scholarly journals How College Students Assess the Threat of Infectious Diseases: Implications for University Leaders and Health Communicators

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 129-164
Author(s):  
Yan Jin ◽  
Yen-I Lee ◽  
Brooke Fisher Liu ◽  
Lucinda Austin ◽  
Seoyeon Kim
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
College Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Protective Action ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
External Attribution ◽  
Action Taking ◽  
University Leaders ◽  
The Relationship

Higher education institutions and their students face a wide range of infectious disease threats (IDTs). However, there is a lack of theory-driven research on how to provide communication for multiple IDTs to motivate protective action taking. To close this gap, this study focuses on college students and two IDT types: respiratory and sexually transmitted infections. We tested an IDT appraisal model with data from an online survey conducted at two U.S. universities with 842 students. Findings indicate that IDT type led to different patterns of threat appraisal and protective action taking intentions. More specifically, participants perceived sexually transmitted threats as significantly more predictable and more controllable than respiratory threats. Participants also had higher intention to take protective action in response to respiratory threats than sexually-transmitted threats. We also found that external attribution-dependent (EAD) emotions (i.e., anger, sadness, surprise, and confusion) and an internal-attribution-dependent (IAD) emotion (i.e., hope) were sequential mediators in the relationship between IDT appraisal and protective action taking intentions for both infectious disease types. Implications for IDT communication research and practice are discussed.

Exposure to tobacco marketing in bars predicts subsequent use of multiple tobacco products among non-tobacco-using college students

2019 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2019-055195
Author(s):  
Ana Laura Herrera ◽  
Keryn E Pasch ◽  
C Nathan Marti ◽  
Alexandra Loukas ◽  
Cheryl Perry
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
White Students ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
School Type ◽  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Tobacco Marketing ◽  
Race Ethnicity ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Hispanic White

BackgroundDue to other marketing restrictions, one venue where tobacco companies concentrate their marketing efforts to reach young adults is bars/nightclubs.ObjectiveThis study examined the relationship between exposure to tobacco marketing in bars/nightclubs and number of alternative tobacco/nicotine products used 6 months later among college students.MethodsParticipants were 1,406 students aged 18–29 years old who reported going to bars or nightclubs at least rarely (M age=21.95; 67% female; 46% non-Hispanic white). Students completed an online survey in fall 2014/spring 2015 (wave 1) and again 6 months later (wave 2). Multilevel Poisson regression models were used to assess the relationship between exposure to three types of marketing at bars/nightclubs at wave 1 (tobacco/nicotine product advertisements; free samples; industry representatives) and number of tobacco products used (range=0–5) at wave 2, controlling for school type (2 year vs 4 year), age, sex, race/ethnicity and frequency of bar visits. An interaction between the number of wave 1 products and each marketing variable was tested.ResultsGreater exposure to free samples and tobacco industry representatives at bars/nightclubs predicted a greater number of products used 6 months later, but only among wave 1 non-tobacco users and not among tobacco users. Exposure to advertisements at bars/nightclubs did not predict the number of products used 6 months later.ConclusionTobacco companies claim that marketing is targeted to those who already use the product, not to non-users. However, the current study indicates tobacco marketing in bars and nightclubs may encourage use among non-users and has no influence on current users.

Cognitive and Interpersonal Growth during the College Freshman Year: A Structural Analysis

1978 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 995-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra C. Eisert ◽  
C. Tomlinson-Keasey
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Structural Analysis ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
College Freshman ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Freshman Year ◽  
Logical Operations ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Relationship

The present paper attempts a structural analysis of the relationship between logical operations, personality organization, and personality traits in college students. Since college students cover a wide range of operational abilities, one should be able to examine this age group to see whether or not different modes of thinking are reflected in personality measures. 55 freshmen were administered a measure of formal operations consisting of eight suboperations and a complete score, the Omnibus Personality Inventory, and the conceptual complexity measure. A structural analysis of the interrelationships is discussed in terms of a core cognitive function.

A content analysis of college students’ gaps in knowledge about sexually transmitted infections

2020 ◽  
pp. 001789692095909
Author(s):  
Alyssa M Lederer ◽  
Brittney S Sheena
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Content Analysis ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Health Consequences ◽  
Survey Question ◽  
Sexually Transmitted

Objective: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) disproportionately affect young people and can result in severe health consequences. Accurate knowledge about STIs can play an important role in STI prevention. Prior quantitative research has found that college students’ knowledge about STIs is insufficient. However, there is a dearth of information regarding their specific STI knowledge deficiencies. This study sought to fill this gap by using a qualitative approach to elucidate gaps in students’ STI knowledge. Design: Qualitative content analysis of responses to an open-ended online survey question. Setting: A large public Midwestern university in the USA. Method: Students ( N = 289) watched a web-based STI health education programme covering basic information about Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes and syphilis as a course requirement. Afterwards they answered an open-ended question about what information, if any, was new to them. Themes and sub-themes were identified, exemplar quotes were selected for illustrative purposes, and frequencies were calculated. Results: Ten overarching themes were identified about what students learned: everything/a lot (19.7%), prevention (16.6%), treatment/cures (15.6%), prevalence/statistics (14.9%), nothing/not much (14.2%), symptomatology (12.8%), everything about a specific STI (9.7%), health consequences (6.6%), transmission (5.5%) and testing (2.4%). Participants reported learning about HPV most frequently compared to other STIs. Conclusion: Findings demonstrate critical gaps in college students’ STI knowledge and provide a deeper understanding of specific knowledge deficiencies. Study findings highlight important sexual health content that should be integrated into health education initiatives in academic, community and other settings, and provides recommendations on how to do so.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Psychological Stress and Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors during COVID-19 among Students in a US Midwest University

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4752
Author(s):  
Terence Moriarty ◽  
Kelsey Bourbeau ◽  
Fabio Fontana ◽  
Scott McNamara ◽  
Michael Pereira da Silva
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Psychological Stress ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Annual Income ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Stress And Health

The gripping coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has imposed dramatic changes to many areas of daily living in all sectors of society across the world. We examined the relationship between perceived stress and health behaviors among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey with measures of psychological stress, physical activity and exercise, and sleep and social connectedness was distributed in June and July of 2020. The survey was completed by 550 college students (mean age: 21.3 ± 3.8 years, 74.2% female, 94.4% Caucasian). Being female and unemployed and having a lower annual income were significantly associated with higher levels of stress. In addition, regression analysis found that reduced exercise and sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic significantly predicted the levels of stress of participants after controlling for gender, employment status, and annual income. University officials should aim to implement health-promotion strategies directed at preventing reductions in exercise and sleep duration, especially in those at greater risk of increased perceived stress such as females and economically disadvantaged students.

scholarly journals College Student Sleep Quality and Mental and Physical Health are Associated with Food Insecurity in a Multi-Campus Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Hagedorn ◽  
Melissa D. Olfert ◽  
Lillian MacNell ◽  
Bailey Houghtaling ◽  
Lanae B. Hood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Abstract Objective: To assess the relationship between food insecurity, sleep quality, and days with mental and physical health issues among college students. Design: An online survey was administered. Food insecurity was assessed using the 10-item Adult Food Security Survey Module. Sleep was measured using the 19-item Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Mental health and physical health were measured using three items from the Healthy Days Core Module. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to assess the relationship between food insecurity, sleep quality, and days with poor mental and physical health. Setting: Twenty-two higher education institutions. Participants: College students (n=17,686) enrolled at one of 22 participating universities. Results: Compared to food secure students, those classified as food insecure (43.4%) had higher PSQI scores indicating poorer sleep quality (p<.0001) and reported more days with poor mental (p<.0001) and physical (p<.0001) health as well as days when mental and physical health prevented them from completing daily activities (p<.0001). Food insecure students had higher adjusted odds of having poor sleep quality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]:1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-1.14), days with poor physical health (AOR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.01-1.02), days with poor mental health (AOR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.02-1.03), and days when poor mental or physical health prevented them from completing daily activities (AOR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.02-1.04). Conclusions: College students report high food insecurity which is associated with poor mental and physical health and sleep quality. Multi-level policy changes and campus wellness programs are needed to prevent food insecurity and improve student health-related outcomes.

scholarly journals Victimization as a Result of Non-Consensual Dissemination of Sexting and Psychopathology Correlates: An Exploratory Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6564
Author(s):  
Aina M. Gassó ◽  
Katrin Mueller-Johnson ◽  
Esperanza L. Gómez-Durán
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
College Students ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Sexual Victimization ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Exploratory Analysis ◽  
Sexual Content ◽  
The Relationship

Sexting is generally known as creating, sending and/or forwarding of sexual content using electronic devices. When such content is non-consensually disseminated, it becomes a criminally relevant behavior. To date, very few empirical studies have examined the prevalence of non-consensual dissemination of sexting, and none of them have analyzed the relationship with psychopathology and further victimization outcomes. Therefore, the aims of this study were (1) to examine the prevalence of non-consensual dissemination of sexual content, (2) to analyze the prevalence of further victimization as a result of non-consensual dissemination of sexting and (3) to investigate the association between secondary victimization as a result of non-consensual dissemination of sexting and psychopathology. The sample comprised 1370 Spanish college students (73.6% female; mean age = 21.4 years; SD = 4.85) who answered an online survey about their engagement in sexting behaviors, online sexual victimization and psychopathology, measured by a sexting scale and the Listado de Síntomas Breve (LSB-50), respectively. Overall, 43 participants (3.14) were victims of non-consensual dissemination of sexting, and results showed those participants who had suffered further victimization reported higher psychopathology scores than those who were not victimized and that being victimized by an ex-partner was associated with poorer mental health outcomes in the victim. Further implications are discussed.

scholarly journals Internalized age stereotypes as a mediator between volunteering and psychosocial health for adults 50+

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 694-694
Author(s):  
Andrew Steward ◽  
Leslie Hasche ◽  
Julie Anne Laser-Maira
Keyword(s):  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Functional Limitation ◽  
Psychosocial Health ◽  
Productive Aging ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Age Stereotypes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract The productive aging literature describes a wide range of psychosocial benefits of volunteerism for older adults. A growing, compelling body of literature drawing from stereotype embodiment theory identifies significant, negative public health impacts of internalized age stereotypes. Yet, little research has explored which activities may reduce internalized ageism and enhance psychosocial health as people age. This cross-sectional study examined whether internalized age stereotypes mediate the relationship between volunteering and social connectedness for adults 50+. A convenience sample of volunteers (n = 112) 50+ years of age residing in the U.S. Mountain West were recruited. A 15-minute, online survey was utilized. The independent variable was number of volunteer hours per week (mean = 6.25, SD = 4.85). The dependent variable was social connectedness measured by five items positively worded from the five-point, Likert-type UCLA loneliness scale (α = .85; mean = 4.26, SD = 0.59). Drawing from the self-stereotypes of aging scale, the indirect effects of five internalized positive (e.g., “wise” and “capable”) and five negative (e.g., “grumpy” and “helpless”) age stereotypes were tested. Results indicate that increased internalized positive, not negative, age stereotypes partially mediated the relationship between volunteer hours and increased social connectedness, while holding constant age, gender, race, functional limitation, education, employment, length of volunteering, and previous volunteer experience. Although positive age stereotypes have long been considered a form of ageism, the results of this study suggest that internalizing positive age stereotypes may function as a form of esteem to promote enhanced psychosocial health as people age.

scholarly journals An Investigation Into the Relationship Between STI-Related Stigma and the Psychological and Social Wellbeing of Individuals Diagnosed With an STI in an Irish Sample: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbie Robinson ◽  
David McGovern
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Mental Wellbeing ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Psychosocial Wellbeing ◽  
Societal Norms ◽  
Social Wellbeing ◽  
Related Stigma ◽  
The Relationship

Little is known about the relationship between the stigma associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the psychosocial wellbeing of those living with STIs. Stigma stems from societal norms and no prior study has explored this relationship among adults living in Ireland, where traditionally chaste and religious views regarding sexuality are upheld. The present study aimed to explore the psychosocial wellbeing of adults living with STIs in Ireland and identify if female and Catholic participants were disproportionately affected by STI-related stigma. 685 participants (224 male, 450 female, 10 non-binary, 1 unknown, aged 18-51 years) completed an online survey consisting of questions regarding demographic information, STI history, four measures of wellbeing (depression/anxiety, mental wellbeing, self-esteem and social wellbeing) and STI-related stigma. Participants reporting higher STI-related stigma had significantly lower psychosocial wellbeing than those reporting lower STI-related stigma (p &lt; .001). Females with an STI reported significantly higher STI-related stigma (p = .001) and significantly lower psychosocial wellbeing than males (p = .001). No differences were found in overall wellbeing or stigma between those with and without an STI and between Catholics and non-Catholics. Based on these findings, it is recommended that targeted support is provided to women and those living in culturally stigmatising environments to buffer the risk of stigmatisation and decreased psychosocial wellbeing associated with an STI diagnosis.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Substance Use, Strain, and Depression among College Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor Walker ◽  
Thomas McNulty
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Control Variables ◽  
Drug Abuse Screening Test ◽  
The Relationship

This project examined the relationship between substance use and depression using General Strain Theory as a theoretical foundation. The relationship between strain, depression, and substance use has yet to be rigorously established in the literature. The goal of this project was to determine whether depression serves as a mediator between the sociological concept of strain and substance use. The hypothesis for this project was that strain would have a positive effect upon depression and substance use, and depression will act as a mediator between strain and substance use. 832 college students between the ages of 18-25 filled out an anonymous online survey containing questions from the Beck Depression Inventory, the Drug Use Screening Inventory Revised, and the Drug Abuse Screening Test. Demographic data was also collected and served as the control variables for the analysis. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25. Pearson correlation tests and multiple linear regression analyses were carried out on explanatory and control variables. The statistical findings of this project signify that depression acted as a mediator between strain and substance use. Comparison of findings to past studies and avenues of future research will be discussed.

College Student Cohesive-Flexible Family Functioning and Mental Health

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 422-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Blake Berryhill ◽  
Christian Harless ◽  
Paige Kean
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Family Functioning ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Positive Communication ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Multiple Sample ◽  
The Relationship

The current study examined the relationship between college students’ perception of cohesive-flexible family functioning and anxiety and depression and whether positive family communication and self-compassion mediated this relationship. Gender differences among these relationships were also explored. Five hundred college students from a southeastern public university completed an online survey (78% females, 46% Caucasian, 55% 18–19 years old). Multiple-sample latent structural equation modeling analyses revealed that cohesive-flexible family functioning was related to higher levels of positive communication, positive communication was related to higher levels of self-compassion, and that higher levels of self-compassion were related to lower levels of depression and anxiety. Positive communication and self-compassion mediated the relationship between cohesive-flexible family functioning and anxiety and depression. Moderation analyses revealed no significant differences between males and females. Implications for practitioners who work with college students are discussed.

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