 1997) was compared to a longer, inventory method of assessment, the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire (TLEQ, Kubany et al., 2000). Second, because it is unclear whether patients who have experienced assaultive trauma will disclose these experiences when asked in a primary care setting, the relative predictive efficacy of informing respondents that their responses would, or would not be, disclosed to health center personnel was evaluated. Two versions of the brief screening question were assessed across two instructional sets regarding disclosure, to determine each condition's relative classification accuracy for identifying respondents who reported experiences of sexual or physical assault, and/or symptoms of PTSD. The brief screen identified more than three-quarters of the survivors of traumatic assault; and more importantly, identified almost all of the women who reported significant PTSD symptomatology: the inventory method identified only 2 additional women of the 47 who met criteria for PTSD. Although survivors of sexual assault were significantly less likely to disclose their history to their provider, no differences were found for those assault survivors who also reported symptoms of PTSD. Results suggest that a brief screening question about traumatic life events may be an acceptable option in settings where more time-consuming assessment procedures are not practical.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-98).
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This study was designed to better understand psychological support services available and desired for students and group leaders of study abroad experiences. It was hypothesized that study abroad group leaders 1) would witness psychological distress among their students and 2) would not have an action plan addressing psychological distress while abroad. The participants consisted of thirty-seven faculty and staff members who led a study abroad excursion in the past five years at a mid-sized, public university in the Midwest. Each participant answered an online needs assessment comprised of questions regarding demographics, trip logistics, and mental health concerns. The results indicated that nearly 50% of all study abroad trip leaders reported a student with a mental health issue and 75% of these group leaders believed that the students either did not have access to mental health services or only had medical assistance available. Limitations and recommendations for future studies are reported.
Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Chronic stress contributes to a global burden of disease that include mental illness, cardiovascular disease and early mortality. One pathway linking stress responses to health outcomes involves cardiovascular response to psychological stress. Specifically, vagal response as indexed by heart rate variability (HRV) can be used to examine autonomic processes, dysfunction of which can predict cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The competitive academic climate on undergraduate campuses and insufficient time for recreation, rest and study, combined with inadequate coping skills can equate to consistent stressors that lead to subsequent stress and psychopathology among college students. Research demonstrates that reduced HRV can be observed among students during exam time, whereas increased HRV is observed in times of rest, suggesting that academic stress contributes to real-time physiological changes that, when prolonged, can be pathogenic in nature. Interventions aimed at influencing these processes via relaxation or other mind-body approaches have shown that enhancing meta-cognitive skills and other coping strategies have proven helpful in both improving perceived stress and psychological distress as well as improving HRV when compared with controls. This study investigates potential positive physiological effects of an eight-week Spiritual-Mind-Body (SMB) intervention, Awakened Awareness for Adolescents (AA-A), for undergraduate students. Specifically, we explore changes in HRV during resting, stress and recovery phases before and after the eight-week intervention. Additionally, we examine the association between change in self-report on measures of personal spirituality and psychological variables (pre-post AA-A), and changes across a host of HRV indices. Results include improvements in HRV recovery from stress and that a process of spiritual recovery is associated with these changes. SMB interventions that aim to improve spiritual and psychological functioning may promote psychophysiological resilience from stress.

The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours regarding HIV and AIDS of university in Zimbabwe using the Health Belief Model (HBM) as the theoretical framework. The ultimate aim was to find out how at risk university students were of contracting HIV and AIDS. A quantitative, non-experimental descriptive, explorative and correlational research design was used, using self-designed questionnaires for data collection. Respondents were sampled through systemic stratified random sampling resulting in 403 undergraduate university students. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated using SPSS version 21 software program. Most students were knowledgeable about HIV transmission; the prevention of HIV and AIDS and sexual risk behaviours pertaining to HIV transmission. Students also did show positive attitudes towards PLHIV. Most students did not perceive themselves to be at high of contracting HIV and AIDS. Up to 52% who were sexually active had more than one sexual partner. The respondents knew that HIV and AIDS were not treatable but continued to indulge in risky sexual behaviours. Most respondents received information about HIV and AIDS from the media and peers. The findings would assist policy makers, programme planners and educators in developing in developing and implementing programmes to improve the health of university students.
Health Studies
M.A. (Health Studies)

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges have become institutions of choice in the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) attracting youth between 15 and 24 years of age. College campuses are an opportune space for mixing of students with Grade 10 equivalence up to students with post-matriculation level. Students who enrol at TVET colleges for the first time are vulnerable to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) since they mingle with students of different ages and diverse experiences. Sometimes they can be taken advantage of as the environment is inviting for transactional sex practices, casual and multi-partner sexual relationships with benefactors / “blessers”, promising them the world as angel babies, sugar pups and tuition babies in the sugar bowl of dating scene, hence risky sexual behaviours make college first year students vulnerable to HIV and AIDS. A qualitative research approach was followed underpinned by constructivism as a research paradigm. The theoretical framework followed in this study was the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). A purposive sampling technique was used and six students who had enrolled in a TVET college as first year students for National Certificate Vocational (NCV) level 2 and were sexually active and willing to talk about the risky sexual behaviours they engaged in, participated during focus group interviews. Three students selected from the six were interviewed individually. The thematic analysis approach was used to identify patterns and themes which were considered for major findings. Findings of the study revealed that TVET college students who are enrolled as first year students in the NCV programme engage themselves in risky sexual behaviours such as transactional sex, casual and multi-partner sexual relationships, not using condoms, putting themselves at risk of contracting HIV. Among factors that were found to be contributing to risky behaviours were that students are away from the supervision of parents, peer pressure, partying, poverty, sugar daddy and sugar mummy (cougar) / Ben 10 with dating life style.
Psychology of Education
M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

“A research project submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MA by Coursework and Research in the field of Industrial/Organisational Psychology in the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 15 March 2016.”
Student well-being has become an increasing concern for universities both locally and internationally, with an increased interest in the prevention of academic burnout and the promotion of academic engagement due to their respective negative and positive influence on students. Accordingly, the Job Demands-Resource (JD-R) model was developed as a theoretical framework, incorporating environmental characteristics that predict symptoms of engagement and burnout in individuals. A major criticism of the JD-R model is its lack of consideration for the impact of personal resources on individual well-being. Emanating from this concern, the current study used the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory to empirically investigate whether the personal resource of Psychological Capital (PsyCap) interacted within the health impairment and motivation processes of the JD-R model. More specifically, it examined whether PsyCap mediated the relationship between demands/resources and burnout/engagement within a South African university environment. Few studies have attempted to integrate personal resources into the JD-R model, and no known studies have applied this integration within a student-university context. This provides a unique and novel context for application, warranting further research. Research participants either accessed an online questionnaire via a web link made available to them on the university’s student portal, or a hard copy version of the questionnaire was distributed during lecture time. The questionnaire included a self-developed demographic questionnaire, an adapted version of the Student Stress Scale (Da Coste Leite & Israel, 2011), an adapted version of the Factors of Academic Facilitators Scale (Salanova, Schaufeli, Martinez, & Breso, 2010), the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Scale (Schaufeli, Salanova, Gonzalez-Roma, & Bakker, 2002), the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-Student (Schaufeli, Salanova, et al., 2002), and the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (Luthans Avolio, Avey, & Norman, 2007; Luthans, Youssef, & Avolio, 2007). The final sample (N=331) consisted of both full-time and part-time undergraduate students in their first, second or third year of study at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.” “Results of the current study demonstrated that PsyCap mediated the relationship between academic obstacles and academic engagement, as well as, the relationship between academic facilitators and academic engagement. It also demonstrated, however, that PsyCap was not significantly related to academic burnout, and therefore was not a mediator in the relationship between academic obstacles/facilitators and academic burnout. Furthermore, results indicated that direct, positive relationships between academic obstacles and academic burnout; academic facilitators and PsyCap; and PsyCap and academic engagement existed, while a direct, negative relationship between academic obstacles and PsyCap existed. These findings were supported with previous research and literature. In addition, the current study also produced some non-hypothesised, but not unexpected, findings. Firstly, academic burnout and engagement was found to be moderately and negatively related, and secondly, engagement appeared to mediate the relationship between PsyCap and academic burnout. Additionally, an indirect, positive and weak relationship was found to exist between academic obstacles and burnout, while an indirect, negative and weak relationship was found between academic facilitators and academic burnout”. In conclusion, the current findings provide support for JD-R and COR theoretical assumptions, as well as the significant role personal resources play in the JD-R model in predicting student well-being.
MT2017

BACKGROUND: Harmful drinking among students in tertiary institutions has become a major public health issue worldwide. Botswana is among the countries that are experiencing this problem. Abuse of alcohol amongst students is linked to road crushes, intentional and unintentional injuries, raping and an array of communicable diseases notably HIV/AIDS. Drinking among students could be a function of personal and environmental factors. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify factors that are consistent with abuse of alcohol among students in tertiary institutions in Gaborone. METHOD: This is a quantitative, non-experimental, cross sectional descriptive study. Data were collected from a sample of students in tertiary institutions. SPSS was used for the analysis of data. RESULTS: The study has revealed hazardous drinking among students. The use of alcohol was predicted on demographic, psychological and environmental factors of respondents. Influence from a close friend, year level of study and area of residence were correlates of drinking among students. Institution based educational interventions that focus on building leadership skills of students are critical in addressing issues of alcohol in tertiary institutions. Statutory measures are necessary to limit students’ access to alcohol. CONCLUSION: The study has identified factors that are related to abuse of alcohol among students. The findings could be used to strengthen evidence based planning and implementation of interventions for tackling issues of alcohol in tertiary institutions. There is a need for future research on this area using qualitative approach.
Health Studies
M.A. (Public Health)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English
Text in Afrikaans
Stress is a complex and multi-dimensional phenomenon of which topical significance is given at present. The aim of this study was to focus on the influence of stress on academic performance of the young student. First, a comprehensive study of the literature was undertaken in order to arrive at an understanding of the foregoing. An overview of the nature, etiology and manifestation of stress, as well as how it is coped with, is offered. Special attention was devoted to factors that cause the young student to experience distress. In addition the way in which the personal actualisation of the young student occurs, was researched. From the research it appeared that owing to, among other things, the experiencing of distress and inadequate personal actualisation, some young students are in a situation involving need, which requires urgent and essential ortho-andragogic guidance. Consequently, the ortho-andragogic responsibility of rendering aid within the context of tertiary training was addressed. Lastly, an empirical investigation of the correlation between distress and particularised academically oriented issues was launched. Based on the findings and conclusions arrived at during the course of the study and investigations, recommendations have been made for future research.
Stres is 'n komplekse en veelvlakkige fenomeen wat in die huidige tydsgewrig van aktuele belang beskou word. Die doel van die studie is om die fokus te laat val op die invloed van stres op die akademiese prestasie van die jeugdige student. Ten einde tot begrip van die voorgaande te kom, is daar in eerste instansie 'n omvattende literatuurstudie onderneem. 'n Oorsig is gebied ten opsigte van die aard, etiologie, manifestering en bantering van stres. In die besonder is gelet op faktore wat aanleiding tot distresbelewing by die jeugdige student gee. Benewens die voorgaande, is die wyse waarop die persoonsvoltrekking van die jeugdige student geskied, nagevors. Uit die navorsing het dit geblyk dat sommige jeugdige studente vanwee onder meer distresbelewing en ontoereikende persoonsvoltrekking, in 'n noodsituasie verkeer, wat orto-andragogiese begeleiding noodsaaklik maak. Gevolglik is 'n blik op die orto-andragogiese aanspreeklikheid vir hulpverlening binne tersiere opleidingsverband gewerp. In laaste instansie is 'n empiriese ondersoek na die korrelasie tussen stres en verbesonderde akademiesgeorienteerde aangeleenthede geloods. Na aanleiding van die bevindinge en gevolgtrekkings waartoe daar in die loop van die studie en ondersoek gekom is, ls aanbevelings vir toekomstige navorsing gedoen.
Teacher Education
D. Ed. (Orthopedagogics)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the magnitude, behavioural issues and other contributing factors for alcohol and substance abuse, in order to develop a strategy for alcohol and substance abuse among Ethiopian university students. Method: An explorative, mixed method approach research was used. Data were collected from adolescents at Arbaminch and Wolaita Sodo universities that were purposively selected for this study. Review of literature resulted in the researcher developing questionnaire items for quantitative data (N=738) (Annexure F). Framework: The theory of planned behavior change was applied to guide the study. The theory was applied to enable understanding of behavioural intentions, individual attitudes and subjective norms surrounding performance of a specific behavior. This theory was applied to understand the problem among the student and as a framework for developing the strategy. Research Findings: The study highlighted alcohol and substance abuse among the university students was widespread. Behavioural findings showed that respondents have favorable attitudes but no intention to discontinue the use of alcohol and substances. Various factors including behavioural, environmental and policy issues have contributed to the problem. However, intervention packages and strategies to respond to the growing problem were non-existent or very minimal. Conclusion: Alcohol and substance abuse among university students has become global public health problem. However, university management did not have plans in place to attend to the problem. The researcher envisages that the implementation of these strategies would provide a workable intervention in reducing alcohol and substance abuse among students at the Ethiopian Higher Learning Centres. Recommendations: University management should step in and initiate urgent intervention measures. Adequate coordination among various stakeholders to respond to such a multi-dimensional problem is a necessity. The parliament has to revisit the current alcohol, drug and substance advertisement, circulation and trading related legislations including the use of ‘Khat which is Ethiopia’s unique problem.
Health Studies
D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Lifelong learning for adults has almost become compulsory for the maintenance of employability. In the South African context, The National Plan for Higher Education advocated an increase of adult learners entering higher education to facilitate lifelong learning. This study will focus on adult learners returning to institutions of higher education on a full-time basis. The study will determine factors that motivate adults to enter the learning environment, and it will identify inhibitors and contributors during their studies. A qualitative research design has been employed. Analysis of data collected by open-ended questionnaires and in-depth interviews indicated that the motivation to return to higher education was mainly personal and career driven. Students reported on situational, dispositional, and institutional inhibitors they experienced and had to overcome. Contributors identified included various support systems. Recommendations are made in view of the results of the empirical study to assist institutions of higher education in South Africa to meet the unique needs of the adult learner.
Educational Studies
M. Ed. (Adult Education)