scholarly journals A mediation analysis of spirituality, wellbeing, and academic performance in first-generation and low-income college students

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Christopher Beggs

Mental health and attainment gaps comprise dual crises on today's college and university campuses, especially for first-generation and low-income students. Despite the common history and heritage of spirituality and religious foundations of America's colleges and universities, current norms and preferences have rendered candid discussions of spirituality to be, at best, passe, and, at worst, regressive. Despite extensive literature linking spirituality with psychological wellbeing, little is known as to what relationship, if any, spirituality has with psychological wellbeing and academic performance, particularly among first-generation and low-income students. This study uses a cross-sectional survey design. This study was conducted at a public, regional, Midwestern institution within an hour's driving radius of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Data were collected through a survey, rendering 135 participants. Quantitative analysis found that there was no statistical difference between first-generation or low-income students and their peers in spirituality or wellbeing, that spirituality that is or once was salient to the student was correlated with and predicts psychological wellbeing, that there was a relationship between psychological wellbeing and academic performance in specific circumstances, and that there was an indirect effect between spirituality and academic performance in the presence of psychological wellbeing. These data provide insight into the nature of the relationship between spirituality, wellbeing, and academic performance among college students and present implications for practitioners and researchers alike. [NEEDS DIACRITICS]

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Chris Beggs ◽  
Barbara N. Martin

Mental health and attainment gaps comprise crises on university campuses, especially for first-generation and low-income students. Despite the heritage of spirituality and religious foundations of America’s colleges, current norms have rendered candid discussions of spirituality to be mostly nonexistent. Despite literature linking spirituality with psychological wellbeing, known is little as to what relationship spirituality has with psychological wellbeing and academic performance, particularly among first-generation and low-income students. This study uses a cross-sectional survey design and occurred a public, regional, Midwestern institution. Quantitative analysis found a relationship between psychological wellbeing and academic performance in specific circumstances, and an indirect effect between spirituality and academic performance in the presence of psychological wellbeing. These data presents implications for practitioners.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 480-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Jeong Yi ◽  
Soeun You ◽  
Beom Jun Bae

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that influence college students’ smartphone use for academic purposes by identifying the task-technology fit (TTF) of smartphones. A research model is proposed to explain how TTF of smartphones affects college students’ perceived academic performance and smartphone use. Design/methodology/approach Online surveys were administered to college students at a South Korean university that has offered online academic services for more than five years, and 1,923 valid responses were analyzed. The study used partial least squares path modeling to evaluate the measurement model, and the bootstrapping technique to test the significance of the hypotheses. Findings The findings highlight that the TTF of smartphones has a direct influence on students’ perceptions of performance impact and an indirect influence on smartphone use through a precursor of utilization, such as attitude toward smartphone use, social norms and facilitating conditions. Research limitations/implications Despite a reasonably large sample, a single cross-sectional survey has a likelihood of selection bias in the sample. Practical implications This study applies the TTF model to smartphone use among college students and suggests an effective way to motivate them to use mobile technologies for their academic activities. Originality/value The present study develops an empirical model to assess the adoption of smartphones and its effect on college students’ academic performance. Above all, the study identifies a causal relationship among TTF, precursor of utilization, smartphone use and a perceived impact on academic performance based on the development and validation of the TTF constructs of smartphones.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Surbhi Garg ◽  
Ruqayya Alvi ◽  
Suman Gupta ◽  
Absar Ahmad

AbstractIntroductionSanitary napkin is an essential aspect of the Menstrual management materials for women and adolescent girls between menarche and menopause. Despite being an important issue concerning women and girls in the menstruating age group, access to menstrual hygiene products neglected during the COVID19 pandemic. Further, there is no evidence of the practice of menstrual hygiene products in Indian settings during this period. This paper investigates the prevalence of socio-demographic correlations of access to sanitary napkins among college students in Lucknow.MethodsAn online retrospective cross-sectional survey was conducted in Lucknow in September 2020. In total, 1439 participants took part in the survey. After removing 55 participants, those quit the survey by clicking on the disagree button and 13 were not satisfying inclusion criteria. So the final samples were 1371, which were included in the analysis. Students of UG and PG currently studying in colleges in the Lucknow were eligible to participate. The data collection was anonymous. Responses were analysed using descriptive and bivariate logistic regression.ResultsIn this study, 1371 students were included, making a response rate of 96.2 percent. Nearly 12.5 percent of students reported about difficulty encountered during the lockdown. Muslims, Father education illiterate or upto12th, father occupation as farmer, monthly salary less than 25 thousand, residence as rural, and history of reusable clothes were more likely to face problems to access sanitary pads during the lockdown in Lucknow (P < .05).ConclusionsDuring COVID-19 lockdown, about 12.5 % of girls were dependent on either locally available resources as absorbents during menstruation or paid more to access in Lucknow. Because of the lockdown, many people have lost their livelihood. More than ever, economically low-income families are reluctant to spend on sanitary pads, which is why few college girls were going back to their previous handling periods by using rags.HighlightsThe prevalence of menstrual management products during Covid19 were unknownWomen and Adolescents in India suffer the shortages of Sanitary napkin during lockdownPrevalence of access to sanitary pads should emphasis different focal points


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 176-176
Author(s):  
Lukkamol Prapkree ◽  
Rianna Uddin ◽  
Jafar Ali Ajaj Jaafar ◽  
Niliarys Sifre ◽  
Gabriel Corea ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives During COVID-19 pandemic, most students have been confined to their home. This situation may affect snack consumption and food security. Our objective was to determine the associations among snack intake, snack accessibility and availability, household income, and food security status in US overweight college students aged 18–24 years. Methods A cross-sectional survey was assessed through online self-reported questionnaires via Qualtrics from June 2020 to January 2021. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the frequency, percentages, and average of socio-demographic data, including household income and food security status and snack intake data. The associations among these variables were determined by logistic regression. Results A total of 157 students completed the survey but only 145 completed all questions in the survey. Most students were female (84.8%), Hispanics (37.2%), with a mean age of 21.5 ± 2.0 years. The majority reported a household income of &lt;$50,000 (60.0%) and having a high food security status (66.2%). Average snack consumption was 2.3 ± 1.1 times per day with the highest common reported frequency of snacking 2–3 times per day (61.0%). Most reported that they knew how to choose a healthy snack (85.5%) but most (73.1%) reported that unhealthy snacks (i.e., chips, crackers, cookies, candy, chocolate, etc.) were more accessible and available to them than healthy snacks (i.e., fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grain, low sugary bars/cookies/crackers, etc.). After adjusting for age and gender, those with the highest food security had significantly lower odds of choosing unhealthy snacks (OR 0.05; 95% CI 0.01, 0.36) as compared to those with the lowest food security. Also, those with lower income (&lt;$50,000) had significantly higher odds of choosing unhealthy snacks as compared to higher income (OR 3.35; 95% CI 1.51, 7.41). However, food security and income had no association with knowledge of identifying healthy or unhealthy snacks. Conclusions In this sample of college students, income and food security status was not related to their ability to know how to choose healthy snacks but low food security and low income were significantly related to the accessibility and availability of unhealthy snacks. Funding Sources Internal funds from Florida International University.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adenike E. Idowu ◽  
Emmanuel O. Amoo ◽  
Idowu I. Chiazor ◽  
Olujide Adekeye

The paper examines association of neighborhood characteristics with psychosocial statues of adolescent living in urban slums. Data for the study were obtained from a cross sectional survey among adolescent age 15-19, living in urban slums in Lagos State. Adopted a measuring scale for adverse environment and psychosocial attributes, data were analyzed using univariate and binary logistic regression analysis. Results revealed that neighborhood characteristics were associated with low self-academic performance rating. Both parental process and neighborhood factors such social disorganization was able to predict psychosocial wellbeing such subjective academic performance rating. The findings revealed among others that adverse neighborhood characteristics in urban slum were associated with unhealthy subjective wellbeing which reflects wide personal and social contexts and have implications for public health and social wellbeing. This paper calls for programmes that are tailor to addressing rapidly developing slum settlements in low income area, to secure the future generation.  


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽  
pp. 847-851
Author(s):  
Nithyanandham Masilamani ◽  
Dhanraj Ganapathy

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) induced by new ß coronavirus MERS-(CoV) had first been described in Saudi Arabia in September 2012. MERS-CoV communication inside the population is often identified with clustered households and cramped communal spaces. The purpose of the study is to assess the knowledge and awareness of MERS-CoV among dental students in India. This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey of 100 dental college students in Chennai. The self-designed questionnaires contained ten questions focused on the knowledge and awareness of MERS-CoV amongst dental college students. Questionnaires were circulated through an online website survey planet. After the responses were received from 100 participants, data were collected and analyzed, .87% are aware of MERS-CoV through media 13% from professional channels. 84%are aware of the clinical manifestation of MERS-CoV. 81%Are aware of the mode of transmission of MERS-CoV. 76%are aware of the preventive measures against MERS -CoV.68%. Are aware of the incubation period of MERS-CoV. 74%aware of PCR as a diagnostic test for MERS-CoV. This study concluded that dental students had strong awareness and knowledge of MERS. Also, there are a few differences in information and behaviours that require change. Large-scale health educational programs on MERS also should be facilitated by professional organizations to expand their reach and to strengthen knowledge to have a positive impact on their behaviour.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Mbir Bryant ◽  
Abdul-Rahaman Afitiri

Abstract Background Sustainability of energy is key for quality life; thus, the use of clean energy at the household level warrants moving from fossil-based energy to modern forms like biogas. However, the joint interactive effect of household income, biogas usage and willingness to adopt a single-stage solar-supported hyper-thermophilic anaerobic biogas digester (SSHTABD) is not known. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out to assess the willingness of residents of Elmina to adopt the SSHTABD. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 219 respondents fitted into a complementary log–log regression model. Results Household willingness to adopt the SSHTABD was 86%. Among them are households not willing to use biogas but have high income and households willing to use biogas but have either low or high income are more likely to adopt the technology compared to households not willing to use biogas and have low income. Households not willing to use biogas, but have high income (OR = 1.725, confidence interval [CI] 0.803–3.706) and households willing to use biogas, but have low income (OR = 1.877, CI 1.103–3.188) compared to households willing to use biogas and have high income (OR = 1.725, CI 1.080–3.451) are more likely to adopt the technology as households not willing to use biogas and have low income. Additionally, households employed under the formal government sector, formal and informal private sectors are 40%, 136% and 103%, respectively, more likely to adopt the technology than those unemployed. Conclusion The high willingness of households to adopt the technology calls for government to support households to own biogas digesters thus requires policy interventions and interdisciplinary research.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob J Keech ◽  
Kaitlyn L. Cole ◽  
Martin S Hagger ◽  
Kyra Hamilton

Objective: Emergency service workers like police officers experience high levels of stress in the course of their regular duties. Holding particular stress mindsets may help to mitigate the deleterious effects of stress and promote wellbeing in workers experiencing regular stress. The study aimed to examine the processes by which stress mindsets relate to health and wellbeing in police officers. A stress beliefs model in which perceived somatic symptoms and coping behaviours mediate effects of stress mindsets on outcomes was tested. Design: Police officers (N=134) completed an online cross-sectional survey. Main outcome measures: Perceived somatic symptoms, proactive coping behaviours, physical and psychological wellbeing, and perceived stress. Results: Bayesian path analysis with informative priors revealed indirect effects of stress mindsets on psychological wellbeing and perceived stress through proactive coping behaviours and perceived somatic symptoms. Physical and psychological wellbeing, and perceived stress were predicted by stress mindsets directly, and through perceived somatic symptoms. Conclusion: The findings support model predictions that behaviours aimed at proactively meeting demands and perceived somatic symptoms mediated the relationship between stress mindset and health-related outcomes. The findings provide further foundational knowledge on mechanisms through which stress mindset is associated with outcomes and can inform future longitudinal and experimental research.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gulled M. Yasin

This study investigated effect of teacher qualifications on the academic performance of pupils in primary schools in Hargeisa districts. Teacher qualifications were operationalized as Formal education, certification and teaching experience. The study emerged from the deteriorating academic achievement of pupils in Somaliland National Primary Examinations. The deteriorating academic performance was well demonstrated from increase number of failures in Somaliland National Exams. The study employed cross sectional survey research design, on a sample of 160 teachers, the study found out that, Fo = 15.838 &gt; F (2,157) = 3.06; p = .000. The eta-square returned an average value of η 2 = 16.8%. Therefore, teacher qualification accounts for 16.8% of the variance in academic performance of pupils in pubic primary schools in Hargeisa. The rest 83.2% are due to factors not investigated here, and errors in measurements. The study findings indicate that teacher qualifications affect to the academic performance of pupils in public primary schools in Hargeisa District.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  

First-generation college students experience a disproportionate rate of challenges on college campuses, reflected by lower academic performance. Research has identified academic self-efficacy, optimism, goal orientation, and academic stress all as psychological factors associated with academic performance. However, this research rarely distinguishes between first- and continuing-generation students, and there may be unique effects for each group. We investigated whether the previously identified psychological factors associated with academic performance hold the same relationships for firstand continuing-generation college students. A sample of 143 undergraduate students self-reported levels of academic self-efficacy, optimism, goal orientation, and academic stress. Academic performance was measured using their midterm exam grade. There were differences found in the mean levels of psychological factors and their associations with academic performance for first- and continuing-generation students. Overall, the psychological factors explained a very small portion of the variance in academic performance among first-generation students (13.4%) with none of the psychological factors holding an independent association with academic performance. Conversely, psychological factors explained considerably more of the variance in academic performance for continuing-generation students (60.5%), with domains of goal orientation and academic stress being independently associated with academic performance. Our findings suggest that new pathways to improving first-generation students’ academic performance should be identified, and that


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