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The transition from adolescence to young adulthood is a critical period in the development of an individual's long-term health behaviour. Health literacy is a critical factor in promoting and maintaining health-enhancing behaviours and preventing non-communicable diseases. Undergraduate students often have limited health literacy, regardless of their educational experience. This quantitative study compared the health literacy of a sample of undergraduate students enrolled in degree programmes in the Faculty of Health Sciences with a similar sample from the Faculty of Humanities at a South African university. The Health Literacy Questionnaire was used to measure health literacy across nine subscales. The sample included 77 participants (n = 77). An independent samples t -test and Mann–Whitney U test were employed to compare the health literacy of students from the two faculties. The study found that students enrolled in the Faculty of Health Sciences generally demonstrated higher health literacy levels across several subscales compared to those from the Faculty of Humanities. This research contributes to understanding the disparities in health literacy among undergraduate students across distinct academic disciplines, underscoring the importance of implementing interventions to enhance health-related knowledge within specific academic domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of rock climbers were classified into two categories, deliberate or precautionary risk-takers, using the Risk-Taking Inventory (RTI). The aim of the study was to determine if these categories played a role in sensation-seeking behaviour. The study also aimed to determine if the type of risk-taking behaviour correlated with the number of injuries sustained by the participants. The study was quantitative in nature and an exploratory design was used. A sample of 70 rock climbers from the Mountain Club of South Africa participated. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the RTI and the Sensation Seeking Scale-V. Non-parametric statistics were used. The results revealed statistically significant differences between the two risk-taking groups on the total score of the Sensation Seeking Scale-V and its subscales of Disinhibition and Boredom Susceptibility. No significant correlations were observed between the RTI groups and the number of injuries sustained. A significant positive correlation was, however, found between the number of injuries and number of years rock climbing. The results indicated that being a precautionary or deliberate risktaker will have an impact on rock climbers' sensation-seeking behaviour but will have no effect on the number of injuries these groups sustain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of research shows that video games may be used to enhance cognitive skills, with particular reference to attentional abilities. This research study explored the effects of video game playing on visual selective attention in a young adult sample. A secondary research objective explored the possibility that gender acted as a moderating variable with regard to their visual selective attention. This was achieved by means of a quantitative research design, which consisted of a survey research and a quasi-experimental research design. Participants were sampled using purposive sampling (n = 80), and to test the effects of video game playing and gender on visual selective attention, participants were exposed to a computerised version of the Stroop task. Data were analysed using a two-way between-group analysis of variance (ANOVA) and results indicated a statistically significant difference in visual selective attention abilities between video game players and the non-players. Video gamers thus exhibited more advanced attentional skills than non-players. There were no interaction effects between video game playing and gender, and gender did not have a statistically significant main effect on participants' visual selective attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, knowledge is limited about how high school rugby players experience cognitive and somatic anxiety when playing competitive rugby. The first aim of the study was to determine if high school rugby players displayed significant differences in cognitive and somatic anxiety before and after an important rugby match. The second aim sought to determine to what extent the important rugby match alters the cognitive and somatic anxiety experienced by high school rugby players. In order to realize these aims, high school rugby players were compared to male adolescents who were not participating in any type of sport. A purposeful sample of 10 first team high school rugby players and 10 male adolescents not participating in any type of sport was drawn from a high school situated in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Cognitive anxiety was measured through the administration of the State and Trait Anxiety subscales of the State- Trait Personality Inventory Form Y (STPI-Y) and the Sport Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT). Somatic anxiety was measured by investigating the salivary cortisol levels of the rugby players. A baseline measure, along with measures on the day of an important rugby match and one week after the important rugby match were taken. Statistical analysis within the group of rugby players revealed that significant differences occurred in the state anxiety and SCAT scores. No significant differences occurred within the cortisol measures. When the rugby players were compared to adolescents not participating in any type of sport, significant differences were observed between the two groups on state anxiety and SCAT scores. No differences with regards to cortisol levels had occurred. It was concluded that the rugby players had experienced cognitive but not somatic anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]