Health‐related barriers to learning among graduate students

The lived experiences of health science graduate students with anxiety and depression

Health science graduate programs are intensive experiences in students' lives which can contribute to perceived symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. The consequent impact of these symptoms can have an overall effect on the graduate students' ability to participate in their daily lives, along with their program of study. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of health science graduate students who experience perceived signs and symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. An open-ended, qualitative phenomenological survey was used to understand the experiences of 56 Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and Doctor of Pharmacy students at a university in the southeastern United States. Three themes were identified from the data: the cyclic effect of symptoms and triggers; the importance of support systems; and the benefit of coping skill utilization. Future research is needed to understand the effects of preventive and rehabilitative measures to address health science graduate students' mental health.

Cohort-Based Education and Other Factors Related to Student Peer Relationships: A Mixed Methods Social Network Analysis

Graduate students face a variety of stressors that relate to poor academic performance, lower completion rates, and high rates of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress. Student peers provide supports for coping with these stressors and succeeding academically. However, graduate students may find it difficult to form relationships with their peers. This mixed method social network analysis (MMSNA) examines graduate student perceptions of their peer relationships and the factors associated with peer friendships in a program that placed students in cohorts for the first semester of a two-year Master of Social Work program. Findings from three student focus groups include four main themes related to the cohort system and the tendency for students to gravitate to others who were similar to them (i.e., homophily). Focus group findings informed model specification for a curved exponential family model of student friendships at the end of the third semester of the program (N = 70) that identified correlates of student friendships including statistically significant direct and homophily effects for age, gender, and race/ethnicity. First-semester relationships and shared classes in subsequent semesters also increased the likelihood of friendships in the third semester. Findings emphasize the value of cohorts and a diverse student body for peer relationships.

A cultura acadêmica do sofrimento: será que isso existe?

Resumo As práticas de ensino e pesquisa na Pós-Graduação têm sido entendidas como uma cultura acadêmica causadora de sofrimento. O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar uma compreensão do sofrimento vivido pelos alunos da Pós-Graduação a partir de uma perspectiva culturalista. Para isso, o texto problematiza o contexto da Pós-Graduação e apresenta axiomas da Psicologia Cultural Semiótica que fundamentam a análise dos processos psicológicos que ocorrem na relação do estudante com o meio acadêmico. A cultura acadêmica é entendida como o conjunto compartilhado de signos usados e construídos pelas pessoas na pós-graduação, as quais organizam seus mundos interno e externo, regulam as interações sociais e orientam as ações humanas. Desse modo, o sofrimento é um produto cultural da interação entre as forças canalizadoras da cultura acadêmica e as ações do estudante. Sugere-se que pesquisas futuras possam estudar empiricamente como os pós-graduandos criam uma síntese pessoal a partir da cultura acadêmica.

Substance use and mental health problems among graduate students: Individual and program-level correlates

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated variation in substance use and mental health among graduate student subgroups.

PARTICIPANTS

A sample of 2,683 master's and doctoral students completed an online survey in October 2017.

METHODS

Subgroup variation in behavioral health by demographic and program characteristics, particularly degree type and academic discipline, was explored.

RESULTS

Compared with academic doctoral students (ie, PhD students), professional doctoral students (ie, MD, JD, etc.) were significantly more likely to report high stress levels and moderate or severe anxiety symptoms. Master's students were more likely to report moderate or severe anxiety symptoms and use marijuana than academic doctoral students. Students in the behavioral and social sciences, social work, and arts and humanities disciplines were more likely to use substances and report mental health problems than engineering and business students.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight graduate student subgroups who might require closer attention with respect to access to behavioral health services.

Female nursing graduate students' stress and health: the mediating effects of sense of coherence and social support

BACKGROUND

Ninety-five percent of nursing graduate students in South Korea are women, and most are often engaged in both academic coursework and work outside of the academic environment. Nursing graduate students often experience stress leading to physical and mental health problems that negatively affect their academic performance and persistence during graduate programs. The purpose of this study was to test multiple mediation effects of sense of coherence (SOC) and social support in the relationship between stress and health status of nursing graduate students.

METHODS

The participants of this study were 231 female nursing graduate students from 14 universities. Data were collected using an online survey conducted between August and October 2019. Bootstrap techniques using the PROCESS macro for SPSS software were applied to assess the multi-mediating effects.

RESULTS

The total effect (B = - 12.29, p < .001) and direct effect (B = - 7.07, p < .001) of perceived stress on health status were significant. Perceived stress had negative direct effects on social support (B = - 0.41, p < .001) and SOC (B = - 5.77, p < .001). SOC had a positive direct effect on health status (B = 0.59, p < .001). However, social support was not a significant predictor of health status (B = 1.24, p = .232). In addition, there was a positive direct effect of social support on SOC (B = 5.23, p < .001). Furthermore, the indirect effect of perceived stress on health status through SOC was significant (B = - 3.42, 95% CI = - 5.2616, - 1.8906). There was also a significant indirect effect of perceived stress on health status through social support and SOC (B = - 1.28, 95% CI = - 2.1663, - 0.5992).

CONCLUSION

It is necessary to create strategies that enhance nursing graduate students' SOC and social support to reduce their perceived stress and to improve their health status.

Graduate Student Burnout: Substance Use, Mental Health, and the Moderating Role of Advisor Satisfaction

Substance use and mental health problems are associated with academic difficulties among high school and undergraduate students, but little research has been conducted on these relationships among graduate students. The sample consisted of 2,683 graduate students attending two large, public universities. Standard measures were used to collect data on demographic and program characteristics, mental health, substance use, advisor satisfaction, and burnout (i.e., exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy). Linear regression models evaluated relationships between each mental health and substance use variable with burnout, as well as the moderating role of advisor satisfaction. Students with a greater number of substance use and mental health problems had higher levels of exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy. No statistically significant relationships between substance use and burnout were found. High levels of stress, moderate or severe anxiety symptoms, and moderate or severe depressive symptoms were associated with increased levels of burnout. Advisor support moderated the relationships between stress and both cynicism and inefficacy such that the effects of stress on these dimensions of burnout were lower among those who were satisfied with their advisor. Graduate students with mental health problems might be at increased risk for burnout; however, having a supportive advisor might buffer this association.

Health-related impediments to learning among dental and oral surgery students

Dental education is a challenging experience that places significant demands on students' intellectual, financial, and psychosocial well-being. Dental students who simultaneously experience physical illness, emotional upset, or interpersonal difficulty may be at greater risk of experiencing negative academic consequences. It is well documented that stress affects student learning, however, the impact of other health concerns on academic success is less understood. The purpose of this manuscript is to document the prevalence and perceived academic impact of 24 health concerns on the academic performance of a sample of 130 undergraduate dental students as measured by the National College Health Assessment (NCHA). Health concerns that were most prevalent among dental students were generally also perceived to be most detrimental to their learning. These included upper respiratory infections (cold, flu, sore throat), interpersonal concerns (concerns about a troubled friend or family member, and relationship difficulty), and mental health issues (depression/anxiety/seasonal affective disorder, and stress).

Stress and Burnout Among Graduate Students: Moderation by Sleep Duration and Quality

BACKGROUND

There are high levels of stress among graduate students, and stress is associated with multiple negative outcomes among student populations, including academic burnout. Sleep could play an important role in explaining the association between stress and burnout, but these relationships have not been explored among the graduate student population. The current study assessed whether or not sleep duration and quality moderated the relationship between stress and burnout (i.e., exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy) among graduate students.

METHODS

A sample of 2683 master's, doctoral, and professional graduate students from two large, public universities completed an online survey. Linear regression models with interaction terms were developed to evaluate the relationships between stress and burnout while examining moderation by sleep duration and quality.

RESULTS

Participants slept an average of 6.4 h per night, with 62% indicating good sleep quality. Stress had significant, positive relationships with exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy. The relationship between stress and exhaustion lessened as sleep duration increased, and the relationship between stress and exhaustion was weaker among students with good sleep quality when compared with those with poor sleep quality. Neither sleep duration nor sleep quality moderated the relationships between stress and cynicism or stress and inefficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Improving sleep habits has the potential to lessen the negative association between stress and graduate student functioning. Future research utilizing longitudinal designs is needed to understand the temporality of these associations and the influence of possible co-factors like individual propensity for mental health problems and social support.

Factors influencing enrolled nursing students' academic performance at a selected private nursing education institution in KwaZulu-Natal

BACKGROUND

 The success of any educational institution is measured by its academic performance or how well students meet the standards set out. Currently, nursing students' academic failure is a phenomenon of growing international interest because of its economic impact and its negative effects on the availability of future nurses in different health care systems. Factors identified as influencing the academic performance of students include the socio-economic background of parents or guardians, lecturer-student relationships, academic support services, demographic factors, quality of nurse educators, availability of facilities in the school, the language of instruction and level of entry qualifications of students.

OBJECTIVES

 The purpose of this study was to describe the perceptions of enrolled student nurses on factors influencing their academic performance in a private nursing school in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

METHOD

 Data were collected from 100 respondents using an adapted instrument related to the factors believed to influence students' academic performance.

RESULTS

 The results showed that parental involvement in education, good and supportive relationships between nurse educators and students, classroom computer technological gadgets, internet connection and adequate learning facilities were perceived as fostering better academic performance of students. In contrast, poor family background, use of English language for classroom instruction as well as negative peer group influences were leading to poor academic performance.

CONCLUSION

 Nursing institutions should, therefore, select students with higher-level entry qualifications, early identify at-risk students, recruit more qualified nurse educators and upgrade their facilities.

Síndrome de Burnout entre mestrandos e doutorandos em enfermagem

Resumo Objetivo Investigar a ocorrência da síndrome de Burnout e identificar seus preditores entre mestrandos e doutorandos de Programas de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem. Métodos Estudo transversal analítico-descritivo realizado com 129 mestrandos e doutorandos de três universidades públicas. Os instrumentos de pesquisa foram: um questionário semiestruturado para caracterização dos participantes e o Maslach Burnout InventoryTM - Student Survey. Os dados foram analisados por estatística descritiva, inferencial e regressão linear múltipla. Resultados Constatou-se que 11,6% dos pós-graduandos possuíam indicativo para a síndrome de Burnout. As variáveis relacionadas à percepção deles sobre o curso e suas exigências foram as que mais contribuíram para a ocorrência das dimensões da síndrome. Insatisfação com o tema de pesquisa, menores percepções de apoio social e das oportunidades de lazer foram os principais preditores. Conclusão Houve indicativo do desenvolvimento da síndrome de Burnout na amostra pesquisada e as exigências do curso tiveram papel relevante entre os preditores da síndrome.

Utilization and limitations of the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment instrument: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the literature in which researchers have utilized the National College Health Assessment (NCHA) I or the NCHA II.

PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS

The authors selected peer-reviewed articles published between 2004 and July 2013 utilizing a single search term: National College Health Assessment. Articles were assessed for instrument use, limitations, and data analyses.

RESULTS

The search resulted in 72 articles for inclusion. Researchers used the instrument to either conduct a primary investigation or utilize reference group data for secondary analysis. Researchers used many data analyses, statistical tests, techniques, and methods. Limitations of the instrument were consistently mentioned by researchers.

CONCLUSIONS

Results indicate limitations in the NCHA. To ensure college health professionals are gaining the best information possible regarding students on their campuses, specific improvements to the NCHA are recommended.

Adaptação à pós-graduação stricto sensu: uma revisão sistemática de literatura

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo investigar exploratoriamente os fatores pessoais, relacionais e institucionais que são descritos na literatura como influências no processo de adaptação de estudantes de pós-graduação stricto sensu aos seus cursos. Realizou-se uma busca sistemática de estudos nacionais e internacionais sobre adaptação à pós-graduação publicados nos últimos 10 anos, por meio da combinação de diversos descritores. Optou-se por pesquisar artigos revisados por pares em periódicos científicos indexados no Portal de Periódicos da CAPES. Foram encontradas 177 publicações internacionais. Após a submissão dos artigos aos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, restaram 15 estudos, os quais constituíram a amostra final desta pesquisa. Constatou-se que a integração com a vida de pós-graduando depende, principalmente, do estabelecimento de uma relação gratificante entre orientador e orientando, ambientação com as normas e demandas do programa de pós-graduação e segurança financeira. Contudo, a temática carece de uma investigação mais aprofundada, principalmente em relação ao cenário da pós-graduação brasileira.

An evaluation of behavioral health compliance and microbial risk factors on student populations within a high-density campus

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this Canadian study was to assess student behavioral response to disease transmission risk, while identifying high microbial deposition/transmission sites.

PARTICIPANTS

A student survey was conducted during October 2009.

METHODS

The methods included a survey of students to assess use of health services, vaccination compliance, and hygiene along with a microbial analysis of potential transmission sites targeting specific residence buildings on campus.

RESULTS

Results indicated that most students maintained that they were worried about H1N1 and reported making changes in hygienic behavior, with the majority not planning to be vaccinated. The microbial analysis indicated contamination of fomites in co-ed residences to be higher than either male or female student residences.

CONCLUSIONS

A consideration of physical space along with behavioral factors is required in order to properly assess risk pathways in the establishment of an evidence-based infection control plan for universities and their contiguous communities.