Stress and Social Media: Can Using Facebook Impact the Anticipatory Stress Response in Athletes?

The proportion of young adults on social media sites has grown in recent years. While some young adults find enjoyment in these sites, they cause stress and anxiety in others. Additionally, although many athletes experience stress prior to competition, it is unclear if social media use could modulate this stress. The aim of the present study is to determine if Facebook use influences the anticipatory stress response demonstrated in athletes before the start of a competition. In this study, undergraduate students competing in club sports spent time before each of two competitions either engaging in their normal pre-game routine or on their Facebook account, and submitted a saliva sample before and after that time period to assess for salivary cortisol concentration. Athletes demonstrated a significant increase in cortisol concentration before competition (p=0.001) and Facebook use modulated the stress-induced increase in cortisol in females, as there was a significant decrease in cortisol concentration in the female athlete that did not use Facebook (p=0.0325). This suggests that social media use prior to an athletic competition might have differential impacts on stress levels in some users. Because anticipatory stress is a widespread phenomenon and can be found outside of the context of athletics, this study provides evidence that staying away from Facebook during the anticipatory period could be a simple and effective way to reduce stress, especially in the female undergraduate athlete population

Undergraduates and Stress

America is facing a serious mental health crisis, which may be an effect of increased chronic stress. Students, in particular, are vulnerable to this hazard as most face a moderate to extreme amount of stress. The programs which colleges and universities have put into place are outdated. Ineffective treatment of mental health crises leads to disastrous consequences. The present study analyzed the effects of major and grade level on stress level and sources of stress for undergraduate universities at both a large, public university and a small, private college. The author found that a student’s grade level and choice of major both significantly affect their sources of stress. Further research would support the implementation of new programs at colleges and universities to address the diversity of their students’ stressors

Effects of the internet, other media and study time on wellbeing and academic attainment of university students

There has been considerable research on the effects of the internet and other media on the academic attainment of university students. Less is known about effects on wellbeing, and studies have rarely controlled for other established predictors of attainment (e.g. conscientiousness) and wellbeing (e.g. stressors; negative coping; positive personality and social support). Three hundred and thirteen university students completed an online survey involving the Student Wellbeing Process Questionnaire and questions about internet use, interference from the internet, and studying time. Grade Point Average (GPA) scores for the students were added to the database. The results showed that hours of internet/media use were significantly correlated with negative wellbeing, lower GPA scores, and negative coping. Hours studying were significantly correlated with GPA scores and conscientiousness. Internet interference with studying was the strongest predictor. It was negatively correlated with GPA and positive outcomes and positively correlated with negative wellbeing. It was also positively correlated with established predictors of negative wellbeing (stressors and negative coping) and negatively correlated with predictors of positive wellbeing (positive personality; conscientiousness). When the established predictors were statistically controlled, hours spent on the internet and other media were associated with lower academic attainment scores. None of the associations between internet use, internet interference, studying time and wellbeing remained significant when established predictors were controlled for. These results show that many negative outcomes attributed to internet use reflect other correlated attributes. Reduced academic attainment remained significantly associated with internet use, and further research with longitudinal designs (preferably with interventions) is required to investigate underlying causal mechanism

Impacts of Social Media Connection Demands: A Study of Irish College Students

This study investigates the cumulative impacts of connection demands across media channels. A survey with 202 Irish college students showed that the magnitude of connection demands across social media channels increases both negative affect and positive affect. A connection overload path model indicated that difficulties controlling connection habits were related to negative impacts on important life activities, stress, and affect. While negative affect was influenced by connection demands only through an indirect mechanism, there were both indirect and direct links between connection demands and positive affect

RELAX AND LOG ON FACEBOOK: EXAMINING STUDENTS’ USE OF FACEBOOK TO RELIEVE ACADEMIC STRESS THROUGH PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT

College students often times experience academic stress, whether it is due to homework, exams, GPA requirement, or even adapting to the college environment. Social support has been known to reduce stress levels and affect psychological well-being. Social support can also be prevalent on social media sites, such as Facebook. Facebook users can communicate with friends near and far and find the needed support during times of stress. While college students are active Facebook users, little research has examined whether Facebook affects academic stress levels. This study examined if college students use Facebook to gain social support for stress above and beyond psychological uses. Survey results found that escape, relaxation, and social support were inversely associated with academic stress. This suggests that Facebook provides an effective means of dealing with academic stress among college students

Disclosures about important life events on Facebook: Relationship with stress and quality of life

a b s t r a c t The current study examined the relationship between general perceived levels of stress, quality of life, social networking usage, and disclosing important life events on Facebook in order to better understand the complex relationship between online disclosure and individual well-being. An online survey was completed by adult Facebook users aged 18-70. Results indicate that the more time spent on and the more social network memberships, the higher stress and lower quality of life; Facebook-specific usage was unrelated to either well-being variable. Together, these findings suggest that the current increase in social media variety and usage may be detrimental to user well-being. Users who shared important, bad health news on Facebook had higher stress and lower quality of life than those who did not, with no significant differences for sharing good health news. The more that users did not share important news on Facebook for self-protection and friend unresponsiveness reasons, the greater their stress. The self-protection reason was also negatively related to quality of life. These inconsistent findings can likely be partially explained by the nature of the information that is shared. These findings are discussed in light of disclosure and relationship patterns on social networks

Transmission of viral pathogens in a social network of university students: the eX-FLU study

Previous research on respiratory infection transmission among university students has primarily focused on influenza. In this study, we explore potential transmission events for multiple respiratory pathogens in a social contact network of university students. University students residing in on-campus housing (n = 590) were followed for the development of influenza-like illness for 10-weeks during the 2012–13 influenza season. A contact network was built using weekly self-reported contacts, class schedules, and housing information. We considered a transmission event to have occurred if students were positive for the same pathogen and had a network connection within a 14-day period. Transmitters were individuals who had onset date prior to their infected social contact. Throat and nasal samples were analysed for multiple viruses by RT-PCR. Five viruses were involved in 18 transmission events (influenza A, parainfluenza virus 3, rhinovirus, coronavirus NL63, respiratory syncytial virus). Transmitters had higher numbers of co-infections (67%). Identified transmission events had contacts reported in small classes (33%), dormitory common areas (22%) and dormitory rooms (17%). These results suggest that targeting person-to-person interactions, through measures such as isolation and quarantine, could reduce transmission of respiratory infections on campus

Advancing Together. 15th Annual Research Week: Event Proceedings

Presentations of completed and ongoing research activity conducted by graduate students, undergraduate students, and faculty at University of the Incarnate Word. Includes poster, podium, visual arts, interactive demo, creative and performing arts presentations. Coordinated and presented by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies

Exploring the health of university undergraduate students in relation to housing accommodations

This thesis examines the links between type of housing and health of university undergraduate students (n=213) at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). Housing was classified into three categories of housing accommodations: at home with their families, on-campus residences, and off-campus housing. A self-administered health questionnaire was developed for the purpose of this research. The research objectives include: 1) to assess the environmental and personal lifestyle exposures of UOIT undergraduate students, in relation to the three different types of housing accommodations; 2) to assess the general health of UOIT undergraduate students, with a focus on respiratory, gastrointestinal, and dermatological health; and 3) to examine predictors of related health outcomes. Guided by the Population Health Framework, the health questionnaire collected data related to the students??? physical environments, social environments, genetic endowment, individual and behavioral responses, health and function, and health care. Results indicate that most participants live at home with their families. Students living at home reported higher stress levels compared to those living in an on-campus residence building. The prevalence of the studied symptoms are as follows: fair or poor self-rated health (10.8%), respiratory related illness (35.7%), nausea and vomiting (37.6%), and skin irritations (42.3%). Results suggest there are no significant differences in health based on type of housing accommodation

Exploring the health of university undergraduate students in relation to housing accommodations

This thesis examines the links between type of housing and health of university undergraduate students (n=213) at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (University of Ontario Institute of Technology). Housing was classified into three categories of housing accommodations: at home with their families, on-campus residences, and off-campus housing. A self-administered health questionnaire was developed for the purpose of this research. The research objectives include: 1) to assess the environmental and personal lifestyle exposures of University of Ontario Institute of Technology undergraduate students, in relation to the three different types of housing accommodations; 2) to assess the general health of University of Ontario Institute of Technology undergraduate students, with a focus on respiratory, gastrointestinal, and dermatological health; and 3) to examine predictors of related health outcomes. Guided by the Population Health Framework, the health questionnaire collected data related to the students??? physical environments, social environments, genetic endowment, individual and behavioral responses, health and function, and health care. Results indicate that most participants live at home with their families. Students living at home reported higher stress levels compared to those living in an on-campus residence building. The prevalence of the studied symptoms are as follows: fair or poor self-rated health (10.8%), respiratory related illness (35.7%), nausea and vomiting (37.6%), and skin irritations (42.3%). Results suggest there are no significant differences in health based on type of housing accommodation