Influence of Outdoor and Adventure Activities on Subjective Measures of Resilience in University Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 264-279
Author(s):  
John Kelly
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Outdoor Adventure ◽  
Subjective Measures ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Single Measure ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Tentative Evidence ◽  
Residential Experience ◽  
Method Approach

Background: Adventure experiences offer opportunities to improve resilience by exposure to controlled challenging situations. While previous studies have shown improvements in resilience, they have often lacked matched control groups, relied on a single measure of resilience, and had limited longitudinal follow-up. Purpose: This research assessed changes in subjective measures of resilience in response to adventure experiences. Method/Approach: Using a quasi-experimental design, resilience was assessed in two matched groups of university students using two validated instruments. Measurements were taken at four time points over a 3-month period, which included a 4-day residential experience for the Outdoor Adventure group. Findings/Conclusion: Adventure experiences showed tentative evidence for influencing subjective measures of resilience, more so for individuals who started with a low score. Resilience demonstrated the largest increase immediately post-program, returning to near baseline within 3 weeks. Implications: The mechanism for change in resilience would appear to be appropriate levels of challenge, rather than specific exposure to outdoor adventure activities. Furthermore, individuals with initially low scores are likely to achieve the greatest gain.

Effects of choral singing on salivary cortisol levels and self-reported stress in university students

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunnar Glauco De Cunto Carelli Taets ◽  
Ramon Werner Heringer Gutierrez ◽  
Leila Brito Bergold ◽  
Luana Silva Monteiro
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Group Approach ◽  
Choral Singing ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Cortisol Levels

Although mental disorders are common among university students, the majority of students with mental health issues do not seek out treatment during their academic life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a novel group approach- choir singing, and its potential impact on stress, via salivary cortisol levels and self-reported stress levels in university students during 4 sessions of choir singing. It was based on a quasi-experimental research conducted with 25 Brazilian university students. Each choir singing session lasted 60 minutes. A question was asked before and after the intervention: what is the level of your stress? Salivary cortisol was collected before and after the intervention. After the choir singing intervention, there was  a statistically significant reduction in self-reported stress (p<0.0001) and salivary cortisol levels (p<0.0001). This research suggests that choir singing can reduce the self-reported stress of university students after 4 weeks of follow-up with ∆= 45.83% and salivary cortisol levels in the first week with ∆= 3.57%.

scholarly journals Efectos de la práctica de aikido sobre mindfulness y la ansiedad en estudiantes universitarios de Costa Rica (Effects of practicing aikido on mindfulness and anxiety in Costa Rican university students)

Retos ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 13-19
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Cuéllar Hidalgo ◽  
Aldo Bazán Ramírez ◽  
Gerardo Alonso Araya Vargas
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Costa Rican ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Anxiety State ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Physical Education Students ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Estudiantes Universitarios

El propósito del estudio fue examinar el efecto de la práctica del aikido sobre el mindfulness y el estado de ansiedad, en estudiantes universitarios sin experiencia previa en artes marciales. Se utilizó un diseño cuasi experimental intra sujetos con mediciones Pre y Post tratamiento, con un grupo control activo (estudiantes de Educación Física. Se midió mindfulness con la escala MAAS y la ansiedad con la escala de Hamilton. Se aplicó un entrenamiento centrado en el aprendizaje y práctica de diversas técnicas de aikido (waza) y de la forma en que debían ser recibidas dichas técnicas (ukemi), por 11 semanas (2 sesiones semanales de 2 horas cada una). Grupo experimental: n=12, con edades entre 18 y 62 años. Grupo control: n=12 estudiantes, con edades entre 21 y los 34 años. Resultados: la práctica de aikido mostró tamaños de efecto significativos y de magnitud moderada tanto en mindfulness, como en la ansiedad. La edad no explica estos hallazgos. Se justifican estudios de seguimiento.Abstract. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of practicing aikido on mindfulness and anxiety state in university students with no previous experience in martial arts. We used an intra-subjects quasi-experimental design with Pre and Post treatment measurements, with an active control group (physical education students). Mindfulness was measured with the MAAS scale, whereas anxiety with the Hamilton scale. A training program focused on learning and practicing various aikido techniques (waza), and the way in which these techniques (ukemi) should be received, was implemented during 11 weeks (2 weekly sessions of 2 hours each). Experimental group: n = 12, with ages between 18 and 62 years old. Control group: n = 12 students, with ages between 21 and 34 years old. Results: the practice of aikido showed significant effect sizes of moderate magnitude in both mindfulness and anxiety. Age does not explain these findings. Follow-up studies are recommended.

scholarly journals Creativity and Life Satisfaction in Spanish University Students. Effects of an Emotionally Positive and Creative Program

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Presentación A. Caballero-García ◽  
Sara Sánchez Ruiz
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
University Students ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Creative Education ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Spanish Universities ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Workplace Creativity

There is an increasing demand by society that university students demonstrate competitive skills to enable them to achieve greater success when entering the workplace. Creativity and life satisfaction correlate positively with academic performance, productivity, and excellence in the working environment. The presence of creativity and emotional intelligence in the curriculum and teaching methods in Spanish universities, however, is surprisingly lacking. Studies that examine gender differences in these variables provide conflicting results. The purpose of our research is to analyse the changes produced in both creativity and life satisfaction in university students by a positive emotional and creative intervention and explore individual differences by gender. The methodology used was a quasi-experimental pre- test/post- test design with experimental/control groups. Three hundred university students (23% men and 77% women) from the Community of Madrid (Spain) completed three exercises that evaluated creativity and life satisfaction. The results show significantly higher results in creativity and life satisfaction in women, who continued to achieve high results after the intervention. Finally, we discuss the need for emotional and creative education in universities and focus on the employability and the guarantee of equal opportunities through the development of these competencies.

scholarly journals Benefits of Mindfulness Professional Development for Elementary Teachers

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-42
Author(s):  
Nancy Akhavan ◽  
Nichole Walsh ◽  
Janeen Goree
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School Teachers ◽  
Mindfulness Training ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Intervention Participant ◽  
Rural School District ◽  
Mindfulness Practices ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Reducing Stress ◽  
Method Approach

Using an embedded quasi-experimental mixed-method approach, this exploratory study aimed to understand the benefits of mindfulness training for elementary school teachers and leaders in one rural school district. After the delivery of two 90-minute mindfulness professional developments with on-the-job practice of strategies over 2 weeks, quantitative statistical comparisons of the intervention and inactive control groups were made using survey results from the Mindfulness in Teaching Scale (Frank et al., 2016). Qualitative analyses used intervention participant journal entry responses along with one-on-one interviews. After analyses, the results suggest mindfulness training can benefit teachers, specifically in the use of intrapersonal mindfulness practices, reshaping daily interactions with students, and reducing stress.

scholarly journals The Effect of Transactional Analysis Training On Emotional Intelligence In Health Professions Students

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seow Hui Yean ◽  
Mabel Huey Lu Wu ◽  
Mandakini Mohan ◽  
Norul Hidayah binti Mamat ◽  
Hildegunn Ellinor Kutzsche ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Health Professions ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Transactional Analysis ◽  
Educational Training ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Quasi Experimental

Abstract BackgroundWe evaluated the effect of psycho-educational training in emotional intelligence (EI) and transactional analysis (TA) (TEITA) on EI in health professions undergraduates, post-training and at 1-month follow-up. MethodsA total of 34 participants participated in the study where 17 participants were in TEITA group and another 17 were in control group. A quasi-experimental nonrandomised, controlled cohort was conducted, in which participants in TEITA group were introduced to EI and TA concepts on a weekly basis for four weeks, at 90 minutes each time, and provided with opportunities for experiential sharing of emotions and coping mechanisms experienced in the previous week. Both TEITA and control groups received weekly EI and TA reading materials. All completed the 16-item Wong and Law EI Scale at baseline and post-training. Training group also completed the questionnaire at 1-month follow-up. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks and Mann Whitney tests were used to analyse within group and between group changes in EI scores. ResultsBaseline EI scores in TEITA group were lower than control group. On completion of TEITA, EI scores in TEITA group increased, and differences were not detected between groups. Within TEITA group, paired increases in all domains were statistically significant, whereas in the control group, paired increase was only detected in the domain addressing regulations of emotion (ROE). Pre to post-training increases in EI scores were statically significantly greater in TEITA compared to control groups. At the 1-month follow-up, EI were sustained. ConclusionThe psycho-educational training based on EI and TA is effective in enhancing EI in health professions students. Future research should investigate the effect of such training on observable inter-personal and socio-economic behaviours.

Theoretical and Methodological Problems of a 10-Year Follow-Up Program Evaluation Study

2002 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt A. Heller ◽  
Ralph Reimann
Keyword(s):  
Program Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Studies ◽  
Evaluation Study ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Partial Inclusion ◽  
Methodological Problems

Summary In this paper, conceptual and methodological problems of school program evaluation are discussed. The data were collected in conjunction with a 10 year cross-sectional/longitudinal investigation with partial inclusion of control groups. The experiences and conclusions resulting from this long-term study are revealing not only from the vantage point of the scientific evaluation of new scholastic models, but are also valuable for program evaluation studies in general, particularly in the field of gifted education.

Stick Figure and Think, Talk And Write: Integrating Media With Teaching Strategy For A Better Writing Competence

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Eva Sudarwati ◽  
Shynta Amalia
Keyword(s):  
Teaching Strategy ◽  
T Test ◽  
Narrative Writing ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Stick Figure ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Mean Differences ◽  
And Control ◽  
Writing Competence

Abstract This study attempts to see the effect of Think, Talk, and Write strategy on the students’ narrative writing competence. Considering the importance of the use of teaching media, this study tries to integrate Stick Figure as a teaching media in Think, Talk, and Write Strategy. A quasi experimental study was conducted to see the improvement of the students’ narrative writing competence. It involved 42 students who were selected on the basis of convenience sampling and assigned into two groups; experimental and control groups. The statistical analyses of paired sample t-test in experimental group showed that there was significant improvement on the students’ writing competence before (M=5.77, SD= 2.342) and after (M= 11.79, SD= 2.342), t(21)=12.059, p<0.05.Moreover, the result of independent t-test between experimental and control groups showed a significant difference. It can be seen that the mean differences was 3.79545 and the significance value is lower than 0.05, 0.000<0.05.

scholarly journals Social Study Resources and Social Wellbeing Before and During the Intelligent COVID-19 Lockdown in The Netherlands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Llewellyn Ellardus van Zyl
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
University Students ◽  
Social Study ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Latent Growth ◽  
Social Wellbeing ◽  
Latent Growth Modelling ◽  
The Social ◽  
Rate Of Decline

AbstractThe first intelligent COVID-19 lockdown resulted in radical changes within the tertiary educational system within the Netherlands. These changes posed new challenges for university students and many social welfare agencies have warned that it could have adverse effects on the social wellbeing (SWB) of university students. Students may lack the necessary social study-related resources (peer- and lecturer support) (SSR) necessary to aid them in coping with the new demands that the lockdown may bring. As such, the present study aimed to investigate the trajectory patterns, rate of change and longitudinal associations between SSR and SWB of 175 Dutch students before and during the COVID-19 lockdown. A piecewise latent growth modelling approach was employed to sample students’ experiences over three months. Participants to complete a battery of psychometric assessments for five weeks before the COVID-19 lockdown was implemented, followed by two directly after and a month follow-up. The results were paradoxical and contradicting to initial expectations. Where SSR showed a linear rate of decline before- and significant growth trajectory during the lockdown, SWB remained moderate and stable. Further, initial levels and growth trajectories between SSR and SWB were only associated before the lockdown.

A randomized trial of levamisole versus placebo as adjuvant therapy in malignant melanoma.

1991 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 736-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
L E Spitler
Keyword(s):  
Malignant Melanoma ◽  
Adjuvant Therapy ◽  
Randomized Trial ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Disease Free Interval ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Long Term Follow Up ◽  
And Control

We conducted a long-term follow-up (median, 10.5 years) of patients included in a randomized trial of levamisole versus placebo as surgical adjuvant therapy in 203 patients with malignant melanoma. Of the patients randomized, 104 received levamisole, and 99 received placebo. The results show that there is no difference between the treatment and control groups with regard to any of the three end points analyzed. These included disease-free interval, time to appearance of visceral metastasis, and survival. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the treatment and control groups after adjusting for age, sex, or stage of disease.

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