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Chim K, Lai JTC, Chan BTY. Embedding positive psychology into curriculum to promote posttraumatic growth, psychological flexibility, and socio-emotional competencies in higher education. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1450192. [PMID: 39399264 PMCID: PMC11466883 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1450192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 10/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The benefits of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) have become increasingly popular. While there is an emerging evidence base on the effectiveness of applying positive psychology in curriculum as preventive, early mental health intervention for higher education students, little is known about the content and pedagogy in these promising courses. Objective This article describes (a) the rationale for and development of a positive psychology course embedded into the curriculum that aims to foster posttraumatic growth, psychological flexibility, and socio-emotional competencies for higher education students; and (b) a mixed-method non-randomised pre-post study to evaluate the effectiveness of the positive psychology course in achieving positive participant outcomes. Methods Higher education students from different disciplines will be enrolled to a general education course, "Positive Psychology and Personal Growth", where they will learn progressive topics and complete summative assessments related to key areas in positive psychology. In addition to lectures, participants will engage in constructivist-based experiential activities that are guided by research on PPIs, life-design interventions and constructivist learning principles. The primary outcome is posttraumatic growth, and the secondary outcomes are psychological flexibility, and socio-emotional competencies. Expected results We hypothesised that after the curriculum-embedded PPI, participants will have significantly higher levels of posttraumatic growth, psychological flexibility, and socio-emotional competencies. Results derived from the questionnaire survey will be supported by corroborating evidence identified from qualitative analysis of participants' summative assessments and follow-up semi-structured interviews on their perceptions of the present course. Discussion The current study will fill in a gap in existing intervention research and practise in curriculum-embedded PPIs and promote research transparency and pedagogical advancement. The intervention provides guidance and recommendations for educators to consider embedding positive psychology into the formal curriculum as cost-effective, low-intensity, structured, and sustainable educational interventions for higher education students.
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Russell PD, Blessing A, Morissette SB. The Indirect Influence of Cannabis Use Disorder Symptoms on PTSD Symptom Severity Through Psychological Inflexibility. Subst Use Misuse 2024; 59:1895-1900. [PMID: 39104206 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2024.2383979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Background: One in five college students (21%) report using cannabis in the past month, and approximately 10% develop cannabis use disorder (CUD). Further, college students have high rates of trauma exposure, and CUD is prospectively linked to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Given the high rate of co-occurrence, research is needed to understand transdiagnostic, modifiable factors that could account for the relationship between CUD and PTSD. Psychological inflexibility (PI) is one such factor and refers to difficulty adapting thoughts or behaviors to various situations that reflect of one's personal values. Objectives: PI predicts worse PTSD symptom severity and has been established as a maintaining factor between alcohol use and PTSD, albeit no studies have examined this relationship with CUD. Results: College students (N = 336) completed self-report measures of CUD, PI, and PTSD. A cross-sectional mediation model explained 54% of the variance in PTSD symptom severity, F(5, 330) = 78.86, p < .001. After controlling for age, gender, and probable alcohol use disorder, CUD was not directly associated with PTSD symptom severity, yet was indirectly associated with PTSD through higher PI. Specifically, CUD was associated with higher PI (b = 0.31, p < .05, 95% CI [0.07, 0.54]), and higher PI was associated with greater PTSD symptom severity (b = 1.07, p < .001, 95% CI [0.95, 1.19]). Conclusion: Although CUD has been previously linked with worse PTSD symptoms, results suggest that this occurs through PI. Importantly, PI is malleable, and may be an important treatment target for co-occurring CUD and PTSD in college students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia D Russell
- Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center for Suicide Prevention, Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Alexis Blessing
- Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center for Suicide Prevention, Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Sandra B Morissette
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
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Tunç E, Orak OS. The impact of a "clinical adaptation psychoeducation program" grounded in the psychological flexibility model on perceived stress and coping behaviors among nursing students: A randomized controlled experimental study. NURSE EDUCATION TODAY 2024; 139:106230. [PMID: 38703533 DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2024.106230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical adaptation psychoeducation program grounded psychological flexibility model (PFMCAP) is consisting of six areas, fills a large gap in the literature regarding the effect of nursing students on perceived stress and coping behaviors in the clinical process. OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of PFMCAP on perceived stress and coping behaviors of nursing students. DESIGN This was a simple randomized controlled experimental pre-posttest design. SETTING This study was conducted with 66 first-year students studying in the nursing department of a university in Türkiye. METHODS A simple randomization method (computer-generated random number table) was used. Data were collected with "Sociodemographic Data Form", "Perceived Stress Scale for Nursing Students (PSSNS)" and "Stress-Coping Behaviors Scale for Nursing Students (SCBNS)". PFMCAP was conducted online with first-year nursing students, consisting of a total of six sessions, each lasting 90 min. Data were analyzed using percentiles and frequency distributions, and two-way mixed ANOVA one week after the completion of the PFMCAP. RESULTS There was no significant difference between the groups of descriptive characteristics (p > 0.05). Post-test measurements of students in the experimental group's PSSNS total and sub-dimension scores had a significant decrease compared to the control group (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in the post-test SCBNS total scores of the students (p > 0.05). However, there was a significant increase in the post-test SCBNS-Staying Optimistic sub-dimension scores in the experimental group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The impact of PFMCAP on nursing students' perceived stress levels was not limited to only reducing stress levels; it also contributed to an increase in the students' levels of optimism. These findings demonstrate the potential of PFMCAP in supporting nursing students during the clinical adaptation process. It is observed that the integration of PFMCAP into nursing education could assist nursing students in better adapting to clinical practices and effectively managing stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ercan Tunç
- Ondokuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing/Psychiatric Nursing, Turkey.
| | - Oya Sevcan Orak
- Ondokuz Mayıs University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing/Psychiatric Nursing, Turkey
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Marchand WR, Sullivan-Sakaeda L, Lackner R, Taplin D, Nazarenko E. A replication study of a psychotherapy incorporating horses resiliency intervention for healthcare workers. Complement Ther Med 2023; 76:102965. [PMID: 37473927 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The first aim of this pilot observational study was to replicate a previous study of a resiliency psychotherapy incorporating horses (PIH) intervention for healthcare workers. The second aim was to address some gaps in the literature regarding equine-assisted services more broadly. DESIGN Prospective open trial. SETTING A large healthcare system and a community equine facility INTERVENTION: A single-session four-hour intervention that focused on participants resilience. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Safety, feasibility, and utilization were assessed, and psychological instruments were administered. Instruments utilized were the Positive and Negative Affect Scale the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II, and the Conner-Davidson Resiliency Scale. RESULTS Thirty-eight subjects participated in the study, the majority of which were female (71.1 %). The age group with the most representation included those ranging from age 25-34. The intervention was safe but underutilized. Participation was associated with improved psychological flexibility (PF), and positive affect, as well as reduction in negative affect pre- to post-intervention. There was no change in resiliency and there were no associations between improvements in affect and PF. CONCLUSIONS Resiliency PIH interventions for healthcare workers can be utilized safely and likely result in short-term psychological benefits for participants. Future randomized controlled investigations are warranted, and these studies should implement methods to maximize utilization. Additionally, this study and the literature suggest that enhanced affect and PF are likely important EAS outcomes across a variety of interventions. These constructs should be investigated with more rigorous studies including comparisons of interventions with and without a psychotherapy component.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Marchand
- VISN 19 Whole Health Flagship site, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, 501 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA; Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, 4815 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA.
| | | | - Ryan Lackner
- VISN 19 Whole Health Flagship site, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA
| | - Dylan Taplin
- VISN 19 Whole Health Flagship site, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA
| | - Elena Nazarenko
- VISN 19 Whole Health Flagship site, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA
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Marchand WR, Smith J, Hoopes KH, Osborne M, Andersen SJ, Bell K, Nazarenko E, Macneill R, Joubert K. A pilot observational study of horsemanship skills training for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Complement Ther Med 2023; 72:102910. [PMID: 36535458 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Pilot assessment of an equine-assisted services intervention for Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. DESIGN Prospective cohort. SETTING A large Veterans Administration healthcare system. INTERVENTION Two sessions of instruction in horsemanship skills and two sessions of trail rides. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Safety and feasibility of recruitment, retention, providing the intervention, and measuring outcomes, as well as acceptability of the intervention to the population studied were the main outcome measures. RESULTS There were no injuries among the 18 participants, 6 staff, or 11 equines over the 3 months of the study. Eleven of 12 (92 %) planned intervention sessions were provided, with one being canceled due to weather. Out of approximately 1800 potential subjects, 21 were enrolled within three months and three dropped out before the first session. The mean number of sessions attended was 3 % and 52 % of participants completed all sessions. The mean PACES score for all sessions together was 109 (SD = 12), with a range of 50-126. Pre- to one-month post-intervention exploratory results indicated increased psychological flexibility (p = 0.008) and positive affect (p = 0.008) as measured by the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, respectively as well as decreased PTSD (p = 0.001) and depressive symptoms (p = 0.017) as measured by the PTSD Checklist for DSM 5 and the Beck Depression Inventory, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest the intervention can be conducted with minimal risk. Further, it was feasible to recruit participants as well as provide the intervention and measure exploratory outcomes. Session attendance and PACES scores indicate acceptability to the Veteran population. The exploratory results will provide sample size estimates for future randomized controlled studies of this intervention Future studies should plan for missed sessions due to weather and consider compensating subjects to enhance retention. Finally, this work provides preliminary evidence that this intervention, without a mental health treatment component, might benefit the mental health of Veterans with PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Marchand
- VISN 19 Whole Health Flagship Site, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, 501 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA; Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, 4815 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA.
| | - Judy Smith
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, 4815 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Karl H Hoopes
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, 4815 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Makenna Osborne
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, 4815 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Sarah J Andersen
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, 4815 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Kylie Bell
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, 4815 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Elena Nazarenko
- VISN 19 Whole Health Flagship Site, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA
| | - Rachel Macneill
- Mental Health Service, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA
| | - Katryna Joubert
- Mental Health Service, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA
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Marchand WR, Sullivan-Sakaeda L. A pilot observational study of a psychotherapy incorporating equines resiliency intervention for staff at a large medical center. Complement Ther Clin Pract 2022; 49:101660. [PMID: 35988323 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND and purpose: Stress and burnout among healthcare workers are significant public health concerns. The primary aim of this pilot study was to conduct preliminary assessments of safety, feasibility, and participant satisfaction with a psychotherapy incorporating equines (PIE)-based resiliency intervention for healthcare workers. The overarching goal was to lay the groundwork for future, more rigorous investigations. Lastly, a very preliminary assessment of using the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II (AAQII) to assess for changes in psychological flexibility (PF) associated with PIE was conducted. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-seven staff members from a medical center participated in a 4-h PIE-based resiliency retreat. Pre- and post-intervention instruments were utilized to assess participants' self-perception of physical and psychological health (PROMIS Global Short Form) and enjoyment of (Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale) and satisfaction with (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire) the intervention, as well as changes in PF (AAQII). RESULTS There were no adverse effects on participants, staff, or equines. Preliminary results suggested that the intervention was perceived as enjoyable by participants. However, the intervention was not fully utilized. Finally, there was a significant (p = 0.02) pre-to post-intervention change in AAQII scores. CONCLUSION This study provides a foundation for future rigorous studies of PIE-based resiliency interventions for medical staff. Given the limitations of this pilot work, firm conclusions cannot be drawn regarding safety and feasibility. However, the preliminary results suggest that future studies of this intervention are warranted and that the AAQII may be a useful instrument to assess for possible changes in PF.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Marchand
- VISN 19 Whole Health Flagship Site, Located at VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, 500 Foothill Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84148, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah, 501 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA; Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, 0500 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322, USA.
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Wang Y, Zhang X. Influence of Parental Psychological Flexibility on Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy and Coping Style. Front Psychol 2021; 12:783401. [PMID: 34956003 PMCID: PMC8692367 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.783401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Pediatric COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy hinders the establishment of immune barrier in children. Psychological flexibility may be a key contributing factor to pediatric COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, and self-efficacy and coping style play an important role in the relationship, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on parents from June 2021 to July 2021. A total of 382 parents were recruited for an online-investigation. Serial mediation models were used to examine whether self-efficacy and coping style mediated in the psychological flexibility-pediatric COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy linkage. Result: Psychological flexibility was negatively related to pediatric COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (r = −0.198, P < 0.001). Coping styles rather than self-efficacy played a mediating role independently (95% CI: −0.263 to −0.058). Serial mediation analyses indicated that self-efficacy and coping style co-play a serial mediating role in the association of psychological flexibility and pediatric COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (95% CI: −0.037 to −0.001). Conclusion: The present study showed that high psychological flexibility, high self-efficacy, and positive coping style were conducive to the lower pediatric COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyi Wang
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinping Zhang
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Viskovich S, Pakenham KI, Fowler JA. A mixed-methods evaluation of experiential intervention exercises for values and committed action from an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) mental health promotion program for university students. JOURNAL OF CONTEXTUAL BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcbs.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Hailikari T, Katajavuori N, Asikainen H. Understanding procrastination: A case of a study skills course. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF EDUCATION 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11218-021-09621-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
AbstractProcrastination is consistently viewed as problematic to academic success and students’ general well-being. There are prevailing questions regarding the underlying and maintaining mechanisms of procrastination which are yet to be learnt. The aim of the present study was to combine different ways to explain procrastination and explore how students’ time and effort management skills, psychological flexibility and academic self-efficacy are connected to procrastination as they have been commonly addressed separately in previous studies. The data were collected from 135 students who participated in a voluntary time management and well-being course in autumn 2019. The results showed that students’ ability to organize their time and effort has the strongest association with procrastination out of the variables included in the study. Psychological flexibility also has a strong individual role in explaining procrastination along with time and effort management skills. Surprisingly, academic self-efficacy did not have a direct association with procrastination. Interestingly, our findings further suggest that time and effort management and psychological flexibility are closely related and appear to go hand in hand and, thus, both need to be considered when the aim is to reduce procrastination. The implications of the findings are further discussed.
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Dolcos S, Hu Y, Williams C, Bogdan PC, Hohl K, Berenbaum H, Dolcos F. Cultivating Affective Resilience: Proof-of-Principle Evidence of Translational Benefits From a Novel Cognitive-Emotional Training Intervention. Front Psychol 2021; 12:585536. [PMID: 33767643 PMCID: PMC7985085 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.585536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Available evidence highlights the importance of emotion regulation (ER) in psychological well-being. However, translation of the beneficial effects of ER from laboratory to real-life remains scarce. Here, we present proof-of-principle evidence from a novel cognitive-emotional training intervention targeting the development of ER skills aimed at increasing resilience against emotional distress. This pilot intervention involved training military veterans over 5-8 weeks in applying two effective ER strategies [Focused Attention (FA) and Cognitive Reappraisal (CR)] to scenarios presenting emotional conflicts (constructed with both external and internal cues). Training was preceded and followed by neuropsychological, personality, and clinical assessments, and resting-state functional MRI data were also collected from a subsample of the participants. Results show enhanced executive function and psychological well-being following training, reflected in increased working memory (WM), post-traumatic growth (PTG), and general self-efficacy (GSE). Brain imaging results showed evidence of diminished bottom-up influences from emotional and perceptual brain regions, along with evidence of normalized functional connectivity in the large-scale functional networks following training. The latter was reflected in increased connectivity among cognitive and emotion control regions and across regions of self-referential and control networks. Overall, our results provide proof-of-concept evidence that resilience and well-being can be learned through ER training, and that training-related improvements manifested in both behavioral change and neuroplasticity can translate into real-life benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanda Dolcos
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Yifan Hu
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Christian Williams
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Paul C. Bogdan
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Kelly Hohl
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Howard Berenbaum
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Florin Dolcos
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
- Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
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Asikainen H, Katajavuori N. Development of a Web-Based Intervention Course to Promote Students' Well-Being and Studying in Universities: Protocol for an Experimental Study Design. JMIR Res Protoc 2021; 10:e23613. [PMID: 33687336 PMCID: PMC7988393 DOI: 10.2196/23613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The decline in the well-being among university students well as increasing dropouts has become a serious issue in universities around the world. Thus, effective ways to support students' well-being and their ability to study are highly needed. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to build an intervention course for university students, which promotes both students' well-being as well as their learning and study skills, and to describe the experimental study design that explores the effects of this intervention course. METHODS Research has shown that psychological flexibility has a great effect on the well-being as well as the study skills of students pursuing higher education. The basis of our intervention course was to promote psychological flexibility and students' study skills with the help of peer support and reflection. RESULTS This course was offered as a voluntary course to all the students at the University of Helsinki twice during the academic year 2020-2021. The first course was from October to December and the second course was from January to March. This course was advertised in fall 2020 through social media and by different student organizations and program leaders at different faculties of the University of Helsinki. As of October 2020, we enrolled 566 students comprising 310 students for the course in fall 2020 and 256 students for the course in spring 2021. Of the 256 students who enrolled in the second course, 170 students voluntarily participated in this study and they answered the questionnaires, including all the measures, simultaneously with the participants in the first group and thus served as the control group. The effect of this course will be measured with multiple data, including questionnaire data, reflective journals, and physiological data of well-being with a longitudinal experimental design. This research very strictly follows the ethical guidelines drawn up by the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity. We expect to publish the results of this study in fall 2021 at the latest. CONCLUSIONS We argue that a web-based, 8-week intervention course, which promotes both student well-being and their study skills, is a good way to support students pursuing higher education, and both aspects should be considered when supporting university students. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/23613.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henna Asikainen
- Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nina Katajavuori
- Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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