Psychology Commons^™

Application Of The Transtheoretical Model Of Change To Saving Behaviors Of College Students, Benjamin Franklin Cummings

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Using the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) of change (Prochaska & Di Clemente, 1982) as a guide to analyze financial behavior, college students were asked a variety of questions about their financial situations. Recruited from undergraduate classes at Utah State University, 112 students took the online survey. Surprisingly, 44.4% of participants reported being in the Maintenance stage of the TTM, and 71.2% reported contributing at least monthly to some sort of savings or investment account. In terms of Financial Planning Personality Type (Lown, 2007), 46.3% of respondents were Planners and 23.1% were Savers. Though the study displays limitations, it begs further investigation …

The Importance Of Gender And Readiness To Change In The Prediction Of Drinking And Negative Consequences Of First-Year Student Drinkers, Margot E. Ackermann

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

College drinking is widespread, and binge drinkers can experience serious consequences. The present study examined the effectiveness of two interventions, expressive writing and behavioral monitoring, as well a combined condition, in reducing drinking and negative consequences associated with drinking. Gender differences and differences in readiness to change binge drinking were also assessed. Participants (N = 97) completed a pretest, eight weekly intervention activities, and a posttest during their first semester of college. An ANOVA tested the hypothesis that individuals higher in readiness to change binge drinking participated in more of the weekly intervention activities; this hypothesis was not supported. A …

College Students Online: An Exploration Of The Benefits And Risks Of Social Networking Sites, Catherine Blair Parker Butler

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the benefits and risks of social networking sites. College students' general use of social networking sites was described and the relationship between social networking sites and friendship development, disclosure, social intimacy, and cyberstalking was explored. Also, whether or not university personnel discussed the sites with students was determined. Of the 612 participants, 498 students were social networking site members. Frequency data showed that students' most often logged onto the sites from a personal home computer and typically logged onto the sites multiple times a day. Frequency data also revealed that the number …

The Correlation Between The Eating Attitudes Test And Body Shape Questionnaire, Maren L. Kanekoa

Theses and Dissertations

This research examined the relationship between eating attitudes and body image dissatisfaction using the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) and the Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Three cohorts of almost 2,000 undergraduate females from Brigham Young University were given the EAT and BSQ twice a year for two to four years, depending upon their year of entrance to BYU. The data collected were analyzed using correlational statistics. Results indicated that a high positive correlation between the EAT and BSQ existed across semesters and cohorts.

College Students' Concerns Regarding Prison Rape, Laura A. Rapp

Sociology & Criminal Justice Theses & Dissertations

Abstract unavailable.

Cell Phone Usage And Autonomy In College Students, Jonathon Lassiter, Jessica Hill, Kelli Fain, Kevin Lamb

The Corinthian

This study aimed to determine cell phone usage differences in dependency upon family and friends between upper division (3rd & 4th year undergraduates) and lower division (1st & 2nd year undergraduates) males and females. Subjects consisted of 270 students at a public liberal arts university in the southeastern United States. Participants in the study were administered an online survey that consisted of 31 questions assessing their cell phone usage. Cell phone usage in this study was defined as engaging in verbal communication on a cellular phone. Dependency was measured by the number of calls and length of calls one reportedly …

Partying Before The Party: Examining Prepartying Behavior Among College Students, Eric R. Pedersen, Joseph W. Labrie

Heads Up!

Objective:

The authors examined the phenomenon known to college students as prepartying, which is the consumption of alcohol prior to attending an event or activity (eg, party, bar, concert) at which more alcohol may be consumed.

Participants:

To explore the extent of this behavior, the authors surveyed 227 college students about each drinking event over a 1-month period.

Results:

Principal results revealed that 64% of participants engaged in prepartying (75% of drinkers) and that prepartying is involved in approximately 45% of all drinking events. Prepartying was predictive of more drinking throughout the day of the drinking event and alcohol-related …

The Role Of Drinking Motives In Social Anxiety And Alcohol Use, Lindsay S. Ham, Michel Bonin, Debra A. Hope

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

Although social anxiety and problem drinking commonly co-occur, the relationship between social anxiety and drinking among college students is not well understood. The current study examined the relationship between drinking motives, or reasons for drinking, and social anxiety in 239 volunteers. Contrary to hypotheses, high (n = 83), moderate (n = 90), and low (n = 66) social anxiety groups did not differ in endorsement of coping and conformity drinking motives. Further, social anxiety was negatively related to weekly alcohol use and unrelated to alcohol-related problems. Post hoc hierarchical multiple regression analyses conducted for each social anxiety …

Drinking Game Participation Among College Students: Gender And Ethnic Implications, Eric R. Pedersen, Joseph W. Labrie

Heads Up!

Participation in drinking games by college students has recently sparked research attention. While previous research indicates that women play drinking games at lower frequencies than men, the current study reveals that college women may be playing games at rates similar to college men. In a sample of 105 coed college students, participants completed a 3-month Timeline Followback recording every drinking event and quantity consumed. They then were prompted to identify which drinking events involved drinking games and how much alcohol was consumed during game playing. Both men and women engaged in drinking games at similar rates and consumed more drinks …

Eating Disorder Risk In Subgroups Of College Freshman Women, Karen E. Gochnour

Theses and Dissertations

The intent of this study was to identify subgroups within the college population having a heightened risk for eating disorders. The information for this analysis was retrieved from an existing data set. The two variables that were compared were self selection of college major at the initial collection during freshman year. The sample size of 1,924 was used to see if subgroups of college majors had a heightened risk. Twenty groups composed of similar majors were studied. The majors of Dance, Dietetics, Physical Education, and Communications had heightened risk according to analysis percentage of each group in the clinical range …

Sleep Quality Of College Students And Its Relationship To Coping Styles And Well-Being, Cathy Alison Word

Doctoral Dissertations

College students suffer from more sleep disturbances than the general population. Sleep difficulties in college students can lead to lower levels of performance, memory, and cognitive ability, as well as increased levels of anxiety and decreased levels of well-being. Sleep quality is known to impact individuals' physical and psychological health, which are indicators of well-being. Sleep also appears to influence individuals' choices of coping strategies. Sleep quality is also highly correlated with college students' emotional response to stress. The relationships between and among sleep quality, well-being, and coping style have not been fully examined. The purpose of this study was …

Stress And Health Behavior Among College Students, Lindsey Dorflinger

Honors Theses

The effect of stress and gender on health behavior, as well as the association amongst health behaviors, was examined. Past research has shown that stress can lead to higher levels of abnormal eating behaviors and attitudes, lower levels of exercise participation, and increased risk of smoking; studies have shown some gender differences as well. Seventy-eight college students completed questionnaires about stress, disordered eating, physical activity, and smoking status. Results showed that higher levels of stress were associated with higher levels of disordered eating, and that females have more abnormal eating attitudes and behaviors than males. Higher levels of exercise are …

Hours Worked Versus Academic Grades In College Students, Erin Ferguson, Shelly Fuess

Undergraduate Psychology Research Methods Journal

A students’ grade point average has a huge impact on the life of a student. This study proved that the amount of hours worked is not reflective of the students’ grade point average which proved our hypothesis incorrect. Past studies have shown varied results on grade point average and the amount of hours a student works. Individual differences may be a determining factor in considering how the individual balances work and school. There were sixty participates in this study from Lindenwood University. The results of this study showed a negative correlation of -.043 between the two variables.

Co-Rumination And Depression In College Students, Maurita M. Burns

Honors Theses

Studies concerning depression consistently reveal higher levels in women than men. One explanation for this is that women and men cope with depressive emotions differently. While women tend to focus on their negative emotions and the causes and consequences of these feelings, men are more likely to engage in distracting, active behavior. The persistent self focus on negative emotions, rumination, has been found to prolong and exacerbate feelings of depression (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991). At the same time, women tend to have more intimate and close friendships characterized by self-disclosure than men. While such intimate relationships theoretically provide social support that can …

Reducing Heavy Drinking In College Males With The Decisional Balance: Analyzing An Element Of Motivational Interviewing, Joseph W. Labrie, Eric R. Pedersen, Mitch Earleywine, Hutson Olsen

Heads Up!

The decisional balance, a brief detailing of the advantages and disadvantages of behavior change, serves as a key component to interventions in Motivational Interviewing. The impact of this component alone is not well understood. Forty-seven men completed a Timeline Followback interview assessing alcohol consumption and unsafe sexual practices. They then completed a decisional balance, listing the Pros and Cons of decreasing their drinking, but not one for safer sex. One-month follow-up data showed that they had statistically significant and clinically meaningful increases in their motivation to alter drinking and decreases in the number of drinks that they intended to drink, …

Comparing Electronic-Keypad Responses To Paper-And-Pencil Questionnaires In Group Assessments Of Alcohol Consumption And Related Attitudes, Joseph W. Labrie, Mitch Earleywine, Toby Lamb, Kristin Shelesky

Heads Up!

Electronic versions of questionnaires have the potential to improve research and interventions in the addictions. Administering questionnaires electronically to groups, however, has proven difficult without a multitude of computers, but gathering data electronically from a group could make for easy assessment and quick feedback. Using a sample of 107 college students, we examined the validity of wireless keypad survey responses by comparing them to traditional paper-and-pencil questionnaires. The two formats led to almost identical responses that did not differ significantly from each other (all effect sizes less than g =.15) and high correlations between formats. The wireless, handheld keypad procedure …

Longitudinal Course Of Eating Disorder Risk Among Undergraduate Females At Brigham Young University, Erin Blue Winters

Theses and Dissertations

This research study examined the prevalence rates and longitudinal course of eating disorder risk among undergraduate females at BYU, and compared the identified prevalence rates at BYU with identified rates at other colleges and universities. Almost 2,000 undergraduate females, in three cohort groups, filled out the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) once a semester for four to eight semesters. Clinical cut-off scores were used to determine what percentage of participants were at high risk for eating disordered behaviors and symptomology. Overall eating disorder risk prevalence rates at BYU ranged from 9-11%. These rates were significantly lower than identified rates at other …

Effects Of Anti- And Pro-Smoking Campaigns On The Prevalence Of Smoking In College Students, Jennifer Campbell, Pamela Newcombe, Angela Radford

Undergraduate Psychology Research Methods Journal

This study sought to show relationships between anti- and pro-smoking advertisement campaigns and the prevalence of smoking among college students. A total of 102 undergraduate students from Lindenwood University participated in the survey, which contained questions regarding family, friends, personal non-smoking and smoking habits, and the number and type of anti- and pro-smoking ads viewed. The researchers obtained informed consent, distributed the survey, and debriefed each participant after completion of the survey. The statistical analysis of the data did not show any relationships between exposure to ads and the prevalence of smoking. However, exposure to pro-smoking advertisements did affect brand …

The Correlation Of Working College Students And Their Grade Point Average, Latasha Stepps, Chandra Brown

Undergraduate Psychology Research Methods Journal

Students that work while in school have higher grade point averages than students who do not work. The number of students that work while in college has increased over the years. In this study 28 participants were asked to full out a ten question survey that pertaining to the number of hours they worked and their academic performance. Then the results were compared to determine the correlation between the student grade point average and the number of hours they worked. The results found that there was a positive correlation between the two. It seemed that the more hours the students …

A Study Of Self-Esteem And Grade Point Average (Gpa) Among College Students, Erin K. Bowen, Carl A. Hicks

Undergraduate Psychology Research Methods Journal

The study examined the possible relationship between self-esteem and grade point average (GPA) held by college students. One hundred forty college students completed a survey, through the Human Subject Pool, as well as at the end of five separate classes, to determine their level of self-esteem as well as to obtain their permission to view their GPA anonymously. Results suggest that there is a positive relationship between selfesteem and grade point average

Self-Esteen Levels In Relation To Grade Point Average, Patrick Wilson

Undergraduate Psychology Research Methods Journal

This study is designed to show a relationship between self-esteem and grade point average (GPA) among college students. Undergraduate college students from Lindenwood University participated in this study. The survey used in this study was designed by J.J. Messina (1999) containing questions a subject’s family, personal, social, and educational life. The students were asked if they would like to participate in a survey randomly. Upon completion of the survey and informed consent they received a feedback letter. The data I collected showed a weak relationship, however I believe it was due to the fact I only surveyed 25 subjects.

Sleep Habits And Patterns Of College Students And Their Relationship To Selected Personality Characteristics, Steve M. Jenkins

Doctoral Dissertations

College is a time of adjustment when many students have a newfound responsibility for many aspects of their lives, including sleep habits and patterns. College students often have sleep schedules that vary greatly, which can result in sleep disturbances. Previous research indicates that college students report significantly more sleep disturbances than the general population. Poor sleep quality has been linked to myriad psychological, physiological, and cognitive difficulties, including mood and anxiety disorders, cardiovascular disease, and poor academic performance. Oftentimes, sleep disturbances can be corrected with basic psychological interventions. Considering the deleterious effects that poor sleep can have on college students, …

Downward Comparison As An Intervention To Lower Self-Reported Risk-Taking Behaviors, John P. Barile

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This research investigated the utility of using first-person editorial-style stories as a means to lower the occurrence of self-reported risk-taking behaviors such as drunk driving and red-light running in undergraduate college students. This study assessed the frequency of risk-taking behaviors of college students before and after a three-week online intervention. Students were randomized into one of three conditions. Two risk taking treatment groups read and rated stories about a college student that had suffered a severe consequence from either drunk driving or red-light running. A third group received non-driving college stories that involved no health risk. The stories were presented …

A Family Systems Approach To Substance Misuse: An Examination Of Risk And Protective Factors, Jennifer Anne Cutchin

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This purpose of this project was to investigate the interrelationships between family structure, classroom stress, sense of belonging, and substance misuse in college students. Some outcomes of the study were an increased knowledge of substance misuse in college students and the impact of risk and protective factors on substance misuse. One model of family structure is the Circumplex Model of Family Systems. This model consists of three components: family cohesion, adaptability and communication fOIson, Russell, & Sprenkle, 1989). This research was conducted at Old Dominion University using 391 undergraduate college students, aged 18 - 25. It was hypothesized that students …

Incorporating Social Anxiety Into A Model Of College Student Problematic Drinking, Lindsay S. Ham, Debra A. Hope

Department of Psychology: Faculty Publications

College problem drinking and social anxiety are significant public health concerns with highly negative consequences. College students are faced with a variety of novel social situations and situations encouraging alcohol consumption. The current study involved developing a path model of college problem drinking, including social anxiety, in 316 college students referred to an alcohol intervention due to a campus alcohol violation. Contrary to hypotheses, social anxiety generally had an inverse relationship with problem drinking. As expected, perceived drinking norms had important positive, direct effects on drinking variables. However, the results generally did not support the hypotheses regarding the mediating or …

Ability Of College Students To Simulate Adhd On Objective Measure Of Attention, Randee Lee Booksh

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Complaints of ADHD symptoms in college students are not uncommon and college students frequently self-refer for assessment of ADHD. Some may seek out a diagnosis to obtain academic accommodations and/or stimulant medication. Diagnosing ADHD in college students is largely reliant on self-report measures, and to a lesser extent, objective measures of attention. The typical college student has easy access to information about ADHD, potentially facilitating efforts to simulate self-reported symptoms. The present study examined the ability of college students to effectively simulate ADHD on objective and self-report measures of attention, and examined the relationship between knowledge of ADHD and ability …

Perceived Stress, Coping, And Adequacy Of Social Support: Implications For Subjective Well-Being In College Students, Kia Asberg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stress is a widespread concept commonly associated with psychological and medical problems that may impair an individual's functioning and incur costs on society. Alarming rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and other stress-related problems have been found among college students. This study (N = 241)argues that reducing emotional and financial stress-related costs may be possible through increasing public and professional awareness of moderating variables, such as social support and coping resources. Results indicated that stress, inadequate social support, and escape-avoidance coping were related to higher levels of depression and lower life satisfaction in both males and females. Social support functioned …

Conscientiousness Is Key: Incentives For Attendance Make Little Difference., Maureen A. Conard

SHU Faculty Publications

"This study examined differences in class attendance at different levels of conscientiousness and incentives (3.5% vs. 6% of course points). Results of a 2 × 2 (Level of Incentives × Level of Conscientiousness) ANOVA indicated a significant main effect for conscientiousness. Conscientiousness accounted for 14% of the variance in attendance, compared to 1% for incentives. Attendance appears to be influenced more by conscientiousness than by incentives."

An Empirical Study Of Highly Personal Topics Involved In Self-Disclosure, Alicia Monique Mathews

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

Self-disclosure refers to what individuals reveal about themselves to others. This topic has been a focus of research by social psychologists, communication scientists and others for several decades. The current study aims to contribute to research in this area by examining the topics of self-disclosure of college students. Archival data previously collected from college students were used. Research participants were asked to recall a highly personal experience when answering questions about their self-disclosure behaviors dealing with the targets of mother, father, same-sex friend and dating partner. The study developed a taxonomy of topics that were identified by college students as …

Parental Use Of Corporal Punishment As Related To Family Environment, Psychological Well-Being, And Personality In College Students, Corrine E. Leary

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The association between use of corporal punishment as a disciplinary technique and specific aspects of the family environment was examined through surveying undergraduate students enrolled in psychology classes at Old Dominion University. Also investigated was the relationship between corporal punishment and certain affective and personality variables. The Conflict Tactics Scale CTSPC-CA was utilized to measure the level of corporal punishment experienced by all 274 participants. However, only those respondents with the 75 highest and 75 lowest corporal punishment scores were compared in statistical analyses. Results indicated a significant difference between the higher and lower corporal punishment groups on the variables …