Background: Understanding why individuals decide to participate in mindfulness-based practices can aid in the development of effective health promotion outreach efforts. Purpose: This study investigated the role of health beliefs and perceived stress on the intention to practice mindfulness meditation among undergraduate college students. Methods:…

In response to widespread concerns about student mental health, a growing movement in higher education is focused on fostering student well-being as an important element of student success. Thriving college students experience a level of psychological well-being that contributes to their persistence toward graduation and allows them to gain…

Background: University wellness education can have a long-term impact on the health-related knowledge and behaviors of individuals. Moreover, individual perceptions influence the likelihood of participation in health-promoting behaviors. Therefore, understanding college students' health-related priorities and perceptions may increase the…

Increases in the number of college students seeking mental health services require counseling centers to explore innovative strategies to provide effective and efficient treatments. Group interventions offer an alternative to traditional individual counseling, allowing centers to serve more students with fewer clinical staff (Burlingame et al.,…

Objective: Examine the impact of maladaptive coping style on the association between source of stress (academic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, environmental) and alcohol use (consumption, heavy episodic drinking, driving under the influence) among college students. Participants: 1,027 college students completed an online survey in April 2014.…

College is a time of emotional upheaval and adjustment. Asian international college students may benefit from an intervention such as an online written emotional disclosure protocol to help with mental health and emotional distress. This dissertation examines the affectivity, depressive symptoms, and acculturative stress of Asian international…

Gap years have grown in popularity among students attempting to go to medical school in recent years. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), more than half of matriculated students now have taken time off between their undergraduate studies and medical school. Although many claim benefits to taking gap years, research on…

The business model of many U.S. higher education institutions is under serious stress from changing demographics, heightened consumer demands, flagging public confidence, and new competitors for educational credentials. Many institutions are struggling to sustain the suite of amenities and support services that students need or expect given the…

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) serve as cultural sanctuaries fortified to affirm the value, importance, and life possibilities of African American (Black) and other underserved student populations. These institutions were founded to empower formerly enslaved African Americans and have maintained a legacy of opening the doors…

To allay the increasing rates of serious mental and emotional problems among college students, the author proposes taking a gap year before starting college, which could have potential benefits.

To meet college student needs for financial counseling, it is important to assess why they seek counseling and the extent to which differing financial situations are tied to financial stress. This study examined these issues with a sample of 554 college students who participated in financial counseling and found financial problems in various…

This dissertation research reports on the experiences of a team of community college educators who develop, implement, and teach an introductory biology course on the inverted classroom platform. Research questions addressed include: (1) What have been the motivations and professional influences of the instructors for transitioning to the inverted…

Objective: Mindfulness-based interventions have been shown to have psychological benefits in college students. We explored the effects of an academic Seminar on Compassion on student psychological health. Participants: Forty-one participants (14 male, 27 female, mean age 19.8 ± 1.4 years) were assessed pre- and post- spring semesters 2013 and…

College student well-being is negatively impacted by the tremendous amount of stress students experience, and fallout from college student stress is posing a significant challenge for institutions of higher education (Castillo & Schwartz, 2013; Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010; Kirsch et al., 2014; Lumley & Provenzano, 2003). The purpose of this…

Background: Research on health behavior within the context of leisure and stress coping in university students is limited. Purpose: This study investigated the associations between leisure, health behavior, and perceived stress in university students. Other impacts, such as gender, grade point average (GPA), body mass index (BMI), and parents'…