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Students at Risk

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Adolescents".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2023) | Viewed by 25264

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. José María Augusto-Landa

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Guest Editor

Department of Psychology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Interests: emotional intelligence; educational psychology; university students; resilience; engagement

Dr. Inmaculada García-Martinez

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Guest Editor

Department of Didactics and School Organization, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
Interests: psychosocial factors; emotional intelligence; teacher education; teacher professional identity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Samuel P. León

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Guest Editor

Department of Education, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Interests: learning; evidence-based education; teacher education

Special Issue Information

Dear colleagues,

Mental health is becoming a major concern in a number of fields, among other factors, due to the recent global pandemic. This has led to the intensification of existing health, economic and social problems, placing vulnerable groups in the spotlight in general, and students at risk in particular. Specifically, at-risk students are adolescents who are less likely to transition successfully into adulthood and achieve economic self-sufficiency. Characteristics of at-risk students include emotional or behavioral problems, truancy, low academic performance, etc. Looking at the essence of the individual, we find that factors such as personality, acquired skills, environment or (dis)ability are often associated with the label "students at risk". This Special Issue is looking for research that examines the causes, factors or consequences that justify and clarify this vulnerable group. We are also looking for studies that provide answers to the problems that affect these students from a perspective of improvement.

Prof. Dr. José María Augusto-Landa
Dr. Inmaculada García-Martinez
Prof. Dr. Samuel P. León
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

students
mental health
self-efficacy
universal rights
risk
disabilities
economic factors
personality
psychosocial factors
academic performance
vulnerable groups

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 402 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Partnership and Motivations for Starting a Family of One’s Own in the Opinions of Students with Disabilities

by Maria Łukaszek, Małgorzata Zaborniak-Sobczak and Remigiusz Kijak

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(11), 5971; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20115971 - 27 May 2023

Viewed by 1101

Abstract

Creating and maintaining stable, happy intimate relationships is a right every individual has. Previous research has shown that people with disabilities are at risk of building unsatisfactory partner relationships. The aim of the study was to ascertain the beliefs of students with disabilities concerning their motives for starting families and, in regard to potential partners, their tolerance for risky life experiences and the personal qualities accepted. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 2847 university students in southeastern Poland. It was found that the following motives for entering into a permanent relationship were considered more important by students with disabilities than they were by students without disabilities: enhancement of self-esteem (p = 0.001), high economic potential of a partner (p = 0.007) and a shared system of values and interests (p = 0.036). Love (p = 0.031) and the mental qualities (p = 0.010) of a partner were considered less important by students with disabilities than they were by students without disabilities. Moreover, students with disabilities are far more likely than students without disabilities to accept disability (p < 0.001) in potential partners. They are also significantly more willing to enter into relationships with people who have risky life experiences, even in the form of violence against previous life partners (p < 0.015) and children (p = 0.001), addiction to alcohol (p < 0.001) or drugs (p = 0.01) and the resulting treatment, and those having served time in prison (p = 0.034). Educational and institutional support for students with disabilities should be intensified with regard to partner selection being satisfactory to both partners. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Students at Risk)

16 pages, 691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

School Built Environments and Bullying Behaviour: A Conceptual Model Based on Qualitative Interviews

by Jacinta Francis, Gina Trapp, Natasha Pearce, Sharyn Burns and Donna Cross

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 15955; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph192315955 - 30 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2564

Abstract

Interest in how the school built environment impacts bullying behaviour has gained momentum in recent years. While numerous studies have identified locations within schools where bullying frequently occurs, few studies have investigated the potential conceptual pathways linking school locations to bullying behaviour. This study aimed to (i) identify school built environment factors that may prevent or facilitate bullying behaviour in primary and secondary schools; and (ii) develop a conceptual model of potential pathways between the school built environment and bullying behaviour for future anti-bullying intervention research. Seventy individual semi-structured interviews were conducted between May and December 2020, with policymakers (n = 22), school staff (n = 12), parents (n = 18), and students (n = 18). School staff, parents and students, were recruited from six metropolitan primary and secondary schools in Perth, Western Australia. Interviews were conducted online and face-to-face using semi-structured interview guides. A thematic analysis was undertaken. Participants identified school bullying locations (e.g., locker areas, bathrooms, corridors) and built environment factors linked to bullying behaviour via (i) visibility and supervision; (ii) physical and psychological comfort and safety; and (iii) social-emotional competencies. The findings have policy and practice implications regarding the design of school built environments to prevent bullying behaviour. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Students at Risk)

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10 pages, 805 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Burnout and Resilience among Respiratory Therapy (RT) Students during Clinical Training in Saudi Arabia: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

by Rayan A. Siraj, Abdulelah M. Aldhahir, Jaber S. Alqahtani, Hussam M. Almarkhan, Saeed M. Alghamdi, Abdullah A. Alqarni, Munyra Alhotye, Saleh S. Algarni, Fahad H. Alahmadi and Mushabbab A. Alahmari

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(20), 13047; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph192013047 - 11 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2005

Abstract

Background: The epidemic of burnout has been widely documented among health discipline students. However, there is limited information available on the prevalence of burnout and its association with resilience among clinical-level respiratory therapy (RT) students. Methods: Between March 2022 and May 2022, a descriptive, cross-sectional study using a convenience sample of RT students and interns was conducted. A total of 559 RT students and interns from 15 RT programs responded to socio-demographic questions and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive, inferential, and correlation tests. Results: Of the 559 respondents, 78% reported a high level of burnout. Within the three subscales of burnout, 52% reported emotional exhaustion (EE), 59% reported depersonalization (DP), and 55% reported low personal achievement (PA). The prevalence of burnout increased as students proceeded to senior years (p = 0.006). In addition, participants with higher grade point averages (GPA) reported a higher level of burnout. Only 2% of the respondents reported a high level of resiliency. Further, there were negative correlations between resilience and EE (r = −41, p < 0.001) and DP (r = −32, p = 0.03), and a positive correlation with low PA (r = 0.56, p = 0.002). Conclusion: The findings showed a high prevalence of burnout among RT students and interns during clinical training in Saudi Arabia. Resilience was associated with all domains of burnout and is likely to play a protective role. Therefore, there is a need for collaborative interventions to promote resiliency during clinical training to alleviate and overcome burnout symptoms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Students at Risk)

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14 pages, 550 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Families, Schools, and the Longitudinal Changes in Psychological Distress among College Students during the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from a National Panel Survey in China

by Fengxia Zhu, Yueyun Zhang, Qi Li, Yuanyao Xu and Baozhong Liu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12882; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph191912882 - 08 Oct 2022

Viewed by 1533

Abstract

Background: The psychological well-being of students in higher education has become an increasingly important concern in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of prior studies were cross-sectional and thereby failed to capture the individual changes in mental health over time. Moreover, few studies have explored whether and how socioeconomic and education backgrounds could be related to college students’ mental health changes. This study aimed to fill these gaps. Methods: Data were from a nationwide, two-wave panel survey of college students in China. Baseline information was collected in November 2019, i.e., before the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in China. A follow-up survey was conducted in November and December 2020, when the epidemic was effectively contained in mainland China. In both waves, mental health was assessed with the 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). The between-wave changes in psychological distress were measured and categorized. Results: Overall, 13.5% of students experienced at least a one-standard-deviation increase in psychological distress over the one-year follow-up. Results from both bivariate and multivariable analysis showed that this marked distress increase was more pronounced among vocational college students (vs. academic undergraduate and postgraduate students) and those with lower levels of academic performance. In contrast, family socioeconomic status (as measured by parental education, family economic condition, and current residence) was not associated with distress changes over time. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of the educational disparities within the higher education system in understanding the mental health dynamics of college students in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Students at Risk)

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10 pages, 378 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Students at Risk: Self-Esteem, Optimism and Emotional Intelligence in Post-Pandemic Times?

by Lara Checa-Domene, Antonio Luque de la Rosa, Óscar Gavín-Chocano and Jorge Juan Torrado

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 12499; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph191912499 - 30 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2009

Abstract

Understanding the emotional profile of students during their training, as well as associated psychosocial factors such as optimism versus pessimism and self-esteem, is critical to improving student performance, especially in the post-pandemic period. In this study, 798 university students participated, belonging to the Degrees of Early Childhood and Primary Education, with a mean age of 24.52 years (±5.48). The following instruments were used: Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS-S), Life Orientation Test Revised (LOT-R) and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES). The objective was to determine the predictive value of self-esteem on emotional intelligence and optimism vs. pessimism. A positive relationship between several dimensions of the instruments used (p < 0.01) were found. Moreover, the regression model predicted an association between emotional intelligence (use of emotions), pessimism and self-esteem. The practical consequences suggest the importance of the acquisition of emotional competences by university students is essential to obtain higher performances. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Students at Risk)

11 pages, 1015 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physical Activity, Energy Expenditure, Screen Time and Social Support in Spanish Adolescents—Towards an Explanatory Model about Health Risk Factors

by Daniel Sanz-Martín, Eduardo Melguizo-Ibáñez, Germán Ruiz-Tendero, Félix Zurita-Ortega and José Luis Ubago-Jiménez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10222; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph191610222 - 17 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1494

Abstract

Youth obesity has been a pandemic for decades. One of its causes is a low level of physical activity. It is necessary to know the specific situation of adolescents and the factors that influence it in order to be able to act accordingly. The first aim of the current study is to create an explanatory model to establish the relationships between light physical activity time, light physical activity energy expenditure, screen time and social support. The second aim is to propose a theoretical model specifying the relationships between moderate–vigorous physical activity time, moderate–vigorous physical activity energy expenditure, screen time and social support. The study design was non-experimental (ex post facto), descriptive-correlational and cross-sectional. A total of 694 adolescents from the region of Soria (12–17 years) participated in the study. The instruments administered were the Four by One-Day Physical Activity Questionnaire, Parent Support Scale and Peer Support Scale. Two structural equation models were developed to analyse the relationships between the variables that comprised the explanatory models. The results show that social support had a negative influence on screen time in the proposed model in relation to light physical activity (r = −0.210; p ≤ 0.001) and in the proposed one regarding moderate–vigorous physical activity (r = −0.173; p ≤ 0.05). Social support was negatively related to light physical activity time (r = −0.167; p ≤ 0.05). Family support had a greater influence than did peer support. In conclusion, the models for light and moderate–vigorous physical activity are useful to describe the relationships between time, energy expenditure, screen time and social support. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Students at Risk)

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12 pages, 404 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between Personality, Motivation and Academic Performance at Medical Students from Romania

by Lorena Mihaela Muntean, Aurel Nireștean, Andreea Sima-Comaniciu, Marius Mărușteri, Cătălin Andrei Zăgan and Emese Lukacs

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 8993; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19158993 - 24 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3031

Abstract

The academic and health system requirements are constantly growing due to the continuous development of this sector. Therefore, it is important to investigate the structural factors that improve performance in the medical system. The aim of our pilot study is to analyze if there are associations or correlations between personality and motivation and the results obtained for the National Residency Exam of Romanian medical graduates. We conducted a prospective pilot study on 179 medical students from George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, Romania between February 2021 and December 2021, who were evaluated by the DECAS, IM, and SPM scale. Our results showed that all the dimensions of personality according to the Big Five Model, which include openness (OR = 0.392, p = 0.01), extraversion (OR = 0.512, p = 0.03), conscientiousness (OR = 3.671, p = 0.004), agreeableness (OR = 2.791, p = 0.07), and emotional stability (OR = 4.863, p = 0.0003), are statistically associated with the result obtained. Motivation also plays an important role in academic achievements, through motivational persistence and motivational involvement which correlates with the conscientiousness dimension and the result obtained. This study confirms that both personality structure and motivation are associated or correlated with the academic results of medical students and represent a starting point for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Students at Risk)

10 pages, 978 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Recreational Nitrous Oxide Use and Associated Factors among Health Profession Students in France

by Camille Inquimbert, Yoann Maitre, Estelle Moulis, Vincent Gremillet, Paul Tramini, Jean Valcarcel and Delphine Carayon

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 5237; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19095237 - 26 Apr 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1500

Abstract

The first aim of this study was to investigate the recreational use of nitrous oxide (N₂O) among health profession students at Montpellier University (France). The second aim was to identify the factors associated with N₂O use. All students in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and midwifery of the Montpellier University were contacted by email to participate in the survey. The students answered directly online by filling out anonymously a questionnaire including demographic information and questions about N₂O, illicit drugs and alcohol use. Ethical approval was granted by the ethics committee of the Montpellier University. The sample comprised 593 students (mean age = 22.3 ± 2.6 yr), with 68.6% of females. Lifetime N₂O use was reported by 76.6% and frequent alcohol use by 30.5% of the respondents. The lifetime use of cannabis, ‘poppers’, cocaine, ecstasy and LSD was 26.8%, 54.6%, 9.6%, 10.1% and 2.0% respectively. In multivariate analysis, the substances significantly associated with lifetime N₂O were alcohol drinking and ‘poppers’ use. With respect to this self-nominated sample, our results indicate that respondents who were alcohol drinkers, were poppers users, follow longer studies, divert medical products for recreational use or were members of a students’ corporation had higher odds of lifetime N₂O use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Students at Risk)

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14 pages, 365 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Influencing Compliance with COVID-19 Health Measures: A Spanish Study to Improve Adherence Campaigns

by Nuria Galende, Iratxe Redondo, Maria Dosil-Santamaria and Naiara Ozamiz-Etxebarria

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(8), 4853; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19084853 - 16 Apr 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2570

Abstract

Since the spread of the COVID-19 virus was declared a pandemic, different measures have been taken to control it, including frequent hand-washing, the use of face masks and social distancing. Given the importance of these measures, the present study aims to assess compliance with them in a Spanish sample of 722 people aged between 18 and 65 years. It also aims to determine which factors influence the levels of compliance observed. Participants complied more with the rules in the public spaces. The younger group had lower levels of compliance than the older group. No differences were found in accordance with sex. It was shown that overall, the agents that most influenced compliance were family, testimonials and friends and fines. Some differences were observed in relation to age, and significant sex differences were found in some of these factors, with women scoring higher than men. The results are discussed in terms of their usefulness for the design of information campaigns that seek to foster a greater degree of engagement by the entire population and, ultimately, greater control of the pandemic, in addition to serving as a basis for the early prevention of the spread of new viruses in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Students at Risk)

Review

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12 pages, 1657 KiB

Open AccessReview

Access and Participation of Students with Disabilities: The Challenge for Higher Education

by José María Fernández-Batanero, Marta Montenegro-Rueda and José Fernández-Cerero

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(19), 11918; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph191911918 - 21 Sep 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4839

Abstract

Access to university is a right for all people; however, access to higher education for people with disabilities is still a challenge. The present study, based on a systematic review of the literature, aims to report on the challenges faced by students with disabilities in accessing and participating in higher education. The systematic review of four databases resulted in 20 studies published between 2011 and 2021. The results indicate that students with disabilities face numerous challenges in accessing university education. Based on the results, strategies are proposed in order to provide equal opportunities and success in higher education for students with disabilities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Students at Risk)

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Other

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15 pages, 2191 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Impact of University Teachers’ Technological Training on Educational Inclusion and Quality of Life of Students with Disabilities: A Systematic Review

by José Fernández-Cerero, Marta Montenegro-Rueda and José María Fernández-Batanero

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2576; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20032576 - 31 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1475

Abstract

Higher education institutions moving towards the inclusive education model have to offer quality education for all students. In this sense, the use of technologies favours not only the education of people with disabilities, but also their quality of life. However, these people may encounter real problems of access to technologies due, among other factors, to the lack of teacher training, causing a public health problem. In this line, our study includes a systematic review of the literature that aims to know the impact of the technological training of university teachers in relation to educational inclusion and the improvement of the quality of life of students with disabilities. To this end, a search of the literature published in the last decade was carried out in six databases (Dialnet, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, ERIC, and SciELO), selecting 14 articles out of 1204 initial ones. The studies were analysed following the PRISMA methodology. The main findings are the scarcity of research literature on the digital competence of university teachers and its impact on the educational inclusion and quality of life of students with disabilities. Likewise, there is a clear lack of knowledge about the use of digital tools and a lack of knowledge about the different disabilities that teachers may encounter in higher education classrooms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Students at Risk)

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