Personal goal orientations and subjective well-being of adolescents

Assessment of food consumption, smoking, alcohol use, and physical activity by sex and major of study among a sample of college students in Jordan

This study aimed to assess the food frequency and health-related risk behaviors based on gender and major of study (health and non-health majors) in a sample of undergraduate university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 708 undergraduate university students (37.4% males; 62.6% females) with a mean age of 20.88(SD = 2.20), ranging from 18 to 37 years from five universities. A self-reported questionnaire was administered in the university classrooms to collect data. Results showed that 47.3% of students reported consuming fruits and vegetables (38.1%), and 54% reported consuming unhealthy foods at least once in the preceding 24 h. About 16% of the students were cigarette smokers, 17% were waterpipe smokers, and slightly more than 4% were alcohol consumers. Significant associations were found between the participants based on their sexes, and study majors (P < 0.001). Male students smoked and consumed alcohol at significantly higher rates than female students. As with regards to the physical activity in the preceding week, students had not carried out any stretching activities (52.8%), strengthening activities (62.4%), cycling (35%), or taken part in any physical activity classes (68.4%). The rates of physical activity were significantly higher among male students than female students (p < 0.001). The results showed that non-health major students differ from those in health majors in the consumption of cigarettes (p < 0.001) and waterpipe smoking (p = 0.027). Students in non-health majors were more likely than students in health majors to have carried out stretching activities (p = 0.021) and participated in physical activity classes (p = 0.02). Our findings highlighted the importance of identifying health-related risk behaviors among university students to develop a health-promoting intervention tailored to a specific group of students considering their sex and study majors.

Cooperation and conflict in romantic partners' personal projects: the role of life domains

Personal projects represent a person's pursuits in different life domains. The present study examines the orientations of adults' personal projects and how these orientations are embedded in the dynamics of romantic relationships. Cross-sectional data from 249 married or cohabitating Hungarian heterosexual couples were collected (mean age 42 ± 10.76 and 39.64 ± 10.21 years for male and female partners, respectively). An adapted version of the Personal Project Assessment procedure was completed by both partners individually. Four of their chosen projects were evaluated based on perceived cooperation and conflict regarding these projects and other predefined aspects. First, after applying a person-oriented approach, four meaningful content domains emerged from the thematically coded data using cluster analysis: (1) Practical, (2) Work-Life Balance, (3) Relationships, and (4) Learning and Growth orientations. For both genders, people with Learning and Growth orientation were younger than those with Practical orientation, and among women, the Work-Life Balance orientation group was older. Second, we linked the content domains to relationship experiences on the dyadic level. Both partners with Learning and Growth orientation goals perceived less cooperation. Female partners whose spouses had Work-Life Balance or Learning and Growth orientation goals perceived less conflict regarding their own goals. Overall, Learning and Growth-oriented goals can be considered more distant from the dynamics of romantic relationships because they involve fewer joint experiences and less cooperation and conflict.

The association of self-esteem and psychosocial outcomes in young adults: a 10-year prospective study

BACKGROUND

This study investigates the association between self-esteem assessed either in adolescence or in adulthood with adult academic and psychosocial outcomes.

METHOD

One hundred and thirty-one junior high school students were selected based on their experience of academic difficulty or success, and both groups were selected equally from regular or low-performing schools. Ten years later, 100 of these individuals participated in a follow-up assessment of academic, socioprofessional, and health-related outcomes. Logistic and linear regression models were performed to estimate the association of self-esteem (measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale) at baseline and at follow-up, as well as change in self-esteem categories (high vs. low) on all outcomes.

RESULTS

Fifty-four percent of adolescents were consistently high in self-esteem over the 10-year period, 17% experienced an improvement, 21% a decrease, and 8% stayed at a low level. Outcomes at follow-up were more consistently associated with young adult self-esteem than adolescent self-esteem. Self-esteem was associated with several outcomes (i.e., personal goals, life satisfaction, alcohol, and health outcomes) and its effects were different depending on the period considered and categories of self-esteem change.

CONCLUSIONS

The self-esteem difficulties which are common in adolescence raise concerns about their potential impact on important outcomes later in life. However, self-esteem difficulties in young adulthood were more associated with negative outcomes at this phase of life (whether low self-esteem persisted into adulthood, or emerged only during adulthood). Relative to outcomes in young adulthood, the period of greatest interest for improving well-being may be concentrated in the years immediately surrounding the studied outcomes.

KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE

Self-esteem change from adolescent to adulthood is associated with a large diversity of outcomes. Less is known concerning the extent to which adolescent self-esteem may independently determine outcomes in young adulthood as compared to more temporally proximal self-esteem levels. Only self-esteem difficulties in young adulthood were associated with negative outcomes at this phase of life (whether they persisted from adolescence into adulthood, or emerged for the first time during adulthood). Targeting self-esteem difficulties that are temporally proximal to the period of interest may improve mental health and well-being.

The Relationship between Children’s Aspiration Profiles and Self-Efficacy, Life Satisfaction, and Academic Achievement

Limited research in the psychology literature has addressed the specifics of children’s future orientations. Using a thematic approach, the present study investigates children’s personal aspirations for their adult lives via a questionnaire that addressed (1) the types of aspiration profiles present in a sample of 456 Italian students aged 8–13 and balanced for gender, and (2) how these profiles differ according to demographics, the number of aspirations, academic and social self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and academic achievement. Using cluster analysis, three aspiration profiles emerged, which include individualistic (focused on the possible future self), independent (concentrated on one’s own future family and independence), and social (focused on future friends and the family of origin). The independent profile demonstrated better overall psychological and academic adjustment than did the other two profiles. The article discusses the results of the study using the framework of self-determination theory in the context of Italian society.

Depression, anxiety, and stress among college students in Jordan and their need for mental health services

INTRODUCTION

Psychological distress (in the form of depression, anxiety, and stress) among college students is prevalent and increasing. In most instances, college students with mental health issues are not seeking treatment. Although not a new phenomenon, little progress has been made toward promoting students' use of mental health services in Jordan.

AIM

To measure depression, anxiety, and stress among college students in Jordan and explore their awareness of available mental health services.

METHODS

A convenience sample (n = 600) was tested using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Students answered questions concerning the use of campus mental health services.

RESULTS

Findings showed college students have a moderate level of depression, severe level of anxiety, and a moderate level of stress. Half were not aware that psychological support services were available, although 54.4% indicated they experienced problems.

CONCLUSION

Similar results have been reported in non-Arab countries. Anxiety appears to be high in college students worldwide. Strategies are needed to promote awareness of resources and encourage access. Nurses are ideally suited for promoting awareness among students on seeking help. They are also needed to screen students for mental health problems and provide counseling as needed.

Intentional Engagement in the Transition to Adulthood

Abstract. During the transition to adulthood, young people need to choose their career and overall life pathway and cope successfully with the transitions they face. The theories of personal identity development ( Luyckx, Goossens, Soenens, & Beyers, 2006 ; Luyckx et al., 2008 ), career development ( Savickas, 2005 ), and goal developmental regulation ( Nurmi, 2004 ; Salmela-Aro, 2009 ) address the question of how people commit and engage in the changes faced during the transition from adolescence to adulthood, and particularly how they deal with educational and occupational transitions. We reviewed how each of these theories discusses both adaptive and maladaptive processes during the transition to adulthood, including such themes as the feeling of competent, exploring choices, crystallizing and making decision, forming certainty, managing transition, changing direction and rumination. We propose that these theories are in fact presenting different perspectives on the same developmental process of intentional engagement. Finally, suggestions for future research and intervention outcomes are discussed.

What telomeres say about activity and health: A rapid review: Ce que les télomères révèlent au sujet de l'activité et de la santé : revue rapide

BACKGROUND.

Empirical studies on occupation as a determinant of health could be advanced with research incorporating biological measures of health. Telomere length and telomerase function are promising biomarkers of the interaction of genetics, lifestyle, and behaviour; however, they have not been used in occupational therapy research.

PURPOSE.

This paper reviews current evidence on the role of physical and mindfulness activities in sustaining telomeres. The findings are applied to the study of occupation, health, and aging.

METHOD.

A rapid review was conducted with an evidence synthesis of 23 studies published from 2008 to 2014.

FINDINGS.

Mindfulness activities may preserve telomeres, slow cell senescence and death, and sustain health through mediating life stressors. Inconsistencies exist for the effect of physical activities on telomeres.

IMPLICATIONS.

Similar research examining a range of occupations may help to identify the health-promoting benefits of occupation and inform lifestyle interventions.

Goal adjustment strategies operationalised and empirically examined in adolescents with cancer

Adolescents facing cancer may need to adjust their personal life goals. Theories identified several goal adjustment strategies, but their use has not been tested. Therefore, this study operationalises goal adjustment strategies and examines their use. Adolescent cancer patients listed their goals 3 and 12 months post-diagnosis. Goals received scores on five goal characteristics: life domain, level of abstraction, importance, attainability and effort. Results showed that adolescents with cancer (N = 30, mean age: 14.2 years, 60% female) used four of five strategies described in theory, while one additional strategy was found. These findings suggest that adolescents with cancer use goal adjustment strategies as measured by goal characteristics over time.