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This study aims to investigate the types and functions of expressions of fear realized in the form of sentences. With a special context in horror movies, the researcher attempted to reveal the types and functions of fear expressions such as directive, commissive, expressive, assertive, and declarative. This research focuses on the subtitles of the Stranger Things season 1 series with 8 episodes, one of the best-selling serial films on the Netflix application. As research aids, the researcher used the Aegisub application and live transcript to ensure the accuracy of speech data. Findings suggest the dominance of the use of directive speech acts as a form of expression of fear. Then, commanding speech is the function of most utterances found as an expression of fear. This study concludes that expressions of fear realized in sentences do not only exist in expressive speech acts but also in other speech acts such as directive, assertive and commissive.

The aim of this research has enabled us to establish the influential relationship between factors associated with e-learning, such as individual impact and depression, and the mediating role in psychological distress and computer anxiety related to the fear of failing an academic year in times of COVID-19 in university students at two universities in the Arequipa region of Peru. The methodology used was developed in two stages; in the first stage, an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed, which enabled us to compare the initial results from the theoretical matrix proposed with the observed matrix; in the following stage, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed, as an analytic condition for the factors and to determine the robustness of the proposed model. For this purpose, the Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used, based on partial minimum squares. The sample for the study was made up by 252 students. It is concluded that there are significant influential relationships among the variables observed, such as the individual impact of e-learning, depression, mediated by psychological distress and anxiety for fear of failing the academic year.

This study delved into the realm of emotional presence and its potential impact on students' academic performance within collaborative online learning environments. While emotions were recognized as influential factors in the learning process, the specific relationship between emotional presence and cognitive outcomes remained elusive, particularly in the context of virtual classrooms. This research addressed a critical gap by investigating the relationships between emotional presence and students' academic achievements in online classes. An exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach incorporating both quantitative and qualitative components was used. Fifty (50) senior high school students engaged in online learning were selected through the purposive sampling technique. Quantitative findings revealed that emotions did not exhibit a significant correlation with students' academic achievements in the online learning environment. However, insights from the qualitative analysis shed light on the emotional experiences of students, indicating negative emotions such as anxiety, fear, and disappointment. Despite these challenging emotions, students were still capable of achieving favorable academic outcomes. In conclusion, while the emotional presence of students may have been predominantly negative, their academic achievements in online learning environments remained satisfactory. This suggested that learners could effectively navigate and succeed within the virtual classroom setting, even in the face of emotional challenges. Educators were encouraged to create supportive online learning environments that highly addressed students' emotional needs alongside their educational requirements. By fostering emotional well-being, teachers could enhance the overall learning experience and promote positive outcomes in virtual education.

Anxiety has a significant effect on oral communication, particularly when it occurs in the form of a public address. The quality of a public academic speaker's oral presentation may highly be determined by a variety of emotive elements. However, this has received much too little attention in the realm of academic dissertation oral defense presentations, despite the fact that this process may be incredibly nerve-wracking for both novice and experienced postgraduates, EFL learners in particular. In the current study, 68 Chinese EFL Ph.D. candidates consented to complete a revamped version of the Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety (PRPSA). Chinese EFL postgraduates reported an average high level of public speaking anxiety (X=4.34) during their doctoral dissertation defense presentations, as measured by three categorical variables: public speaking apprehension (X=4.40), self-behavior management (X=4.35), and fear of negative evaluation (X=4.26). Throughout Ph.D. candidate participants' dissertation defense, fifteen anxiety-related questionnaire items were recognized to be the most anxiety-provoking conditions in terms of public speaking anxiety. In addition, differences in gender and graduate study specialization were not significantly associated with Chinese EFL Ph.D. candidates' experiences with public speaking anxiety. Despite the findings, research has revealed that Ph.D. candidates in English as a Foreign Language from China exhibit statistically significant levels of anxiety related to public speaking, and as a result, pedagogical recommendations have been proposed.

The aim of this research study was to analyse the relationship among answer-copying tendency, academic self-efficacy, and fear of negative evaluation. To this end, we formed a structural equivalence model, and we evaluated the mediating role of academic self-efficacy between answer-copying tendency and fear of negative evaluation. A total of 562 university students participated in the study. We used the following as data collection tools: The Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, Academic Self-Efficacy Scale, and Answer-Copying Tendency Scale. For the analysis of the data, first the measurement model was tested, then the Structural Equation Model was established and estimations were made with Maximum Probability Estimation. According to the results, academic self-efficacy plays the role of a mediatory variable between fear of negative evaluation and answer-copying tendency. As can be seen from the impact of fear of negative evaluation on answer-copying tendency, there is a meaningful, positive correlation between the two variables. When we included academic self-efficacy in the model as a mediatory variable, we observed that the relationship between fear of negative evaluation and answer-copying tendency weakened and became less noteworthy. In the light of these observations, we can assert that the tendency of individuals with high academic self-efficacy to cheat in academic contexts is lower even if they have a fear of negative evaluation.

This research delves into the intricate landscape of academic assertiveness among higher education students in Thailand, focusing on developing critical thinking dispositions and related behaviors. Our investigation uncovered noteworthy patterns that resonated across diverse institutions, shedding light on the multifaceted challenges faced by students. These encompassed a common fear of negative consequences, the profound influence of cultural norms on assertive behaviors, a pervasive lack of self-confidence, a genuine desire for improved communication skills, susceptibility to peer influence, and the impact of the educational context itself. While an incremental improvement in academic assertiveness scores was discernible in the post-discussion phase, it is vital to acknowledge that this improvement did not attain statistical significance. This finding prompts reflection on the efficacy of the conducted discussion and suggests that it may need to be augmented by continuous and more potent interventions. It underscores the importance of cultivating an academic environment that values and nurtures academic assertiveness as an essential component of critical thinking development. The culmination of this study offers valuable insights into the intricate web of factors that influence academic assertiveness among higher education students. It underscores the necessity for a nuanced approach, encompassing ongoing interventions and creating a learning environment that empowers students to express themselves assertively, ultimately fostering the growth of critical thinking dispositions and behaviors.

This research sought to investigate the relationship between students' perceptions of various environmental and psychological factors and their STEM learning. The study incorporated quantitative exploratory design, including data from 1,625 students (preparatory & high school) in Qatar. It examined the relationships among five key variables, i.e.,: (a) the quality of teaching, (b) satisfaction with school, (c) the positive perception of the importance of mathematics/science for students' future, (d) the fear of asking math/science questions, and (e) their STEM learning. The results of the regression analysis and structural equation modelling analysis demonstrated a significant relationship between the explored variables. A positive correlation has been computed between "quality of teaching," "satisfaction with school," "recognition of the importance of mathematics/science for the future," and "students' STEM learning". In contrast, the variable "fear of asking mathematics/science questions" was found to be negatively associated with "students' STEM learning." This study research offers important recommendations for policymaking and suggests avenues for further investigation and research in this area.

The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic on March 11, 2020. Subsequent lockdowns and fatalities have significantly impacted individuals' lives, social relationships, and economic conditions. While pandemics affecting populations can lead to health issues, they also give rise to psychological disturbances such as anxiety, worry, panic, loneliness, depression, fear, and traumatic symptoms. Research has demonstrated that these symptoms are commonly observed across various segments of society. Self-regulation refers to individuals' efforts to modify their thoughts, emotions, desires, and actions in line with their desired goals. It emphasizes that individuals are active agents and decision-makers rather than passive observers in the face of events. Studies have found that self-regulation is associated with success, well-being, social competence, academic performance, peer bullying, depression, anxiety, obesity, and various psychopathological conditions. COVID-19 research has also identified relationships between emotional regulation and depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms. COVID-19 has also been associated with educational problems such as decline in student achievement, learning losses, problems with continuing education and drop-outs. In this study, the relationships between COVID-19 fear and depression, anxiety, and stress are examined, focusing on the mediating role of self-regulation in university students. Structural equation modeling and mediation analyses were conducted using collected data. The results indicate that COVID-19 fear significantly predicts depression, anxiety, and stress during the pandemic. Self-regulation partially mediates this relationship, diminishing the impact of COVID-19 fear and reducing levels of depression, anxiety, and stress.

While COVID-19 affected all segments of the population, vulnerable social groups, including international students, were disproportionately affected. The primary objective of this study was to explore COVID-19-related experiences of African international graduate students (AIGS). Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interviews with 15 AIGS. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed. Participants reported experiencing fear of the virus and anxiety about their health and their family members (individual), feelings of isolation and depression because of reduced social engagement and lack of familial support (interactional), dealing with work restrictive student visas, and loss of work opportunities (environmental/structural). The person-in-environment (PIE) and Ubuntu philosophy were useful lenses to understand the findings in the context of COVID-19 given its socio-cultural connection to AIGS. Understanding the experiences of AIGS can help inform better approaches, including institutional and national policy changes, to support not only AIGS but also vulnerable international students during pandemics.

There are ongoing global efforts to mitigate intimate partner violence (IPV); nevertheless, IPV is extensive in conflict-affected countries like Afghanistan. This study examined disparities in IPV endorsement among Afghan women using data from the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey of 20,793 ethnically diverse married women. We adopted intersectionality and social entrapment theories to account for various socio-cultural factors that explain IPV endorsement in the Afghan context. The results revealed that over 80% of respondents endorsed physical IPV in various circumstances. Hierarchical logistic regression estimated over threefold effects of broader social and cultural factors with a Nagelkerke R Square value of 0.131 (13.1%) variance in the IPV endorsement than the commonly found socio-demographic risk factors with a Nagelkerke R Square value of 0.041 (4.1%) variance. According to our multivariate analysis, the most significant predictor was fear of husbands, which explained 9.4% of the variance. Province-level political conflict severity and prior exposure to parental IPV accounted for another 1.6% and .8% variance, respectively. We also noted many culture- and context-specific variations, emphasizing the need for a nuanced approach to addressing the issue of Afghan women's stance on IPV.

The experience of math anxiety can have detrimental effects on students' math performance, and researchers have in recent years tried to design interventions aiming at reducing math anxiety. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the effectiveness of math anxiety interventions in reducing math anxiety and improving math performance. The meta-analysis comprised 50 studies and included 75 effect sizes. On average, the effect sizes were moderate (g = -0.467) for reducing math anxiety and improving math performance (g = 0.502). Interventions that focused on Cognitive support or regulating Emotions were effective both in reducing math anxiety and improving math performance. In addition, longer interventions and interventions targeting students older than 12 had the biggest decrease in math anxiety. Study quality was not related to intervention outcomes.

This study aims to examine preschool teachers' compassion and fear of compassion. The sample of this survey study consisted of 274 preschool teachers. Personal Information Form, Adult Compassion Scale, and Fear of Compassion Scale were used as data collection tools. Data analysis showed that the compassion level of the preschool teachers was high whereas their fear of compassion level was low. It was also found that the compassion of preschool teachers did not differ significantly based on their gender, age, marital status, educational level, having children, having a pet, having someone to care for at home other than children and their place of residence. Emotional compassion level of preschool teachers who were married and had children was higher than the emotional compassion level of their colleagues who were single and did not have any children. Compassion level of teachers who had 6 to 10 year-professional seniority was significantly higher than their colleagues who had 0 to 5 year-professional seniority. It was found that the fear of compassion level of the preschool teachers did not differ significantly based on their demographic characteristics. Also, a negative significant relationship was found between preschool teachers' compassion and their fear of compassion. Based on the research findings, it can be suggested that, preschool teachers can be trained on compassion-based activities and compassion can be integrated into daily activities in preschool classrooms. Transfering their knowledege on compassion as a behavior to their classroom activities will help children to take those acts as a role model.

Children's experiences of animal fears can be caused by direct conditioning, experiencing negative events, or modeling others' fears or situations. The fear of an animal that develops in a child as a result of various experiences may turn into an animal phobia over time. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of EMDR interventions for two different children with animal phobias through case studies. In the interventions conducted with the children in this study, facilitative techniques such as allowing the children to express themselves through drawings were utilized in addition to EMDR procedures. The study utilized a multiple-case study design, which is among qualitative research methods. One of the cases is a 9-year-old boy who developed a phobic condition related to dogs after being attacked by a dog and experiencing psychological distress associated with his dog phobia in daily life (such as running towards home, increased heart rate, and screaming when seeing a dog on his way home from school). The second case is a 10-year-old boy who developed a phobic condition related to insects after being stung by a bug while sleeping, experiencing fear of bugs in nature, such as during a picnic, and having difficulties sleeping alone. In this study, narrative analysis was utilized in the data analysis to describe the experiences of Client-1 and Client-2 regarding their phobic conditions and to present their narratives related to EMDR intervention in a chronological and holistic manner. According to the research findings, EMDR interventions conducted with two children (C1 and C2) who had animal phobias were found to have a positive impact on their phobic conditions. The current study revealed findings related to negative cognition as "I am afraid" and positive cognitions as "I am brave" and "I can overcome it" regarding children's phobic conditions, along with the expressions provided by the children during the interventions. In future studies, presenting the outcomes of EMDR interventions for children's phobic conditions in a qualitative design would allow for a more in-depth analysis of the prominent cognitions and expressions of the children.

As smartphones have become effective substitutes for laptops and desktops, smartphone users have been increasing at astronomical proportions. Smartphones have emerged as a valuable tool to communicate with others and constantly keep themselves abreast of what is happening in the world. This may result in a behavioral change called the 'fear of missing out' (FOMO), a phenomenon labeled as a form of social anxiety. The present study aims to investigate the consequences of FOMO on smartphone addiction (SPA) and students' academic performance in educational institutions. A conceptual model was developed, and hypotheses were tested by collecting data from 98 students from an educational institution in the southern part of India. The regression results of Hayes's PROCESS macros indicate: (i) FOMO is (a) negatively associated with academic performance, and (b) positively associated with SPA, (ii) SPA is negatively related to academic performance, (iii) Positive Affect (PA) positively predicts academic performance, (iv) Negative Affect (NA) negatively predicts academic performance. The results also support smartphone obstacles moderating the relationship between SPA and academic performance. The three-way interaction between SPA, smartphone obstacles, and PA influencing academic performance is supported in this study. The implications for theory and practice are discussed.

The authors explore children's symbolic play that involves themes of fear and darkness, and they investigate the nature of children's binary oppositions, particularly between self and other. Their account is based on a year-long qualitative study they conducted with seven children, four to ten years of age. They observed the children engage with play materials, including toys and dolls, at home and on virtual sites such as "Roblox." The play episodes they analyze highlight children's dyadic roles and scenarios and the pleasure of their play involving themes of fear. The authors also address the media and cultural representations that provide roles and narratives for the children to extend this dark play.

Diverse books are needed in the classroom so that all children feel valued, but to what extent will teacher candidates include children's literature with diverse representations in their class libraries? A teacher educator uses stories with persona dolls to provide teacher candidates with the opportunity to practice culturally responsive pedagogy in their class library literature selections. After 10 weeks of listening to diverse stories and creating bibliographies that provide the persona dolls with "mirrors," teacher candidates reflected on their level of comfort and plans to include diverse representations in their future class libraries. All teacher candidate participants claimed to plan to include diverse representations related to race and ethnicity and abilities. An overwhelming majority claimed to plan including diverse representations related to religion, language, and family structure. Yet, barely half claimed to plan to include diverse representations of gender in their future class libraries. Reasons teacher candidates provided for not including diverse representations of gender include (a) that children are too young, (b) fear related to parental and administrative response, (c) feeling uneducated about gender diversity, and (d) religious beliefs.

The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have short- and long-term psycho-social consequences on individuals besides serious physical and mental effects, especially for young people. These days, when psychological problems are more noticeable, especially in young athletes, it is possible to trigger various anxiety disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress caused by the pandemic. Considering that psychological characteristics such as depression, anxiety, and stress in young people may increase the risk of psycho-social disorders, this study aims to examine the effect of the fear of COVID-19 on the depression, anxiety, and stress levels of undergraduate athlete students and to seek an answer to the question of whether psychological resilience has a mediating role. The research was carried out with 372 athlete students studying at the undergraduate level and continuing their sports lives actively. Structural equation modeling was used to determine the direct and indirect predictive effects between variables in data analysis. The results of the study show that psychological resilience has a significant predictor effect on depression, anxiety, and stress.

The purpose of this study was to assess in-service preschool teachers' and preschool teacher candidates' levels of Nomophobia (NO MObile PHone phOBIA) and FoMO (Fear of Missing Out). This study is a quantitative one in its nature, and rests on the correlational survey design from descriptive research models. We recruited a total of 310 participants in the study group. We collected data through the Nomophobia Questionnaire and the FOMO Scale. We found that both the in-service preschool teachers and the preschool teacher candidates had severe levels of nomophobia and moderate levels of FoMO. The in-service preschool teachers' nomophobia scores did not differ significantly by age groups, but there was a statistically significant difference in their FoMO scores among age groups. Moreover, there were statistically significant differences between the in-service preschool teachers and the preschool teacher candidates' nomophobia and FoMO scores. Accordingly, the preschool teacher candidates had higher mean scores in their nomophobia and FoMO levels when compared with the in-service ones. Based on these findings, new inquiries about/into teachers' nomophobia and FoMO levels should be done to be able to make comparisons. Further, it could give fruitful results to recruit teachers from different branches. Another suggestion is to test teachers' nomophobia and FoMO levels in terms of demographics, particularly respecting gender and marital status as well as culture so that the justifications could be made about the results.

Background: Fear of negative evaluation, defined as a sense of dread associated with being unfavorably evaluated in a social situation, is the primary factor underlying student anxiety in college science courses and is disproportionately experienced by students who are underserved in science. Yet, it is unknown why fear of negative evaluation disproportionately affects these students and what can be done to reduce student fear of negative evaluation. Academic social comparison describes how students perceive themselves compared to their peers with regard to desirability as a groupmate, the extent they fit in among others in their major, and academic talent. We hypothesize that academic social comparison mediates the relationship between student identities and fear of negative evaluation, where individuals with underserved identities in science may perceive themselves as "less than" their peers, contributing to their fear of negative evaluation. We surveyed 909 undergraduate science majors across 15 research-intensive institutions in the United States (U.S.) to assess: (1) To what extent do student identities predict fear of negative evaluation among science undergraduates? and (2) For identities that significantly predict fear of negative evaluation, to what extent does academic social comparison mediate the relationship? We used regression, single-mediator models, and multi-mediator models to address our research questions. Results: Women/non-binary and LGBTQ + science majors reported disproportionately high fear of negative evaluation compared to men and non-LGBTQ + science majors. Women/non-binary and LGBTQ + students also expressed lower academic social comparison relative to their respective counterparts, meaning they perceive themselves as less than their peers with regard to their desirability as a groupmate, the extent to which they fit in among others in their major, and their academic talent. Academic social comparison partially mediated the relationship between fear of negative evaluation and both gender and LGBTQ + status. Major fit, defined as the extent to which students perceive they fit in among others in their major, was found to be the primary mediating subconstruct of academic social comparison for both gender and LGBTQ + identities. Conclusions: Women/non-binary and LGBTQ + science majors perceive themselves as less than their peers to a greater extent than men and non-LGBTQ + science majors, contributing to their higher fear of negative evaluation in college science course. Major fit, defined as the extent to which students feel they fit in with others in their major, is the subconstruct of academic social comparison that had the strongest influence on fear of negative evaluation in our sample. Academic social comparison is a promising target for future efforts aimed at decreasing fear of negative evaluation in active learning college science courses.

This study examines how Black graduate women respond to gendered-racial microaggressions at a historically White institution. Using Critical Race Theory and Critical Race Feminism, this study also explores the social and psychological factors that contribute to their responses. Data suggest that participants' responses are influenced by stereotype threat and a fear of perpetuating the "angry Black woman" stereotype. Findings show that this fear caused participants to self-silence as a form of protection. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are provided.

This study used a capability approach to investigate Saudi women's empowerment experiences and their capabilities in decision-making regarding choosing their university majors. Further, the study explored what capabilities women required to make decisions regarding their majors at university. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with 26 women, comprising graduates, students, and faculty members. Results revealed that new legislation and regulations in Saudi Arabia have positively influenced sociocultural transformation. However, in small cities and nonurban settings, women may struggle to reject traditional social norms despite their empowerment. The findings indicate that encouraging students' voluntary work and their membership in groups and organisations, as well as ensuring diverse hiring practices are in place in rural areas and small cities, could support a more general acceptance of women's empowerment.

Despite the disruptive effects of COVID-19 on higher education institutions, the pandemic has enforced the intensive and sustained integration of new digital technologies and platforms into Education, a case that has instigated new contexts for online learning research. A considerable proportion of empirical literature advocates that perceived fear associated with the pandemic is positively related to protection motivation and, hence, online learning acceptance. The current study aims to extend one of the prominent technology acceptance theories, namely, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), and diffusion of innovation of theory (DIT) to investigate the acceptance and adoption of learning management systems (LMS) among students and faculty. A cross-sectional survey study has been conducted in a higher education institution in Oman, involving a sample of undergraduate students and faculty. The findings have indicated that perceived corona fear has significantly influenced perceived effort expectancy and performance expectancy, whereas facilitating conditions and technological innovativeness, contrary to the forecasts, have not significantly affected intention. Based on its findings, the current study suggests several practical implications for promoting the pedagogical efficacy of online learning elements within comprehensive blended learning models in higher education institutions in the post-pandemic era.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is strongly associated with socio-cognitive impairments that may result in vulnerability to other mental health conditions, particularly anxiety disorders. This study examined the relationship between anxiety disorders and two key socio-cognitive impairments (cognitive empathy, affective empathy) in 60 adolescents (aged 11-18 years) with and without ASD. Adolescents with ASD showed cognitive empathy was negatively associated with separation anxiety disorder, whereas positive associations between affective empathy and generalized anxiety disorder, and positive marginal associations between affective empathy, social phobia, total anxiety, and separation anxiety disorder were observed. These findings suggest that cognitive and affective empathy show different patterns of associations with anxiety-related issues in ASD, and these differences should be considered for interventions and treatment programs.

There is a noticeable absence of scholarship on student-on-student bullying at institutes of higher education in the Caribbean. As a result, this study investigated the phenomenon at a national university in Trinidad and Tobago using a phenomenological case study approach to gather data via semi-structured interviews from five undergraduate and graduate students and a within-case analysis conducted. Thematic analyses revealed nine themes (loneliness, fear, intimidation, low self-esteem, embarrassment, power imbalance, lack of immediate action/indifference, harassment, and quitting). The findings indicated that bullied students feared attending lectures, felt intimidated, disheartened, depressed, anxious, disenchanted, disillusioned, had trouble concentrating on their course of study and had suicidal ideations. These findings inform understandings of student bullying at institutes of higher education and how Caribbean universities can better support students who experience student-on-student bullying on campus. This study has the potential to advance knowledge and improve policy and practice in higher education in the region.

Objective: The present study aimed to determine correlates of adherence to COVID-19 health precautions among college students. Drawing from the literature, the following constructs were considered: self-efficacy, conscientiousness, social support, collectivism, empathy, and fear of COVID. Participants: Undergraduate students (N = 92) recruited from psychology classes and social media, living on and off-campus, served as participants during fall 2020. Methods: Participants completed a short self-report survey, delivered online, measuring adherence to COVID-19 health precautions and its possible correlates. Results: After preliminary comparisons showing no differences in adherence between students living on and off-campus, linear regression analyses of the complete sample revealed that the significant predictors of adherence were conscientiousness, collectivism, empathy, and fear of COVID. Conclusions: College student adherence was largely driven by interpersonal motivators coupled with a modest level of fear, rather than more general constructs. These findings offer implications for considering targets in public health campaigns delivered to college students.

Objective: During public health emergencies such as the ongoing COVID-19 illness pandemic, it is essential to rapidly disseminate crisis messages which often contain embedded health directives. This study investigated which of three variants of the same messages (neutral tone, positive/compassionate tone, negative/fear-inducing tone) were most likely to motivate readers to engage in the health behavior proscribed in the message. Participants: Participants were 87 female and 41 male undergraduates at an urban university in the northeast U.S. Methods: A survey with three versions of eight different COVID messages containing health directives was administered. Results: Those who indicated stronger influence of positive/compassionate crisis messages (i.e., had higher Crisis Messages Survey scores) had higher adaptive health engagement scores, lower worry scores, and were likely to have had a past diagnosis of COVID-19. Moreover, a regression model including COVID-19 status and worry scores accounted for a significant proportion of variance in Crisis Messages Survey scores. Conclusions: Findings indicate that the use of neutral and compassionate language is optimal in motivating health behaviors embedded in university crisis messages.

Purpose: This paper aims to address weight-based bullying as a persistent issue among adolescents. Fat phobia, rooted in societal biases against overweight individuals, leads to social exclusion and discrimination, negatively impacting mental health and equality. Educational settings suffer from the profound effects of fat phobia, creating a toxic atmosphere that distracts from learning and marginalizes students who don't conform to traditional physical norms. Design/methodology/approach: This paper combines historical analysis, literature review and critical discourse analysis. It examines the historical roots of fat phobia, explores the impact of societal influences, analyzes contemporary educational practices and the use of popular culture as a innovative tool. Findings: Leveraging popular culture in anti-fat phobia education effectively challenges stereotypes. Educators empower students to critically analyze media depictions, encouraging empathy and inclusivity. Current events serve as critical teaching tools, sparking discussions on intersecting discrimination forms and equity. Practical implications: This paper emphasizes the urgent need to comprehensively address fat phobia in education, advocating for a shift in societal attitudes toward body diversity. Popular culture can serve as an educational tool to create inclusive classrooms where all students are valued and free from weight-based discrimination. Social implications: This paper emphasizes the urgent need to comprehensively address fat phobia in education, advocating for a shift in societal attitudes toward body diversity. Popular culture can serve as an educational tool to create inclusive classrooms where all students are valued and free from weight-based discrimination. Originality/value: The originality and value of this paper lie in its multi-faceted approach to examining weight-based discrimination, its historical context, practical educational strategies, and the innovative use of popular culture as a tool for promoting inclusivity and empathy.

While films are popular as teaching tools in social work education, to critique social inequalities, horror films have not been the conventional genre. This teaching note describes the creation and deployment of a course that uses horror films to address social justice issues as part of different critical reflection, which is linked to practice wisdom. The author describes the structure of course, readings, activities, and reflections for expanding the use of this genre and well as limitations. The use of horror films can be a useful and salient tool to engage students to draw upon social constructions of what it means to be fearful or scared, and teach about infractions to human nature from a social work perspective. Broad implications are discussed, including other genres and the availability of resources to replicate this course in other settings.

Smartphone ownership and engagement are at an all-time high. Excessive smartphone use may impart smartphone-specific anxiety; specifically, the fear of being unable to access or use one's smartphone, or nomophobia. Young adults, in particular, are at higher risk for nomophobia, given higher ownership of and engagement with smartphones. Notably, little research has been done in a Canadian context. Objective: To conduct an environmental scan of nomophobia prevalence in a Canadian university. Participants: Full-time and part-time university students. Methods: The Nomophobia Questionnaire and demographics were collected via mass emailer of all students at the host institution (n = 1,002). Results: Findings indicate moderate-to-high levels of nomophobia among respondents, with nearly a quarter of respondents reporting severe nomophobia. Respondents who identified as women were an undergraduate, and/or owned an Apple device reported significantly higher nomophobia. Conclusions: This study provides evidence for comparable levels of nomophobia between Canadian post-secondary students and recent global research. Future research should explore nomophobia within a more nationally representative sample.

To examine mental health status, COVID-19 vaccine intention and barriers among college students in the U.S. Participants: Students (n = 337) registered at a large public university in 2021. Methods: Cross-sectional survey data were collected online and analyzed using independent samples t test, chi-square test, and one-way ANOVA. Results: Compared to male students, females reported greater anxiety (p < 0.05) and fear (p < 0.01). Hispanic participants reported increased anxiety level and the least positive pandemic coping strategies (both p < 0.05) across the ethnic groups. Black students were the racial group with the lowest trust in the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine (p < 0.05). Vaccine intention was positively correlated with factors such as vaccine safety measures, and perceptions toward vaccination (both p < 0.001). Conclusions: These gender- and ethnicity- based mental health struggles should be addressed immediately for better health and vaccine promotion outcomes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To determine if a peer-led concussion reporting worksheet activity could elucidate barriers to reporting in collegiate athletes. Participants: Five hundred and three athletes from 7 universities across all three NCAA divisions. Methods: A supplementary qualitative analysis of responses to a concussion reporting worksheet completed during an RCT of a novel peer concussion education program. The first column of the worksheet required participants to list thoughts that prevent reporting and the second column required replacement thoughts that facilitate reporting. Results: A qualitative phenomenological thematic analysis of responses to the first column of the worksheets identified themes that coalesced into three areas: (1) missing out on athletic and social events, (2) losing one's competitive edge, and (3) negative interpersonal interaction/self-perception. Conclusions: Barriers to concussion reporting from several areas central to the collegiate athlete experience were identified. These barriers should be considered during clinical assessment and when developing concussion education programs.

Based on investment theories and guided by Mussel's (2013) intellect model, the present study investigated reciprocal relations over 1 year (2021-2022) between investment traits (need for cognition, achievement motives, epistemic curiosity) and fluid and crystallized cognitive abilities in 565 German elementary school children (298 girls; M[subscript age] = 8.40, SD = 0.59; 59.5% with immigration background). Children's fluid and crystallized abilities increased over time, whereas fear of failure and curiosity decreased. Investment traits barely predicted change in cognitive abilities. However, mathematical ability predicted change in most investment traits (0.14 [less than or equal to] |[beta]| [less than or equal to] 0.20), even after accounting for control variables. Results largely contradict investment theories but support the role of crystallized abilities for the development of investment traits in elementary school age.

The normal lives of schools were significantly affected by the recent global pandemic. Some countries closed all schools nationally, others such as the USA closed at a local level according to state law. Much of the focus of research in this area is on the effect on children and learning loss, but this paper uses secondary analysis of data from a project on primary/secondary school transition in England to examine the experience of teaching in a pandemic, with a particular focus on pedagogy and professionalism. It presents our findings of a significant impact on teachers' professional lives in England; from the pedagogic difficulties of teaching online, dealing with the anxieties and fears of themselves and others, providing support in ways hitherto beyond their experience, increased and different workloads. Some embraced the positive challenge, but many found their mental health suffered.

This article argues that hope is not an adequate affective response to dread. Indeed, hope and dread are more closely aligned than either critical or postcritical forms of educational philosophy would like to admit. The article proposes a shift from hope to joy as an under appreciated educational affect. To make this claim, the author pivots to Spinoza's emphasis on joy as an affect that increases one's potential to think and act in a world with others as a new starting point for education in dreadful times. The article also offers a Spinozian reading of Freire that unlocks the joyful dimensions of his work, especially through his reflections on laughter. In conclusion, a hopelessly joyful affective orientation is called for as a form of passionate educational experimentation with the potentiality of the world.

Accelerating digitization, algorithmic computation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, along with the increasing automation of work, communication, and everyday life, are central to critical studies of technology and political economy, as well as to public discourse concerning technology's role in creating futures. Ongoing transformations in technological capacity have also been scrutinized for their impact on experience, emotion, and culture. Building on David Theo Goldberg's assertion that "tracking capitalism" creates pervasive dread, this article explores how the digital automation of education, specifically, generates forms of "algorithmic anxiety" that impact teaching and learning, constraining pedagogical visions of alternative futures. Algorithmic anxiety in education contributes to dread's proliferation. If dread is the "driving social sensibility" today, and algorithmic anxiety a pedagogical vector of its spread, then a less dreadful education should center an imaginative struggle for new sensibilities.

Objective: Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) proprietors strategically placed near college campuses and pervasive marketing on social media platforms, such as Facebook, are critical to the tobacco industry's effort to acquire new young adult users. Understanding the themes used on Facebook to promote ENDS products to college students is necessary to develop public health messaging to combat the vaping epidemic. Methods: We identified 15 ENDS proprietors located near four Big 10 universities and qualitatively analyzed a random sample of their Facebook posts (n = 405) to identify emerging themes using a grounded theory approach. Results: ENDS proprietors in college towns use Facebook to deploy "promotional" messaging (n = 319), to market ENDS products as a means of celebration (n = 40), to establish a sense of "community" (n = 155) among ENDS users, to make "marijuana references" (n = 36), and to "advocate" (n = 27) for ENDS products. Conclusions: These themes may increase social acceptability and use of ENDS products among college students.

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule for Children-Short Form (PANAS-C-SF) in a diverse sample of 15-year-olds in the United States [N = 4382]. Multiple measurement models, including a one-factor model, two-factor orthogonal and oblique models, a three-factor model (PA, Fear, and Distress), and a bifactor model, were tested. The results supported a three-factor structure, with distinct factors for PA, Fear, and Distress. The PANAS-C-SF scores evidenced good internal consistency reliability. Measurement invariance analyses indicated that the three-factor structure was invariant across gender and racial-ethnic groups, suggesting the generalizability of the PANAS-C-SF across diverse populations. Furthermore, the three factors demonstrated criterion validity, with PA positively associated with life satisfaction and meaning in life, and Distress negatively associated with these outcomes. These findings support the psychometric properties of the PANAS-C-SF, highlighting its practical utility in assessing affect across diverse adolescent population.

The paper analyses an institutional approach and international faculty responses to implementation of social-distancing measures during COVID-19 on a residential campus of an international university in Kazakhstan. Terror-Management Theory is used to interpret the behavioral responses of the faculty. The theory predicts three types of international faculty responses to the conscious fear of death from COVID-19--death avoidance, death acceptance, and death negation. These responses determine the extent of compliance with social distance-control measures. In addition three anxiety-buffering mechanisms proposed by the theory--commitment to particular worldviews, self-esteem enhancement and maintenance of social connections--serve as factors of variation in responses. Implications are drawn from the results about the relevance of the theory to the analysis of campus population responses to COVID-19-control measures on domestic and international campuses. Recommendations for university administrators at international universities are made about managing the three types of responses.

Studies showed that fear of negative evaluation of students may affect their academic motivation. However, which variables mediate between academic motivation and fear of negative evaluation is unclear. This study aims to explore the mediating role of cognitive flexibility and critical thinking in the relationship between academic motivation and fear of negative evaluation in adolescents. A correlational design was used to examine this relationship. A total of 2085 adolescents ages 13-14 (65% female) participated in this study. The data were collected via self-report screening tools, including a personal information form, Academic Motivation Scale, Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, Cognitive Flexibility Scale, and Critical Thinking Scale. The findings revealed a moderate negative correlation between academic motivation and fear of negative evaluation (r = -0.49), and cognitive flexibility and critical thinking also partially mediate. This model explains approximately 41% of the total variance. Despite some limitations, our study provides partial evidence of the mediating effect of cognitive flexibility and critical thinking between academic motivation and fear of negative evaluation. More research is needed to develop the model.

This study assessed the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Preschool Anxiety Scale--Revised (PAS-R), a parent-reported measure of their preschool child's anxiety symptoms. The participants were mothers of 279 Italian preschoolers (age 2-7 years, M = 4.5 years). According to information criteria derived from a confirmatory factor analysis, the four originally identified factors (generalized anxiety, social anxiety, separation anxiety, specific fears) provided the best fit to the data. Reliability was excellent for the total score and acceptable for the subscales. PAS-R total score showed moderate correlation with internalizing subscales of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and of the Child Behavior Checklist and weak correlation with the externalizing subscale of the SDQ, demonstrating convergent and concurrent validity, respectively. Test-retest reliability of the PAS-R was good after 1 month. The results suggest good psychometric properties of the Italian PAS-R, although its factor structure needs further investigation with different samples.

Increasingly, immigration policies are understood as structural determinants, rooted in racism, nativism, and ethnocentrism, which raise serious public health concerns for Latinx adolescents' mental health. Our objective was to examine how immigration policy enforcement affects mental health of Latinx youth raised in a county with an aggressive interior immigration enforcement program. From 2009 to 2021, Gwinnett County, GA, led the nation in deportations under the 287(g) program as a "universal enforcement model," where local law enforcement were deputized to detain undocumented immigrants, primarily through traffic violations. From June to July 2022, we followed a participatory action research approach with two groups of Latinx youth who grew up in Gwinnett County. In total, 10 youth took photos related to the research question, and engaged in facilitated dialogue using photovoice guide SHOWED/VENCER for four, 2-hour sessions that were audio-recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were analyzed following grounded theory principles to arrive at a conceptual model codeveloped and validated by youth. Youth described how 287(g) led to policing and deportation in their communities, fueling stereotypes, and discrimination that criminalized Latinx immigrants. Youth linked immigration enforcement policies like 287(g) to exclusionary systems that contributed to fear, marginalization, and loss in their communities, bringing experiences of sadness, grief, isolation, hopelessness, and low self-worth. From youth-driven research, we identified mental health implications of the 287(g) program among Latinx youth. The cascading harms of immigration enforcement policies highlight the need to address these policies and identify immediate strategies to promote Latinx youth mental health.

Hossler and Gallagher's college choice model is a foundational model for understanding students' college choice experience. Various scholars have critiqued the model for assuming that all students have equitable access to college information and resources. Therefore, building on the literature on Latinx undocumented students college access experience, this paper offers a reconceptualization of Hossler and Gallagher's linear college choice model that centers the experiences of Latinx undocumented students. The model highlights findings from the literature, such as how undocumented status, immigration policies, family, high school networks, and financial aid are fundamental to Latinx undocumented student's college choice experience. The reimagined non-linear model focuses on three stages: predisposition phase, search phase, and choice phase. Two key aspect throughout the model is: undocumented status consciousness and fear and trust immigration status disclosure. The revised model serves a conceptual framework for practitioners, policymakers, and college access scholars to create equitable access opportunities for Latinx undocumented students.

Compassion and self-compassion have significant benefits for well-being and mental health. Recent literature has demonstrated that some individuals experience fear when receiving compassion from oneself or others. Fear of compassion from oneself, from others, and for others are separate but related constructs that have been strongly linked to self-criticism, depression, anxiety, and stress among college students. The present study examines how fears of compassion (measured by the Fear of Compassion scales) relate to Big Five personality traits (measured by the NEO Five Factor Inventory; Costa & McCrae, 1992) in college students. Bivariate correlational analyses revealed fear of compassion to be correlated positively with neuroticism and negatively with extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. These findings add to the literature in understanding which individuals harbor fear of compassion. Clinical implications and recommendations are discussed.

Background: College students frequently identify social media sites (SMSs) as in-class distractions, although students continue to use these sites during class. In a technology-driven world, students' fear of missing out (FOMO) may drive SMS behaviors, whereby classes and study time serve as obstacles to fulfilling one's social desires. Objective: The current study investigated whether students' use of SMSs during class and study time was predicted by demographic characteristics and students' FOMO. Method: Participants (N = 198) completed an online survey assessing their media use during class and study time, FOMO, and their perceived advantages/disadvantages of media use. Results: In-class Twitter and Instagram use were predicted by students' FOMO, whereas Snapchat and Facebook use were only predicted by age. Age also predicted Snapchat use during study time. Most participants indicated that media was a distraction, while also reporting a range of benefits from media multitasking. Conclusion: Given that students recognize both benefits and drawbacks of media multitasking, they may trade-off between their desire to engage with learning materials and their desire to stay socially connected with others. Teaching Implications: Educators can begin to address the socio-emotional needs of students through modifications made to course design and student-centered learning materials.

This study explores the sophomore year, a critical juncture during the undergraduate experience with notable attrition rates. By dissecting environmental, academic, and situational determinants, this study provides insightful perspective by delving into the student narrative, enriching the existing literature. Employing semi-structured interviews, eighteen undergraduates were interviewed regarding the factors shaping their academic accomplishments, motivation levels, temporal outlook, and metacognitive proficiencies. Through these anecdotal recollections, the objective was to grasp factors that students associated with their success and resilience during their sophomore experience. To extend the analysis, third-year students were interviewed to discern influences on their navigation from the sophomore to junior year. Thematic analysis extracted key recurrent themes from the transcripts. Grounded theory's qualitative framework, as articulated by Creswell and Poth (2018), was employed to capture the essence of the second-year students' encounters within the institutional context.

Collaboration is an important aspect of computing. In a classroom setting, working with others can increase a student's motivation to attempt more challenges, reduce the difficulty of complicated concepts, and bring about greater overall success. Despite extensive research in other domains, there has been minimal exploration within computing on what impacts a student's decision to seek social assistance in highly competitive university environments. To understand what affects introductory programming students' social help-seeking behavior in this context, we conducted 32 semi-structured interviews with students and performed thematic analysis and qualitative coding on the ensuing transcripts. Our qualitative analysis revealed 18 significant factors. We noticed that the decision to seek social help involved a two-fold process: first, the decision to engage in social help-seeking, and subsequently, the decision of who to ask for help. Furthermore, we found that help-seeking in computing is not fundamentally different from other disciplines, although some of the factors were unique to the topic of computing and the specific environment of this study. Factors related to communication style, the type of question being asked, and the school's cheating policy were central when discussing code, an integral part of computing. Regarding the environment, students repeatedly reported that the competitive major, the explicit and implicit class standards, and feelings of intimidation, among others, influenced them. These findings suggest that understanding both steps and the sociocultural context is important in order to effectively lower the barriers to asking for help.

The parents of 413 children with typical development (TD) or special educational needs (SEN) filled in an online survey to investigate the associations between the restrictions introduced to face COVID-19 and parenting stress and parental disciplinary practices. The parents of children with SEN showed a significantly higher stress level than TD children's parents. However, they showed a lower inclination to overreact. In both groups, the parents who feel less supported, feel their needs threatened, and report having a child with more difficulties were more likely to exhibit parenting stress. Data on the associations between COVID-19 restrictions and the stress perceived by parents could help to focus the attention of the public health system on their parents' needs, leading to practices aimed to prevent parenting stress and burnout.

Background: The psychological well-being of students may be especially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; international students can lack local support systems and represent a higher risk subgroup. Methods: Self-reported depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, alcohol use, academic stress, and loneliness were examined in two cohorts of university students (March 2020 n = 207, March 2021 n = 142). We investigated differences i) between 2020 and 2021, ii) between domestic and international students, and iii) whether differences between the two cohorts were moderated by student status. Results: More depressive symptoms, academic stress, and loneliness were reported in 2021. International students reported more depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, anxiety, PTSD, academic stress, and loneliness. The main effect of cohort was not moderated by student status. Conclusions: International students had worse mental health outcomes overall, but were not affected more by the COVID-19 pandemic than domestic students.