Objective: Grounded in the Social Rank Theory, this study examined the levels and associations of subjective social status (SSS), depressive symptoms (DEP), and suicidal ideation (SI). Participants: Participants included 956 U.S. college students (M[subscript age] = 19.94, SD[subscript age] = 2.78; 75% females [n = 716], 24% males [n = 228], 41%…

This study investigates the effects of utilizing the AI course assistant, Spark, on student academic performance at Los Angeles Pacific University (LAPU). Focusing on grade outcomes, the research reveals that students who engaged with Spark three or more times achieved significantly higher grades compared to those who did not use the AI assistant.…

Objective: To examine inequalities in sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic by gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic position (SEP), and test associations between discrimination and sleep quality in a national longitudinal cohort of emerging adult college students. Participants: Participants were enrolled in college…

Objective: Evaluate the association between ultraprocessed and minimally processed snack consumption and overweight/obesity among college students. Participants: College students. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Participants completed an online survey with questions on socio-demographics, beverages and snacks consumption, and weight status. ANCOVA…

Objective: To assess demographic, substance use, and mental wellbeing factors associated with high-intensity drinking (HID; 10+ drinks on one occasion) among college- and non-college young adults, to inform prevention and intervention efforts. Participants: A total of 1,430 young adults (819 in college and 611 not attending college) in a…

Objective: To identify the association between loneliness and eating disorder symptomatology among a national sample of U.S. college students during COVID-19. Participants: Cross-sectional data from the 2020-2021 Healthy Minds Study (N = 96,645) were analyzed. Methods: Loneliness was measured using the UCLA 3-item Loneliness Scale and eating…

This dissertation examined disparities in initial placements and Length of Stay in Custody of children in North Carolina experiencing child maltreatment. This research examined how the Length of Stay in Custody and type of initial placement was associated with the age, race, and gender of children who had been removed from the care of their…

Understanding the relationship between high-risk courses and Fall-to-Fall retention is essential to enhance student persistence and academic achievement in higher education institutions. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between high-risk courses and Fall-to-Fall retention of first-time, full-time students. The course data…

Although community colleges have served as a gateway to universities for millions of students--disproportionately so for students from populations historically underrepresented in higher education--prior research has demonstrated that the majority of vertical transfer students lose at least some of their pretransfer credits. However, researchers…

Nursing educators are challenged to find strategies that will develop critical thinking and clinical judgment abilities in students. As technology has advanced, the use of virtual simulation platforms has increased in use in nursing courses. This study examined the effect of a pilot virtual simulation intervention on critical thinking and clinical…

Background: Exclusionary discipline (ED) has long been an educational equity concern, but its relationship with student health and protective factors is less understood. Methods: Using population-based public school student data (N = 82,216), we examined associations between past-month ED and positive depression and anxiety screening instrument…

The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between teacher efficacy and enthusiasm using a mixed methods approach. Efficacy as a construct was explored, along with understanding both the positive and negative drivers of that construct. The research was conducted to understand the following: the reliability and construct validity…

The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative study was to investigate the relationship between learned helplessness and academic baseline levels among adult students who dropped out of high school and have returned to a high school equivalency program to prepare to take the GED examination. The study controlled for the variables of the age of…

Graduate education is among the fastest growing segments of the U.S. higher educational system. This paper estimates the returns to Master's degrees and examines heterogeneity in the returns by field area, student demographics and initial labor market conditions. We use rich administrative data from Ohio and an individual fixed effects model that…

Objective: To examine dose-response associations between use of specific social media sites and the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and traditional cigarettes. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 298 first-year college students enrolled in the fall 2019 semester at a large state university. Heckman selection and Probit model…