Results of a brief online group application of the unified protocol for the prevention of emotional disorders in university students: a pilot study with multiple baseline experimental design / Resultados de una aplicación grupal breve en línea del protocolo unificado para la prevención de trastornos emocionales en estudiantes universitarios: un estudio piloto con diseño experimental de línea base múltiple

Los trastornos emocionales (TEs) son los trastornos más comunes entre la población joven. El desarrollo de programas preventivos de los TEs es fundamental para evitar su posible aparición. Los programas de prevención transdiagnósticos podrían presentar una ventaja sobre los existentes para mejorar las estrategias de regulación emocional. Así, el objetivo de este estudio ha sido determinar la viabilidad y eficacia preliminar de un programa breve basado en el Protocolo Unificado (PU). El proyecto consistió en un estudio piloto utilizando un diseño experimental de línea base múltiple. Nueve estudiantes universitarios recibieron un programa de 5 sesiones basado en el PU en formato grupal online. Se encontraron diferencias significativas después de la intervención en la regulación de las emociones, el apoyo social percibido y la evitación, con tamaños del efecto moderados-grandes (r de Cohen = .49 - .59). Estas mejoras mostraron aumentos en los seguimientos al mes y a los 3 meses. Esos resultados están en línea con los que muestran que los programas preventivos transdiagnósticos breves podrían ser útiles para la prevención de los TEs en población universitaria.(AU)

Emotional disorders (EDs) are the most common disorders among the young population. The development of preventive programs for EDs is essential to avoid their possible appearance. Transdiagnostic prevention programs could present an advantage over existing ones to im-prove emotional regulation strategies. Thus, the objective of this study has been to determine the preliminary feasibility and effectiveness of a brief program based on the Unified Protocol (UP). The project consisted of a pilot study using a multiple baseline experimental design. Nine university students received a 5-session program based on the UP in online-group format. Significant differences were found after the intervention for emo-tion regulation, perceived social support and avoidance, with moderate-large effect sizes (Cohen's r= .49-.59). These improvements showed in-creases at 1-month and 3-month follow-ups. Those results are in line with those showing that brief transdiagnostic preventive programs could be use-ful for the prevention of EDs in the university population.(AU)

Narcissism, perfectionism, and self-promoting behavior on social networking sites among university students in Pakistan / Narcisismo, perfeccionismo y comportamiento de autopromoción en sitios de redes sociales entre estudiantes universitarios en Pakistán

Existe un debate considerable en la literatura sobre cómo el narcisismo predice diversos comportamientos asociados con la utilidad de los sitios de redes sociales, pero los investigadores han prestado menos atención a explorar los mediadores potenciales de esta relación. Con base en la literatura existente, anticipamos que el narcisismo predice comportamientos de autopromoción en los sitios de redes sociales. El estudio actual también investigó el papel mediador del perfeccionismo multidimensional entre el narcisismo y el comportamiento de autopromoción. Se recopiló un total de 605 cuestionarios completos de estudiantes de universidades de Rawalpindi e Islamabad, Pakistán, mediante un muestreo conveniente. El estudio utilizó el Inventario de Personalidad Narcisista (Ames et al., 2006), un cuestionario de desarrollo propio sobre comportamiento de autopromoción en sitios de redes sociales y la Escala de Perfeccionismo Multidimensional (Hewitt et al., 1991). Los hallazgos indicaron que las mujeres en comparación con los hombres y las solteras en comparación con las casadas obtuvieron puntuaciones más altas en narcisismo. Los niveles educativos más altos se asociaron con tasas más altas de narcisismo. Los resultados también sugieren que el narcisismo se correlaciona con el perfeccionismo orientado a uno mismo y, más significativamente, con el narcisismo orientado a los demás. El perfeccionismo orientado a uno mismo y a los demás medió significativamente la relación entre el narcisismo y el comportamiento de autopromoción en los sitios de redes sociales.(AU)

There is considerable debate in the literature about how narcis-sism predicts various behaviors associated with the utility of social net-working sites, but researchers have paid less attention to exploring the po-tential mediators of this relationship.Based on the existing literature, we anticipated that narcissism predicts self-promoting behaviors on social networking sites. The current study also investigated the mediating role of multidimensional perfectionismbetween narcissism and self-promoting behavior. A total of 605 complete questionnaires weregathered fromstu-dents from universities from Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan using convenient sampling. The study used Narcissistic Personality Inventory (Ames et al., 2006), self-developed Self-promoting Behavior on social net-working sites questionnaire, and the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Hewitt et al., 1991). Findings indicated that females as compared to males and single as comparedto married individuals scored higher on narcissism. Higher educational levels were associated with higher rates of narcissism. The results also suggestthat narcissism correlated with self-oriented per-fectionism, and more significantlywith others-oriented narcissism. Self-oriented and others-oriented perfectionism significantly mediated the rela-tionship between narcissism and self-promoting behavior on social net-working sites.(AU)

Putting ICAP to the test: how technology-enhanced learning activities are related to cognitive and affective-motivational learning outcomes in higher education.

Digital technology is considered to have great potential to promote learning in higher education. In line with the Interactive, Constructive, Active, Passive (ICAP) framework, this seems to be particularly true when instructors stimulate high-quality learning activities such as constructive and interactive learning activities instead of active and passive learning activities. Against the background of a lack of empirical studies in authentic, technology-enhanced instructional settings, we investigated the cognitive and affective-motivational effects of these learning activity modes in technology-enhanced higher education courses. To this end, we used 3.820 student assessments regarding 170 course sessions for which the teachers stated the learning activities students were engaged in. Results of multilevel structural equation modelling highlight the importance of technology-enhanced interactive learning activities for students' perception of learning and the potential negative consequences of passive learning activities for affective-motivational outcomes. However, the superiority of constructive and interactive learning activities compared to passive and active learning activities for cognitive and affective-motivational outcomes was not supported by the findings. Instead, the findings point to potential differential effects of the individual learning activities within one activity mode. Future research should follow up on these effects to gain a more fine-grained understanding of how technology-enhanced learning activities can be optimized to enhance students' learning outcomes.

Impact of corrupt admission on the mental health of Chinese adolescents.

Through preferential treatment by education officials or through bribery, some adolescents can obtain admission to a junior high school. However, it is unclear whether it affects the mental health of adolescents. This study used Propensity Score Matching to examine the effects of corruption on adolescent mental health. A total of 17,254 junior high school students sample (11-18 years old; 48.7% girls and 53.1% boys) were used from the China Education Panel Survey. 14.1% of adolescents attended a junior high school by corrupt means, corruption had a significantly negative effect on the mental health of these adolescents (ATT = -0.388, p < 0.01), the reasons grounded in the fact that they received more criticisms from teachers and wanted to leave their current school. In general, corruption in the admissions process can have detrimental effects on the mental health of adolescents. This study extends the previous articles on how to improve adolescent mental health and complements the application of cognitive dissonance theory. Findings from this study revealed that anti-corruption in the education sector is necessary, and the institutional design to ensure fair enrolment in basic education will contribute to the mental health of adolescents.

Effects of increasing the availability of vegetarian options on main meal choices, meal offer satisfaction and liking: a pre-post analysis in a French university cafeteria.

BACKGROUND: Changing the food environment is an important public health lever for encouraging sustainable food choices. Targeting the availability of vegetarian main meals served in cafeterias substantially affects food choice, but acceptability has never been assessed. We examined the effects of an availability intervention at a French university cafeteria on students' main meal choices, meal offer satisfaction and liking. METHODS: A four-week controlled trial was conducted in a university cafeteria in Dijon, France. During the two-week control period, vegetarian main meals constituted 24% of the offer. In the subsequent two-week intervention period, this proportion increased to 48%, while all the other menu items remained unchanged. Students were not informed of the change. Student choices were tracked using production data, and daily paper ballots were used to assess student satisfaction with the meal offer and liking of the main meal they chose (score range [1;5]). Nutritional quality, environmental impact, and cost of production of meal choices were calculated for each lunchtime. Food waste was measured over 4 lunchtimes during control and intervention periods. An online questionnaire collected student feedback at the end of the study. RESULTS: Doubling availability of vegetarian main meals significantly increased the likelihood of choosing vegetarian options (OR = 2.57, 95% CI = [2.41; 2.74]). Responses of the paper ballots (n = 18,342) indicated slight improvements in meal offer satisfaction from 4.05 ± 0.92 to 4.07 ± 0.93 (p = 0.028) and in liking from 4.09 ± 0.90 to 4.13 ± 0.92 (p < 0.001) during control and intervention periods, respectively. The end-of-study questionnaire (n = 510) revealed that only 6% of students noticed a change the availability of vegetarian main meals. The intervention led to a decrease in the environmental impact of the main meals chosen, a slight decrease in nutritional quality, a slight increase in meal costs and no change in food waste. CONCLUSIONS: Doubling availability of vegetarian main meals in a university cafeteria resulted in a twofold increase in their selection, with students reporting being more satisfied and liking the main meals more during the intervention period. These results suggest that serving an equal proportion of vegetarian and nonvegetarian main meals could be considered in French university cafeterias to tackle environmental issues. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Study protocol and analysis plan were pre-registered on the Open Science Framework ( https://osf.io/pf3x7/ ).

Enhancing psychological well-being in college students: the mediating role of perceived social support and resilience in coping styles.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of depression among college students is higher than that of the general population. Although a growing body of research suggests that depression in college students and their potential risk factors, few studies have focused on the correlation between depression and risk factors. This study aims to explore the mediating role of perceived social support and resilience in the relationship between trait coping styles and depression among college students. METHODS: A total of 1262 college students completed questionnaires including the Trait Coping Styles Questionnaire (TCSQ), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), and the Resilience Scale-14 (RS-14). Common method bias tests and spearman were conducted, then regressions and bootstrap tests were used to examine the mediating effects. RESULTS: In college students, there was a negative correlation between perceived control PC and depression, with a significant direct predictive effect on depression (ß = -0.067, P < 0.01); in contrast, negative control NC showed the opposite relationship (ß = 0.057, P < 0.01). PC significantly positively predicted perceived social support (ß = 0.575, P < 0.01) and psychological resilience (ß = 1.363, P < 0.01); conversely, NC exerted a significant negative impact. Perceived social support could positively predict psychological resilience (ß = 0.303, P < 0.01), and both factors had a significant negative predictive effect on depression. Additionally, Perceived social support and resilience played a significant mediating role in the relationship between trait coping styles and depression among college students, with three mediating paths: PC/NC → perceived social support → depression among college students (-0.049/0.033), PC/NC→ resilience → depression among college students (-0.122/-0.021), and PC/NC → perceived social support → resilience → depression among college students (-0.016/0.026). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that trait coping styles among college students not only directly predict lower depression but also indirectly influence them through perceived social support and resilience. This suggests that guiding students to confront and solve problems can alleviate their depression.

Development and validation of a mental hyperactivity questionnaire for the evaluation of chronic stress in higher education.

BACKGROUND: Examination and understanding of neural hyperactivity are some of the greatest scientific challenges faced in the present day. For this reason, the present study aimed to examine this phenomenon in the context of higher education. METHOD: Likewise, this work will enable an instrument to be created to appropriately and reliably estimate neural hyperactivity associated with chronic stress in university students undertaking a Physiotherapy degree. RESULTS: Analysis of content validity was carried out according to agreement and consensus between nineteen experts with Education Science or Psychology degrees, via the Delphi method. On the other hand, face validity was established by administering the questionnaire to a sample of 194 university students aged between 18 and 45 years (M = 30.48%; SD = 13.152). CONCLUSION: The final self-report measure, denominated mental hyperactivity, was composed of 10 items which showed adequate fit with regards to face and content validity (α = 0.775). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the questionnaire was unidimensional.

Library resources constraints, frustration, and user behavior: An empirical library operations study.

PURPOSE: The lack of requisite library resources has an enormous effect on academic life in most universities. While previous studies have suggested that the lack of resources such as textbooks affects academic success, this study seeks to provide empirical evidence on the chain effect of the lack of recommended textbooks in universities. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study uses a quantitative dataset from 636 students from five public universities in Ghana collected using well-structured questionnaires. The study adopts exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the measurement and structural models. FINDINGS: The study concludes that limited library resources (such as recommended textbooks) frustrate library users and eventually birth antisocial behaviors such as stealing, hiding, and eroding books (or pages). ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study highlights the significance of providing adequate library resources. It also guides library managers, policymakers, and scholars to manage library resources effectively.

Associations Between Sociodemographic Characteristics, eHealth Literacy, and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Among University Students in Taipei: Cross-Sectional Validation Study of the Chinese Version of the eHealth Literacy Scale.

BACKGROUND: The popularization of the internet and rapid development of mobile devices have led to an increased inclination and opportunities to obtain health-related information online. The eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS), widely used for measuring eHealth literacy, assesses an individual's ability to search, understand, appraise, and use eHealth information. However, the Chinese version of the eHEALS multiple-factor model remains to be validated, and the correlation between eHEALS and the health-promoting lifestyle profile (HPLP) among university students is rarely explored in Taiwan. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the fit, validity, and reliability of the Chinese eHEALS multiple-factor model and to clarify the predictive effects of eHEALS on the HPLP among university students. METHODS: University students in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, were recruited, and 406 valid questionnaires including sociodemographic characteristics, eHEALS, and HPLP responses were collected. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to validate the Chinese eHEALS. Independent sample t test, 1-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between sociodemographic variables and the HPLP. Pearson product-moment correlation and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to ascertain the predictive effects of eHEALS on the HPLP. RESULTS: The Chinese eHEALS exhibited an optimal fit when delineated into the search, usage, and evaluation 3-factor model (comparative fit index=0.991, Tucker-Lewis index=0.984, root mean square error of approximation=0.062), and its validity and reliability were confirmed. The mean eHEALS score of university students was 3.17/4.00 (SD 0.48) points, and the score for the evaluation subscale was the lowest (mean 3.08, SD 0.56 points). Furthermore, there were significant sex, institution orientation, daily reading time, daily screen time, primary information channel, and perceived health status differences in the HPLP: male participants (t404=2.346, P=.02), participants attending general university (t404=2.564, P=.01), those reading ≥1 hour daily (F2,403=17.618, P<.001), those spending <3 hours on mobile devices or computers daily (F2,403=7.148, P<.001), those acquiring information from others (t404=3.892, P<.001), and those with a good perceived health status (F2,403=24.366, P<.001) had a significantly higher score. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, the eHEALS score remained an independent predictor of the HPLP. Compared to students with relatively high eHEALS scores, those with relatively low eHEALS scores had a 3.37 times risk of a negative HPLP (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=3.37, 95% CI 1.49-7.61), which could explain 14.7%-24.4% of the variance (Cox-Snell R2=0.147, Nagelkerke R2=0.244, P=.004). CONCLUSIONS: There is room for improvement in eHealth literacy among university students in Taipei. eHEALS may be used to screen students who require HPLP improvement, thereby providing appropriate eHealth literacy training programs, particularly those targeting evaluation literacy. Additionally, the 3-factor model of the Chinese eHEALS used in this study results in more definite scale content, thus increasing the practicality and applicability of this scale in health-promoting studies.

Trauma-informed training as a means of stabilizing the negative impact of stressful and destructive factors of war on the inner world of future specialists.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To determine the conditions for the implementation of trauma-informed training as a means of stabilizing the negative impact of stressful and destructive factors of war on the inner world of future specialists. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: 1,100 students studying in the conditions of martial law took part in the experimental work. RESULTS: Results: As a result of the negative impact of the stressful and destructive factors of the war on the inner world, the future specialists the following manifestations of the deterioration of the health were established: depression (99%), sudden change of mood (92%), worsening of well-being during sudden changes in the weather (66%), irritability (52%), aggressiveness (11%), anger (7%). It was found that future specialists wanted to postpone completing the educational task until later, as they perceived it as very difficult (79%). CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The conditions for the implementation of trauma-informed studying were formulated as a means of stabilizing the negative impact of stressful and destructive factors of war on the inner world of future specialists. 1. During the organization of learning, teachers take into account the fact that psycho-traumas, which are caused by stressful and destructive factors of war, disturb students until they experience them. 2. Teachers take into account the traumatic experience of future specialists. 3. The teachers' actions aim to restore future professionals' sense of security, reestablish contact with other study participants, and regain control over their own lives and studies.

The essence of students' vitality in the context of its reflexive determination.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: Theoretical analysis of the problem of the individual's vitality in the context of its reflective determination, an empirical study of the formation of its components, and the proof of correlations with various types of reflection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: The following psychodiagnostic methods were used in the empirical study: "Methodology of vitality diagnosis" by S. Maddi in an adaptation by D. Leontiev; test for determining the reflection of interpersonal interaction T. Pushkar in the modification of N. Senchyna; the method of research of reflexivity of thinking (T. Pashukova, A. Dopira, G. Dyakonov); the technique "Determining the level of reflection" (O. Anisimov); method "Determining the level of reflexivity" (A. Karpov, V. Ponomaryova). RESULTS: Results: It was established that the majority of students in both the first and fourth years have an average and low level of vitality. Vitality is directly connected to intellectual, personal, and situational reflection on a temporal basis; that is, the specified types of reflection are the leading determinants of vitality, which is statistically proven. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The study showed the high importance of resilience for the full functioning of student youth in modern complex life conditions and its determination by the level of development of various types of reflection.

Dynamic muscular endurance as an indicator of functional readiness of cyber-athletes.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: To study the dynamic muscular endurance of hand movement according to the tapping test in connection with the manifestations of cognitive qualities of cyber-athletes and students involved in computer games as a hobby. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and Methods: Dynamic muscular endurance of the right and left hands of the examined subjects was studied (using the tapping test method), as well as the reaction to a moving object using the diagnostic complex "Diagnost-1". Correction tables (Landolt rings) were used to study voluntary attention. 45 students of the National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport of both sexes, aged 17-26, took part in the study, among whom 10 are cyber-athletes (sports experience of 1-10 years), 15 amateurs (involved in computer games as a hobby) and 20 students who do not play computer games (control group). RESULTS: Results: In cyber-athletes and students involved in computer games, the dynamic muscular endurance of the movement of the hand of the subdominant hand was greater than in students who did not engage in computer games. A higher level of dynamic muscular endurance for the subdominant hand and less functional asymmetry according to the tapping test scores in cyber-athletes were associated with a more successful performance of the attention test. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: A higher level of dynamic muscular endurance for the subdominant arm and a smaller functional asymmetry according to the tapping test indicators in e-athletes can be considered as an indicator of functional readiness.

Rationale, Design, and Baseline Characteristics of Participants in the Health@NUS mHealth Augmented Cohort Study Examining Student-to-Work Life Transition: Protocol for a Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Integration of mobile health data collection methods into cohort studies enables the collection of intensive longitudinal information, which gives deeper insights into individuals' health and lifestyle behavioral patterns over time, as compared to traditional cohort methods with less frequent data collection. These findings can then fill the gaps that remain in understanding how various lifestyle behaviors interact as students graduate from university and seek employment (student-to-work life transition), where the inability to adapt quickly to a changing environment greatly affects the mental well-being of young adults. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to provide an overview of the study methodology and baseline characteristics of participants in Health@NUS, a longitudinal study leveraging mobile health to examine the trajectories of health behaviors, physical health, and well-being, and their diverse determinants, for young adults during the student-to-work life transition. METHODS: University students were recruited between August 2020 and June 2022 in Singapore. Participants would complete biometric assessments and questionnaires at 3 time points (baseline, 12-, and 24-month follow-up visits) and use a Fitbit smartwatch and smartphone app to continuously collect physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep, and dietary data over the 2 years. Additionally, up to 12 two-week-long bursts of app-based ecological momentary surveys capturing lifestyle behaviors and well-being would be sent out among the 3 time points. RESULTS: Interested participants (n=1556) were screened for eligibility, and 776 participants were enrolled in the study between August 2020 and June 2022. Participants were mostly female (441/776, 56.8%), of Chinese ethnicity (741/776, 92%), undergraduate students (759/776, 97.8%), and had a mean BMI of 21.9 (SD 3.3) kg/m2, and a mean age of 22.7 (SD 1.7) years. A substantial proportion were overweight (202/776, 26.1%) or obese (42/776, 5.4%), had indicated poor mental well-being (World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index ≤50; 291/776, 37.7%), or were at higher risk for psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale ≥13; 109/776, 14.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study will provide detailed insights into the determinants and trajectories of health behaviors, health, and well-being during the student-to-work life transition experienced by young adults. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05154227; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05154227. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/56749.

Impact of seasonal changes in urban green spaces with diverse vegetation structures on college students' physical and mental health.

Based on the perceptions of college student participants in winter and summer, the effects of different vegetation structures within landscapes (single-layer woodland, tree-shrub-grass composite woodlands, tree-grass composite woodland, and single-layer grassland) and concrete squares without plants were investigated, and the skin conductivity level (SCL) and environmental perception recovery score (PRS) associated with landscape types were calculated. The results indicated that seasonal differences in landscape perception significantly affected college student participants' PRS but not their SCL scores, both in winter and summer. Viewing single-layer and tree-shrub-grass composite woodlands in summer, as well as single-layer woodland in winter, enhanced the environmental perception of the college student participants. The restorative effects of the four vegetation types in green spaces were ranked as follows: single-layer woodland, tree-shrub-grass composite woodlands, single-layer grassland, and tree-grass composite woodlands and concrete squares without plants. These findings underscore the importance of considering seasonal variations when choosing plant species for landscaping purposes, with evergreen single-layer woodland being a suitable choice for winter urban landscapes. This provides a scientific basis for assessing landscape perception and preferences in the future.

Performance and eye movement patterns of industrial design students reading sustainable design articles.

Sustainable design education plays a crucial role in cultivating sustainability awareness and competencies among students studying industrial design. This research investigates their sustainability levels, reading performance when engaging with articles, and fixation patterns during reading. 60 industrial design students participated in the study. We evaluated their sustainability levels using the Sustainable Consumption Measurement Scale. After reading both theoretical and case article, they completed tests assessing their recall and perspective scores. We collected eye-tracking data to analyze fixation duration and conducted lag sequential analysis on fixation transitions. Students were categorized into higher and lower sustainability groups based on their sustainability scores. Female students demonstrated higher sustainability levels, and students with design experience performed better in the higher sustainability group. While recall scores did not differ significantly, the higher sustainability group exhibited elevated perspective scores in theory article. Perspective scores were generally higher for case article compared to theory article. The higher sustainability group exhibited longer fixation durations in theory article, while the case article had longer fixation durations on images. Fixation transition patterns varied between theoretical and case article, with the former featuring transitions from images to texts, and the latter demonstrating transitions between images. This study provides valuable insights into sustainable design education for students studying industrial design.

Prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress and their risk and protective factors among secondary students in Rwanda during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Compelling evidence shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has detrimental effects on the mental health of university students. However, little is known about the psychological distress experienced by students from high schools during the pandemic. This study, therefore, sought to examine the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress and their associated factors among students from high schools in Rwanda. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on 384 students randomly selected from high schools. Data were collected using standardized measures of mental disorders and their associated factors. Bivariate and multivariate analyses based on the odds ratio were used to indicate the associated factors of anxiety, depression, and stress. RESULTS: The results indicated that slightly above half of the participants (51%, n = 195) had clinically significant symptoms of depression, 30.3% (n = 116) had stress and 67.3% (n = 259) had anxiety. Our analyses identified several key risk factors associated with increased odds of these mental disorders. These include exposure to domestic violence, COVID-19 symptoms like cough and myalgia, eating twice per day, having one of the three mental disorders, gender, with females showing higher susceptibility, and direct contact with the people who positively tested covid-19. Conversely, protective factors such as heightened awareness about Covid-19, positive mental health, social support, eating three times, belonging to the third Ubudehe category, and a high resilience emerged as significant elements mitigating the risks of these mental health challenges within our sample. Intriguingly, religious affiliation emerged as a notable factor, with students affiliated with the Witness of Jehovah and Adventist denominations exhibited lower risks for depression and anxiety. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlighted a high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among students from secondary schools. Interestingly, this study also revealed the associated risk and protective factors of depression, anxiety, and stress in Rwandan students in high schools. Therefore, mental health interventions targeting the impact of COVID-19 on students, as young people are needed.

Analyzing the Influence of Ambiguity Tolerance on Grammar Acquisition in EFL Learners Across Face-to-Face, Blended, and Flipped Learning Environments.

In the realm of language education, the influence of learners' personality traits on their educational outcomes within novel instructional frameworks has gained prominence, prompting an exploration into the effects of ambiguity tolerance on grammar acquisition among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. This study investigates the impact of learners' personality traits on their learning outcomes in innovative instructional models, such as flipped and blended classes. A sample of 120 EFL students was divided into four comparative groups and two control groups based on their proficiency and ambiguity tolerance (AT) scores. The study utilized a Learning Management System (LMS) to deliver instruction to the different groups. The blended group received a combination of online and face-to-face instruction, while the flipped group received online instruction using the flipped approach. The control group received only face-to-face instruction. After a semester of instruction, a posttest on grammar learning was administered. The findings showed that the blended group performed better than the flipped and face-to-face groups in terms of grammar learning. The study also found no significant differences in grammar learning between high AT and low AT participants in the flipped and blended classes. However, high AT students in the face-to-face class demonstrated higher levels of success in grammar learning compared to low AT students.

DENTAL CARIES AWARENESS AND RISK ASSESSMENT IN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS OF GEORGIAN UNIVERSITIES.

Dental caries development in students depends on many factors. Our research aims at studying the dependence of the incidence of caries among foreigners residing in Georgia on caries awareness and behaviors Oral health status of the study population was assessed using the caries intensity DMFT index offered by the World Health Organization (WHO). Patients were divided into two groups, according to the DMFT Index, with the first group comprising patients with low and very low DMFT index, and the second group - with moderate and high (<2,6) (>2,7) DMFT index. As one can see, the low-intensity caries group shows a reliably higher rate of correct answers. Caries predators in foreign students living in Georgia are Stress associated with examinations - OR=2.97(95% CI:1.49-5.90); Taking analgesics - OR=3.60(95% CI:1.02-12.67); Gastrointestinal diseases - OR=4.73(95% CI:1.94-11.50); Bruxism - OR=21.91(95% I:7.71-62.24); Tooth sensitivity -OR=3.77(95% CI: 1.83-7.75). Conclusion: • Knowledge of caries risk factors is low among international students with high intensity caries • Stress related to exams increases the risk of dental caries among students, the following also increases the probability of dental caries: gastrointestinal diseases; Bruxism, taking analgesics and tooth sensitivity.

[Relationship Between Empathy and Depression in Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Family Functioning]. / é’å°‘å¹´å ±æƒ ä¸ŽæŠ‘éƒçš„å ³ç³»ï¼šå®¶åº­åŠŸèƒ½çš„ä¸­ä»‹ä½œç”¨.

Objective: To investigate the effect of empathy on depressive symptoms in adolescents and to explore the potential mediating role of family functioning in the effect of empathy on depressive symptoms. Methods: The 2022 cross-sectional data from the Chengdu Positive Child Development (CPCD) cohort were analyzed in the study. A survey was conducted in Chengdu in June 2022, involving 3020 students in grades 5-8 from three randomly selected stratified schools. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI-C), the Chinese Family Assessment Instrument (C-FAI), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children (CES-DC) were used in the survey. Chi-square test or one-way analysis of variance was performed to examine the differences in various demographic characteristics (sex, grade, region, and total monthly household income) between groups of respondents, as well as the differences in family functioning, empathy, and depression. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to examine the correlation between family functioning, empathy, and depressive symptoms. Structural equation modeling and SPSS PROCESS component Model 4 were used to analyze whether family functioning played a mediating role in the effect of empathy on depressive symptoms in adolescents. Results: The detection rate of depressive symptoms among survey respondents was 25.40%. The results of the difference analysis revealed significant differences in the detection rates of depressive symptoms among respondents of different grades, regions, and monthly household incomes (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the detection rates of depressive symptoms between male and female students. There was a significant difference in the detection rate of depressive symptoms between respondents with different scores for family dysfunction and empathy ability (P<0.001). Correlation analysis results showed that empathy scores were negatively correlated with depression (r=-0.11, P<0.001), that family dysfunction was positively correlated with depression (r=0.29, P<0.001), and that empathy scores were negatively correlated with family functioning (r=-0.37, P<0.001). The mediating role of family dysfunction in the relationship between empathy and depressive symptoms was established, with the direct effect being 0.039 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.010-0.069, P<0.001) and the indirect effect value being -0.096 (95% CI: -0.115--0.079, P<0.001). The direct effect value accounted for 28.89% of the total effect value, while the mediation effect value accounted for 71.11% of the total effect value. Conclusion: The empathy ability of adolescents is correlated to depressive symptoms, and family functioning plays a mediating role between empathy and depressive symptoms in adolescents. It is suggested that adolescents' empathy ability and family functioning should be enhanced through multiple channels to reduce the occurrence of depressive symptoms.

Being on top versus not dangling at the bottom: Popularity motivation and aggression in youth.

Whereas research on aggression and status motivation in youth has predominantly looked at a promotion focus (striving for popularity), a prevention focus (wanting to avoid low popularity) could also be an important determinant of aggression, as youth who fear low popularity may use strategic aggression to secure their position. The aim of the current study was to develop reliable measures for both popularity motivations, and examine how both motivations are uniquely and jointly related to aggression. Participants were 1123 Dutch secondary school students (M age = 14.4 years, 48% girls), who completed a 3-item measure of striving for high popularity based on existing questionnaires (Li & Wright, 2014; Ojanen et al., 2005), and a 3-item measure of avoiding low popularity consisting of an adapted version of the high popularity items. Aggressive behavior was measured through peer nominations. Motivations were moderately correlated (r = .51), but did not always co-occur within the same person, as 17% of the sample belonged to a cluster that scored low on striving for popularity, but moderately high on avoiding low popularity. When considered simultaneously, striving for high popularity was not related to any type of aggression, whereas avoiding affiliation with unpopular peers was related to strategic aggression. For physical and verbal aggression, gossiping, excluding and bullying, the association of avoiding low popularity with aggression was strongest when youth also strived for high popularity. Future work should take both popularity motivations into account to better understand, predict and intervene on youth's aggression toward peers.