Antecedents of academic performance of university students: academic engagement and psychological capital resources

Predicting academic performance is of key importance to the success, wellbeing and prosperity of students, their families, the economy, and the society at large. This study investigates the relationship between academic engagement, psychological capital (PsyCap) and academic performance. Data were collected in two different universities, one in Spain and another in Portugal. Students completed two self-report questionnaires regarding academic engagement and Psychological Capital. Academic performance was assessed through Grade Point Average, provided by the universities at the end of the exam period. The samples consisted of 389 and 243 undergraduate students, respectively. Results showed a positive relationship between academic engagement and PsyCap, on the one hand, and academic performance on the other, in both samples. Results also supported PsyCap as a full mediator in the relationship between academic engagement and academic performance. Exploration of alternative models yielded superior fit for the proposed model. Accordingly, academically engaged students were likely to experience higher levels of PsyCap, which in turn positively impacted their academic performance. The results point to the importance of considering psychological predictors, rather than the prevalent reliance on traditional predictors of academic performance

Mapping Fertility Trajectories: An Endarkened Narrative Inquiry of Black Women's Fertility Experiences and Pathways through Infertility Treatment

While existing literature has documented barriers and facilitators of Black women’s access to infertility treatment, scholars have a limited understanding of the experiences of Black women who have initiated medically assisted reproduction treatment modalities, including medicated timed intercourse, intrauterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization. This dissertation examined Black women’s perceptions about the causes of their infertility and how they describe their trajectories through fertility care and medically assisted reproduction treatment. Using data from the Morehouse School of Medicine’s Fertility Equity Study (2021-2023), an endarkened narrative inquiry with thematic and structural analytic approaches was performed to analyze Black women’s infertility experiences. Informed by reproductive justice and Black feminism, a combination of deductive and inductive approaches was used to code and analyze transcripts from semi-structured interviews conducted with 41 Black women. Journey maps were created from participant narratives to examine trajectories through infertility treatment and identify opportunities to optimize Black women’s fertility experiences. Preliminary learnings from the analyses were validated and expanded with Fertility Equity Study participants who joined virtual listening sessions. The learnings from this research provide a nuanced understanding of Black women’s experiences navigating systems of care to address challenges related to their unique process of conception or childbearing. This research revealed that Black women most often attribute reproductive health conditions such as fibroids, polycystic ovarian syndrome, or male factor infertility as causes of their infertility. Inadequate health education and counseling and discrimination contributed to delayed diagnoses of reproductive health conditions. The results also indicate that a lack of fertility benefits in health insurance plans, and out-of-pocket expenses for treatment, medication, genetic screening, and donor eggs and sperm are significant barriers to initiating or continuing medically assisted reproduction. Disappointment from failed treatment cycles and pregnancy losses contributed to mental health challenges, including anxiety. Further, partners, online fertility support groups, Black women health care providers, and one’s spiritual relationships were common sources of support, resources, or guidance. These results illustrate challenges that Black women experience in fertility care and medically assisted reproduction even with health insurance, and the ways in which Black women leverage systems of social support and their spirituality to navigate care.Doctor of Philosoph

Hosteria San Fernando.

La hostería San Fernando es un lugar de hospedaje enfocado en entregar a sus huéspedes una experiencia única en contacto con la naturaleza, esto con el objetivo de que ellos puedan disfrutar de la extraordinaria biodiversidad con la que cuenta la Ave. Ruta de los volcanes en la cual está ubicada la hostería. La hostería lleva su nombre debido a que está ubicada en el sector de San Fernando. El ambiente de la esta será rustico y campestre, el cual se complementará perfectamente con los maravillosos paisajes que se pueden encontrar alrededor de la hostería, brindando a sus huéspedes un ambiente agradable y totalmente natural. En la hostería se evitara el contacto de los huéspedes con la tecnología, proporcionándoles únicamente wi- fi en las cabañas, no se contara con radio, televisión, entre otros, con el objetivo de que los huéspedes vivan una experiencia en la naturaleza que no se vea interrumpida por la tecnologí