scholarly journals Better to Light a Single Candle than to Curse the Darkness: Promoting Law Student Well-being through a First Year Law Subject

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachael Field ◽  
James Duffy
Keyword(s):  
2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachael Field ◽  
James Duffy ◽  
Anna Huggins

<p class="p1"><em>Empirical evidence in Australia and overseas has established that in many </em><em>university disciplines, students begin to experience elevated levels of </em><em>psychological distress in their first year of study. There is now a considerable </em><em>body of empirical data that establishes that this is a significant problem for </em><em>law students. Psychological distress may hamper a law student’s capacity to </em><em>learn successfully, and certainly hinders their ability to thrive in the tertiary </em><em>environment. We know from Self-Determination Theory (SDT), a conceptual </em><em>branch of positive psychology, that supporting students’ autonomy in turn </em><em>supports their well-being. This article seeks to connect the literature on law </em><em>student well-being and independent learning using Self-Determination </em><em>Theory (SDT) as the theoretical bridge. We argue that deliberate instruction </em><em>in the development of independent learning skills in the first year curriculum </em><em>is autonomy supportive. It can therefore lay the foundation for academic and </em><em>personal success at university, and may be a protective factor against decline </em><em>in law student psychological well-being</em></p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Inês Teodoro ◽  
Hugo Torres ◽  
Nuno Venâncio ◽  
Guilhermina Moutinho ◽  
Maria Deolinda Auxtero

Cannabis is the illegal drug most used worldwide. Its long-term use increases the risk of depression and schizophrenia, causing a major public health problem. A validated questionnaire was applied to first year students of Instituto Universitário Egas Moniz to assess their intention regarding cannabis use. They do not consider cannabis to be much associated with well-being, they slightly consider the opinion of relatives, and they show a low intent to use the drug, believing themselves to have strong self-control. Scores are above average for 18-y.o. Portuguese students, except for belief in self-control.


Author(s):  
Alessio Gori ◽  
Eleonora Topino

This study aimed at investigating the psychological effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy by analysing the trends of perceived stress, post-traumatic symptoms, state anxiety, worry, and civic moral disengagement in four different moments from March 2020 to March 2021. The study involved a total of 1827 Italian participants (30% men and 70% women; Mage = 34.72; SD = 12.40) divided into four groups to which an online survey was administered. The first group completed the survey in March 2020, the second one in August 2020, the third one in November 2020, and the fourth one in March 2021. Results highlighted significant decreases in post-traumatic symptoms and a significant increase in civic moral disengagement over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The levels of perceived stress, worry, and state anxiety remained constant. The correlations between the variables at different times were also explored, as well as gender differences over the year. The COVID-19 emergency has had significant effects on the mental state of the population, with important repercussions for individual and collective well-being during but probably also after the pandemic. This study offers a clear snapshot of the psychological outcomes over one COVID-19 pandemic year, providing important information that may contribute to tailor more effective interventions for mental health.


SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A121-A121
Author(s):  
Jeri Sasser ◽  
Emma Lecarie ◽  
Michaela Gusman ◽  
HyeJung Park ◽  
Leah Doane

Abstract Introduction Latinx students are the largest ethnic/racial minority group in higher education, but are also the group least likely to graduate from a four-year institution. Research suggests that heightened stress perceptions may impede college students’ ability to perform well academically. Poorer sleep may compound the impact of stress on academic functioning. The present study examined the multiplicative effect of college-stress and actigraphy-measured sleep on academic cognitions within-and-across semesters. Methods 209 Latinx college students (Mage=18.95; 64.4% female, 85.1% Mexican descent) were assessed in the spring of the first year of college (T1) and fall of the second year (T2). At T1, participants wore an actigraph watch for 7 nights to measure total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and sleep midpoint. College-stress was assessed at T1 using the College Stress Scale. At T1 and T2, participants completed the Behavioral-Emotional-Cognitive School Engagement Scale, the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, and a scale assessing academic motivation. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to assess the model fit of a two-factor model representing academic cognitions (engagement, self-efficacy, motivation) at T1 and T2. Latent variable path analysis models testing for moderation were conducted using Mplus. Results The CFA indicated excellent fit (χ2(5)= 2.91, p=.71, RMSEA=.00, CFI=1.00, TLI=1.01, SRMR=.02). College-stress was concurrently (β=-.19, p=.02), but not longitudinally, associated with academic cognitions. Sleep midpoint predicted academic cognitions at T1 (β=-.24, p&lt;.01) and T2 (β=-.18, p=.03). Sleep efficiency (β=.18, p=.01) and sleep midpoint (β=-.17, p=.02) moderated associations between college-stress and T2 academic cognitions. Higher college-stress was longitudinally linked with lower academic cognitions for students with lower sleep efficiency (b=-.12, p=.01) and later sleep midpoints (b=-.14, p=.01). Conclusion Greater college-stress is concurrently linked with lower academic cognitions, whereas later sleep timing has both immediate and enduring consequences on students’ academic mindsets. The impact of college-stress on academic cognitions may depend on the quality and timing of sleep at the time of these stress perceptions. Programs that address stress reduction and sleep health may be promising interventions for improving academic well-being among first-year Latinx college students. Support (if any) This work was supported by a William T. Grant Foundation Scholars Award (184370) to L.D. Doane.


2021 ◽  
pp. e20200120
Author(s):  
Sandra F. San Miguel ◽  
Mike Robertson ◽  
Lindley McDavid

Veterinary medical students, similar to elite collegiate athletes, are developing strategies for learning new skills and for self-care to take their performance to the next level. As veterinary students learn to successfully navigate an information-dense, high-volume curriculum, many sacrifice wellness, leadership opportunities, extracurricular activities, and social interactions. Strategies from athletes’ physical training were used to design a self-study program for first-year veterinary medical students. Major considerations in program design were the characteristics of the human being, learning goals, and contextual constraints. The study program included a warm-up, study sessions, and a cooldown. The program was offered to first-year veterinary medical students at Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Thirty-two students requested study programs and 21 completed surveys at the semester end. Results were analyzed quantitatively and by using an adapted conventional content analysis approach. Responses were organized into three main domains: reason for participation, program utility, and program satisfaction. Students shared that the most helpful aspects of the program were assisting with organization and time management, providing accountability, and reducing overwhelm by enhancing well-being and performance; they reported that these learned skills would support their well-being as future professionals. This article describes the experiences of one group of veterinary students at one college using these programs. The long-term goal is to develop a model program for all veterinary students to manage curricular demands while maintaining well-being.


2020 ◽  
pp. 53-58
Author(s):  
Olga Viktorovna Bodenova ◽  
Lyudmila Pavlovna Vlasova

The article is devoted to the overview of one of the most current problems that arise in the process of supporting the adaptation of students. The paper reveals the content of the adaptation process, its content and procedural characteristics, describes the types and stages, and directions of diagnostics. The aim of the work is to identify the features of adaptation in first-year students, including the description of the specifics of difficulties of non-resident students’ adaption. The study was conducted at the Institute of Pedagogy and Psychology “Petrozavodsk State University” with first-year students studying in the fields of education 44.03.02 Psychological and pedagogical education, 44.03.01. Pedagogical education, 44.03.03 Special (defectologic) education. The following methods were used to test the hypothesis: «I am a student» survey, «Scale of subjective well-being» method, analysis of documents (medical records of students), quantitative and qualitative analysis. The results of the study. Analysis of the results of the study showed that non-resident students have both general and specific difficulties of adaptation due to the breakdown of previous family and friendships, lack of emotional support, difficult living conditions, a new neighborhood, a new type of settlement, etc. The obtained results are used for development and implementation of measures to support students during the adaptation period.


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