Browsing by Subject "College Students"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Career decision-making competence: formulation and testing of a measurement model.
    (2011-10) Bubany, Shawn Timothy
    The study of career decision-making (CDM) has generated a number of constructs and assessment tools that have served to inform and facilitate the delivery of effective interventions. With the intention of promoting greater conceptual clarity and consistency, the construct CDM competence is proposed and defined here as success in completing CDM tasks typically required of individuals during certain developmental periods and within a specific sociocultural context. Toward the central goal of developing a valid measurement model of CDM competence, this study first used EFA to explore the structure of CDM competence to guide the formulation of a measurement model and then tested the CDM model in relation to latent constructs of social and general competence with structural equation modeling (SEM). For female (n= 228), male (n = 143), and entire (n = 371) samples, the EFA resulted in the retention of two factors that were interpreted as a general CDM competence factor and a distress and inadequacy of information factor. Comparison of separate EFA results for females and males suggested the variable of self-exploration may play a greater role in the structure of CDM competence for females than males. From the SEM, fit indices suggested that the data poorly fit the models with scales representing CDM, interpersonal and general competence latent factors for the female, male, and total samples.
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    College Student Environmental Activism: How Experiences and Identities Influence Environmental Activism Approaches
    (2016-05) King, Laura
    College student environmental activism is one way students civically engage in addressing social issues. This study explores the environmental activism of twelve college students and how their experiences outside of college and in college influenced their activism. In addition, how students’ identities influenced their approach to activism was considered. Each participant approached environmental activism in their own unique way. The way in which students engaged with environmental activism was shaped by their childhood experiences, their worldview, and experiences in College both in and out of the classroom. The identities of participants influenced how they were involved and why they were involved in the current social movement. Students conceptualized the environmental movement and their role in it in different ways. The current movement focused less on saving wilderness and more on addressing climate change and related social issues. The activities participants engaged in fell on a continuum from volunteerism to advocating for social change. Students’ environmental activism was supported by family, peers, K-12 education, and spending time in nature as children. In college, students emphasized the importance of peer networks, interactions with faculty members, and experiences in classes. Students’ identities intersected in unique ways and influenced why they were involved in and how they approached environmental activism. Students discussed the way in which their identities of gender, race, and class shaped their involvement. In addition, some students viewed their sexuality, spirituality, and being a young person as key influencers. Students said their biographic availability enabled them to be involved in environmental activism. Student environmental activists were concerned about oppression and privilege related to how the environmental movement addresses social change.
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    Exercise and Dating Relationship Patterns of University Students: Associations with Mood and Traits
    (2008-12) Waltman, Melissa L.
    Introduction. In the last couple of decades, obesity rates have increased steadily. Understanding and increasing physical activity is a key to tackling this issue, especially for college students. Additionally, these young adults are entering into more intimate and committed relationships. The connection between exercise and dating relationships is unknown, as studies of social influences on exercise have neglected this central relationship in college students’ lives. Another feature to understanding both exercise and dating relationship patterns are mood and trait associations. A review of the existing research connects these four variables and offers possible models for their mechanisms. Methods. Analyses included data for mood and traits from the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ), respectively. Novel measures of the exercise and relationship variables were developed from the Motivational Structure Questionnaire (MSQ). The relationship variables included dating goals, relationship satisfaction, and dating relationship status. Results. All analyses performed for total group and separately for each sex, and many sex differences were found. Analyses replicated previous associations found between mood and both physical activity and dating relationship variables. For novel findings, various types of analyses (correlations, ANOVAs, chi-square, and multiple regression) indicated associations between the exercise and dating relationship variables. Analyses also included mediation of negative affect between exercise and relationship satisfaction. Lastly, the investigation explored associations between alternative physical activity measures as well as desired body change, including weight loss, with the mood, exercise, and dating relationship variables. Conclusions. Dating relationship patterns were associated with exercise variables, and negative affect may mediate this association for relationship satisfaction. Sex differences were found.
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    Identifying salient beliefs toward developing promising message strategies to promote HPV vaccination among college students: A reasoned action approach
    (2015-07) Gray, Lauren
    Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States, is responsible for many types of cancer that affect both sexes. Though vaccines to protect against HPV have existed since 2006, they are still underutilized, leaving college students at risk of HPV infection. In order to address low vaccination rates with a strategic message, we must first understand individual-level factors associated with intention to get vaccinated. A Reasoned Action approach is used to identify attitudinal, normative, and control factors, and their underlying beliefs, associated with vaccination intention.