Predictors of College Success: Symptoms of ADHD, Psychological Well-being, Appreciation of the Liberal Arts, and Understanding of College Policies

The present study was designed to identify predictors of college student success. More specifically, the study examined seven potential predictors for each of three measures of student success. These predictors were year in college, three academic variables and three measures of psychological well-being. It was found that self-identification of ADHD symptoms was a negative predictor of student success, whereas understanding college policies, study skills and appreciation of the liberal arts were all positive predictors of at least one of the measures of student success

Beyond Financial Need: Predictors of Student Loans and Student Loan Attitudes

Although public concern about student loan debt has been increasing, little research has examined predictors of debt beyond financial need or demographic factors. The present study explored the role of several psychological and attitudinal variables in student loan debt among 189 college students. Results indicate that loan initiative and loan resignation attitudes predicted level of student loan debt. In addition, locus of control, delay of gratification, and social comparison are also related to loans and loan attitudes. Parental instruction marginally predicted loan attitudes, but not loan totals. Overall, these results suggest the need to consider non-need based factors when counseling students about accepting loans

The Role of Student Debt and Debt Anxiety in College Student Financial Well-Being

This study examined predictors of three measures of financial well-being in 354 college students. Results suggest that perceptions of debt are important in understanding financial well-being, but these perceptions need to be considered alongside of individual differences in anxiety, optimism, and parental teaching. Further, regression analyses highlighted differences between predictors of perceived financial well-being and more and less frequent money saving behaviors, which may indicate different paths for intervention. Specifically, students reporting engaging in less common financial strain behaviors appear to have more objective financial difficulties, whereas students reporting more common financial strain behaviors report more factors that suggest difficulty with money management skills and those with lower levels of perceived financial well-being report higher levels of worry. Mediational analyses further indicated a potential role for parental intervention to improve perceived financial well-being and decrease unhealthy responses to financial strain

Attitudes toward Credit and Finances among College Students in Brazil and the United States

Although research on credit card debt in developed countries has identified predictors of debt among college students, it is unknown whether these same predictors apply in emerging markets, such as Brazil. To examine this issue, a total of 1257 college students, 814 from Brazil and 443 from the United States, participated in a study exploring the utility of a theory of planned behavior as a predictor of credit card debtand student loans among college students, as well as perceived financial well-being. Compared to the Brazilian participants, the American sample was more financially self-confident, reported better financial well-being, and was more likely to believe that credit cards are negative. Similar predictors of financial well-being emerged in the samples. Specifically, parenting practices related to money and better self-reported delay of gratification are related to more positive financial attitudes and lower levels of debt. Although the debt to income ratio among card holders was similar, Brazilian students held more credit cards than American students. Greater delay of gratification was related to lower levels of student loans in the United States, but there were no significant predictors of student loans in Brazil

Amotivation: A Key Predictor of College GPA, College Match, and First-Year Retention

Two studies examined the relationships between motivational orientation, college student success, and first-year retention.  In Study 1, 523 college students completed measures of motivational orientation and student success.  Results indicated that intrinsic and extrinsic motivation were positively related to college GPA, student-university match and adjustment to college. In contrast, amotivation was negatively related to these dependent variables. Study 2 examined a mediational model in which motivational orientation, most consistently amotivation, predicted lower college student GPA and poorer college match. These, in turn predicted a decrease in first-to-second-year retention among 385 first-year college students. These results suggest that colleges may wish to address amotivation among students as a way to enhance student success and retention.

Parental Perceptions of Children With and Without Learning Disabilities

The present study examined differences in how parents of children with and without learning disabilities perceive their children academically. Of 235 participants, all recruited through Amazon’s MTurk platform, 124 (52%) had a child with a learning disability. Compared to parents of children without learning disabilities, parents who had children with learning disabilities reported that their children were less motivated and that their children cared less about getting good grades. Parents of children with a disability reported lower parental satisfaction compared to parents of children without learning disabilities. Among parents of children with learning disabilities, greater perception of stigma was negatively related to parents’ report of children’s motivation and to parental satisfaction. These results suggest that parents of children with disabilities perceive their children as less motivated and less likely to improve. Further, parents who experience stigma have more negative perceptions than parents of children with disabilities who do not perceive stigma

Ilusão de foco e satisfação com a vida entre universitários em São Paulo e Santa Maria

Literature shows that there are significant associations between health and happiness. Various countries are considering, contemplating or formally incorporating the happiness variable into their public health policies. Moreover, the private sector has shown interest in the topic. Based on that This article examines the biases in the perception of satisfaction with life among young adults in two Brazilian cities. The study explores the associations between aspects of life and perception of happiness because public policies associated with happiness require an improved understanding of the subjectivity of the sense of well-being. A survey conducted among 368 college students enabled analysis through Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) and linear regression. The results suggest that, although there were no significant differences in general satisfaction with life between the two cities, there were indications of focusing illusion in the perception of happiness caused by expectations arising from the feeling of personal insecurity in a metropolis.La literatura apunta que existen asociaciones significativas entre la felicidad y la salud. Varios países están considerando, contemplando o hasta formalmente incorporando la variable de felicidad en sus políticas de salud pública. Además, la iniciativa privada ha demostrado interés por el tema. A partir de eso, este artículo analiza errores de juzgamiento en la percepción de satisfacción con la vida entre estudiantes universitarios en dos ciudades brasileñas. El estudio explora las asociaciones entre los aspectos de la vida y la percepción de felicidad, ya que políticas públicas asociadas a la felicidad requieren una mejor comprensión de la subjetividad del sentimiento de bienestar. Un survey realizado con 368 estudiantes universitarios posibilitó el análisis por medio del Análisis Multivariado de Covariancia (MANCOVA) y regresión lineal. Los resultados sugieren que, aunque no hayan sido encontradas diferencias significativas en términos de satisfacción general con la vida entre las dos ciudades consideradas, hubo indicios de ilusión de enfoque en la percepción de la felicidad, causada por expectativas provenientes del sentimiento de inseguridad personal en una metrópolis.A literatura aponta que há associações significativas entre a felicidade e a saúde. Vários países estão considerando, contemplando ou mesmo formalmente incorporando a variável de felicidade em suas políticas de saúde pública. Além disso, a iniciativa privada tem demonstrado interesse pelo tema. A partir disso, este artigo analisa erros de julgamento na percepção de satisfação com a vida entre estudantes universitários em duas cidades brasileiras. O estudo explora as associações entre os aspectos da vida e a percepção de felicidade, já que políticas públicas associadas à felicidade requerem uma melhor compreensão da subjetividade do sentimento de bem-estar. Um survey realizado com 368 estudantes universitários possibilitou análises por meio de Análise Multivariada de Covariância (MANCOVA) e regressão linear. Os resultados sugerem que, embora não tenham sido encontradas diferenças significativas em termos de satisfação geral com a vida entre as duas cidades consideradas, houve indícios de ilusão de foco na percepção de felicidade, causada por expectativas decorrentes do sentimento de insegurança pessoal em uma metrópole.Fundação Getúlio Vargas Escola de Administração de Empresas de São PauloUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Política, Economia e NegóciosBuffalo State College -Buffalo Psychology DepartmentUniversidade Federal de Santa Maria Administrative Sciences DepartamentUNIFESP, Escola Paulista de Política, Economia e NegóciosSciEL

Predictors of Academic and Social Success and Psychological Well-Being in College Students

The present study utilized 217 student participants to identify predictors of five types of college success. Although study skills were most important in predicting grade point average, other factors, including parental encouragement of learning during childhood, ADHD symptomatology, and varying motives to attend to college, were also predictive of success, as indicated by measures of academic adjustment, social adjustment, satisfaction with life and appreciation of the liberal arts

The role of parents in college students' financial behaviors and attitudes

This study examined how parents' teaching and modeling of financial concepts affects college student credit card debt (n = 173). Parental hands-on mentoring of financial skills was most strongly related to lower levels of credit card debt and this relationship was partially mediated by it leading to greater financial delay of gratification and less impulsive credit card purchasing which in turn were related to less problematic credit card use. Having parents who struggled with debt was not significantly related to debt although having parents who avoided talking about finances predicted problematic credit card use. Students' beliefs that their parents would bail them out of debt were related to lower levels of debt. Financial knowledge and parental verbal instruction appear to have complex relationships to credit card debt.College students Consumer attitudes Knowledge level Childrearing practices