Giving means receiving: the protective effect of social capital on binge drinking on college campuses. (65/4235)

OBJECTIVES: We tested whether higher levels of social capital on college campuses protected against individual risks of binge drinking. METHODS: We used a nationally representative survey of 17,592 young people enrolled at 140 4-year colleges. Social capital was operationalized as individuals' average time committed to volunteering in the past month aggregated to the campus level. RESULTS: In multivariate analyses controlling for individual volunteering, sociodemographics, and several college characteristics, individuals from campuses with higher-than-average levels of social capital had a 26% lower individual risk for binge drinking (P < .001) than their peers at other schools. CONCLUSIONS: Social capital may play an important role in preventing binge drinking in the college setting.  (+info)

Transfer student and gender issues within the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University. (66/4235)

Graduates with a B.S. or graduate degree from the Department of Animal Science (1986 to 1996) of Texas A&M University were surveyed by mail to gather opinions on the curriculum and satisfaction with their degrees. The survey contained five Likert questions (1 = excellent, 4 = poor) regarding satisfaction with major, educational results, personal growth, professional development, and skills important for employment. Multiple-choice questions (n = 9) addressed education, background, job status, and gender. Surveys (n = 2,192) were sent to students, and 470 responded. The undergraduate respondents (n = 396) comprised 71.2% (n = 282) nontransfer students and 28.8% (n = 114) transfer students. Transfer students reported a mean grade point ratio (GPR) of 3.05 +/- 0.43 at Texas A&M University in comparison to a nontransfer student mean GPR of 3.03 +/- 0.45 for hours completed at Texas A&M University (P = 0.83). The results for time from graduation to full-time employment for transfer students were similar to those of nontransfer students (P = 0.95). Differences in current annual salary between transfer students and nontransfer students were apparent (P < 0.0001). Transfer students and nontransfer students reported similarly that courses within the department were valuable (P = 0.95) and not redundant (P = 0.08). The two groups similarly rated contributions to critical thinking (P = 0.59) and speaking (P = 0.38). Undergraduate respondents (n = 392) were 48.9% (n = 192) male and 51.1% (n = 200) female. Males and females reported a mean GPR of 3.02 +/- 0.46 and 3.07 +/- 0.43, respectively (P = 0.35). Differences in job search time (P < 0.0001), starting salary (P = 0.0004), and current salary (P < 0.0001) were apparent between genders; females were paid less and searched longer before finding their first job. Males and females responded similarly that courses were valuable (P = 0.16) and were taught effectively (P = 0.37) and that teaching assistants made positive contributions (P = 0.43). Females felt a lesser contribution to critical thinking ability, leadership ability, and technical expertise. Results suggest the continuance of current educational practices, but changes to specific issues should be initiated.  (+info)

Japanese and Korean female students' evaluation of elderly people's clothing colors. (67/4235)

This study evaluated the clothing colors in the elderly. We took photos using the elderly as models, displayed them on a computer screen, and produced 75 colors of the clothing in the elderly using computer graphics. The 75 colors were evaluated by Japanese and Korean female students. We compared the ideal colors for and the colors actually worn by elderly people in Japan and Korea. Korean students tended to evaluate high value colors positively, while Japanese students tended to evaluate low value colors positively. When asked to choose the ideal clothing color for elderly people, the choices differed between the Korean student group and the Japanese student group. The images held concerning these colors also differed between the two groups. When selecting the ideal color to be worn by elderly people, Japanese students attached importance to taste, brilliance, functionality and comfort. On the other hand, Korean students attached importance to commonness and inactivity when selecting the ideal clothing color for elderly people. Thus, in the present study, the evaluation of the clothing colors for elderly people differed between Japanese and Korean students.  (+info)

Opinions of Zagreb University students on professor-student dating. (68/4235)

AIM: To investigate what Zagreb University students think about professor-student dating. METHODS: We surveyed 500 students from ten different Zagreb University schools using anonymous questionnaires. Twenty-five female and 25 male students from each school were asked to assess professor-student dating as either acceptable, reckless, unethical, or shameful, and decide how severely such behavior should be punished, if it should be punished at all. Sex of the professor and student was irrelevant. RESULTS: Students were equally strict towards the student and the professor. They judged professor-student dating more strictly if dating started before the student passed the exam in the subject taught by the professor than if it started afterwards. More female than male students had no opinion on whether the professor should be punished. When dating started after the student passed the exam, male students judged the student's behavior more strictly than female students; if the dating started before, the Economics students were stricter and the Music Academy students milder than average in their judgements. In the case when dating started after the student passed the exam, students of the Faculty of Physical Education judged both dating parties more strictly, Political Sciences students were milder toward a professor, whereas more students of the Faculty of Philosophy thought that it should be punished. Most students with no opinion on punishing dating were found among Agronomy students. CONCLUSION: Most Zagreb University students think that professor-student dating should not be punished and that both dating parties take equal responsibility for such behavior.  (+info)

Pricing and promotion effects on low-fat vending snack purchases: the CHIPS Study. (69/4235)

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the effects of pricing and promotion strategies on purchases of low-fat snacks from vending machines. METHODS: Low-fat snacks were added to 55 vending machines in a convenience sample of 12 secondary schools and 12 worksites. Four pricing levels (equal price, 10% reduction, 25% reduction, 50% reduction) and 3 promotional conditions (none, low-fat label, low-fat label plus promotional sign) were crossed in a Latin square design. Sales of low-fat vending snacks were measured continuously for the 12-month intervention. RESULTS: Price reductions of 10%, 25%, and 50% on low-fat snacks were associated with significant increases in low-fat snack sales; percentages of low-fat snack sales increased by 9%, 39%, and 93%, respectively. Promotional signage was independently but weakly associated with increases in low-fat snack sales. Average profits per machine were not affected by the vending interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Reducing relative prices on low-fat snacks was effective in promoting lower-fat snack purchases from vending machines in both adult and adolescent populations.  (+info)

The health of students in institutes of higher education: an important and neglected public health problem? (70/4235)

BACKGROUND: A survey of students in three UK higher education establishments was undertaken to obtain information about students' physical and emotional well-being, their attitudes to, and beliefs about health, and the prevalence of risk factors for future ill health. METHODS: Health was measured by the prevalence of longstanding illness and by the SF-36 health status measurement tool. Survey results were compared with equivalent data for 18- to 34-year-olds in the local population. The prevalence of long-standing illness was also compared with two national surveys. RESULTS: The survey achieved a 49 per cent response rate. More than one-third of respondents reported a long-standing illness, a higher prevalence than in all comparison surveys. Students scored significantly worse than their peers in the local population on all eight SF-36 dimensions. The greatest difference was for role limitations as a result of emotional problems. The main sources of emotional distress were study or work problems and money. CONCLUSION: The poor response rate in this survey dictates the need for caution in interpretation of the results. However, they suggest that the health of students is poor relative to that of their peers, and that their emotional health is more of a problem than their physical health. Public health practitioners might want to pay more attention to the health of this important and relatively neglected group. Worries about studies and money appear to be affecting students' academic work, and this should be of concern to higher education establishments.  (+info)

Gender differences in the association between psychosocial factors and depressive symptoms in Japanese junior high school students. (71/4235)

To determine psychosocial factors associated both with depressive symptoms and with gender differences in depressive symptoms among junior high school students, we conducted self-administered questionnaires using a sample of 2,660 students of 13 public junior high schools in Okinawa, Japan. Depressive symptomatology was measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The psychosocial variables examined were life stresses, social support, health practices, self-esteem, and locus of control. Depressive symptoms were positively associated with life stresses and negatively associated with health practices, social support, self-esteem, and internal locus of control. In addition, female students were likely to report more depressive symptoms, life stresses, and low self-esteem and poor health practices. After controlling for the psychosocial variables differed by gender, gender differences in depressive symptoms were eliminated. In conclusion, for depressive symptoms of junior high school students, life stresses might be risk factors, but positive health practices, social support, high self-esteem, and internal locus of control might be protective factors. Gender differences in depressive symptoms could be explained by the females' elevation on these psychosocial variables.  (+info)

Tobacco use among high school students in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (72/4235)

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the prevalence and correlates of tobacco use among high school students in Buenos Aires, Argentina. METHODS: Anonymous, self-administered questionnaires were given to 3909 8th and 11th graders in a stratified random sample of 49 public and private schools. The instrument included items from American surveys, translated and validated among Argentinean teens. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate possible effects on smoking behavior of environment, students' personal characteristics, and their knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes regarding smoking. RESULTS: Of 8th and 11th graders, 20% and 43%, respectively, were classified as current smokers. Overall, 29% of males and 32% of females were current smokers. Students attending public schools were more likely to smoke than those in private schools (P < .05). Current smoking was associated with having a best friend who smokes, reporting that more than 50% of friends of the same sex smoke, having positive attitudes and beliefs toward smoking, and having a positive intention to smoke within the next year (all P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Over 20% of the 8th graders in our sample were current smokers; prevention efforts must therefore start early.  (+info)