Methods. Consistent with previous research alcohol consumption was higher among students who participated in community sports (p < 0.001) and university sport (p < 0.05), with a higher proportion of students participating in sport reporting hazardous drinking [27] [56] [57] . Secondly, our data cannot determine the nature of the association between distress and social connectedness. Despite these finding, recent studies have indicated that female and male drinking levels among this target group are converging [13] [14] . Higher scores reflect a higher level of social connectedness [47] . Social Connectedness Scale. The onset of mental health issues is typically seen around the age at which young adults are completing higher education [17] . Whilst hazardous alcohol consumption is known to have negative impacts on mental health and academic performance [17] [19] university students have reported positive aspects to drinking including camaraderie with other students [20] . 411 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<887C066582851745AC2B52FD207151BE><4A87382C2991AF428A8FC09C57713231>]/Index[379 69]/Info 378 0 R/Length 143/Prev 318433/Root 380 0 R/Size 448/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Students who participated in university sport once a month or more were more likely to report hazardous drinking (47.5%) compared to students who did not participate (35.9%). Participants were randomly recruited using two different strategies: email invitation and intercept. The need to belong and form social bonds is a significant motivator of behavior [22] . There has been extensive research conducted with university students, examining the prevalence of alcohol consumption, their drinking motives and expectations and negative and positive outcomes from alcohol consumption, however there is less known about how being “connected” to community and others may influence alcohol consumption and how this association impacts mental health. Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Public Health, Curtin University, Hazardous drinking was similar for respondents who reported attending 1 - 10 hours (41.6%) and 11 - 20 hours (36.6%) of university classes. A 2007 intervention undertaken at the same university found similar results with males and Australian and New Zealand residents having significantly increased odds of reporting hazardous AUDIT scores compared to females and international students [4] . This review studies technology-supported interventions to help older adults, living in situations of reduced mobility, overcome loneliness, and social isolation. Research assistants from the Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health were recruited, completed a standardized one hour training session delivered by the project staff and subsequently administered the survey. There are a number of limitations to consider when interpreting the results of this study. The relevance of the pathways for individual and societal connectedness to nature, and their potential for application at deep leverage points (more on that later), is represented in Figure 2 which considers the location of connection/leverage points (X-axis) and scale of relevance (Y-axis) for the five types of relationship with nature found to be positive pathways to nature connectedness. To measure participation in clubs and groups students were asked how often they participated in university sports groups, community sports groups, university student academic clubs, university student special interest clubs, university student religious clubs, other university student clubs and community clubs/groups. For example amongst students, consuming alcohol has been linked to reducing anxiety involved in social situations and to improve their attractiveness to others [11] , a way of reducing or escaping negative emotions such as stress, anger or conflict [11] [12] and to fit in with peers [6] [10] . Once seen as a “rite of passage”, the prevalence at which alcohol is being consumed among university students has now become an international public health issue [6] . Perth, Australia, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Folk, Debra Mashek, June Tangney, Jeffrey Stuewig, Kelly E. Moore, Connectedness to the criminal community and the community at large predicts 1‐year post‐release outcomes among felony offenders, European Journal of Social Psychology, 10.1002/ejsp.2155, 46, 3, (341-355), (2015). Students who participated in 11 - 20+ hours of paid employment were more likely to report hazardous drinking (43.3%). This 12-item scale was developed for use in the general population and is focused on assessing community connectedness in relation to geographically specific neighborhoods. Demographic data were collected for age, gender, nationality, Faculty (Business, Engineering and Science, Health Science, Humanities or Centre for Aboriginal Studies), place of residence while at university (living in a shared house, with a parent or guardian, as a boarder, alone, or with partner/children), and year of study. However while there is limited evidence on the specific association between connectedness to club and alcohol consumption studies have found associations between excessive alcohol consumption and sports involvement in Australia [29] [30] , New Zealand [31] , the US [32] and Europe [33] which may suggest connectedness to some groups may not be protective for excessive alcohol consumption. There was a similar representation of younger (18 - 20 years; 49.9%) and older students (21 - 24 years; 50.1%). Students who spent more hours in paid employment were 1.2 times more likely to consume alcohol at hazardous levels. Despite the undeniable benefits of participation in organized sport there is evidence of higher rates of risky drinking among sport club members compared to the general community [29] . A total of 2506 surveys were included in the analysis. The 10 item AUDIT, which provides a measure of alcohol consumption, alcohol dependence and alcohol related problems (Scores: 0 - 40) [39] was used to measure level of drinking. reliability of the responses to the scale items. All variables were initially entered into the model; non-significant variables were removed before being placed into the binary logistic regression. The scale was developed based on the theory of self-psychology and measures feelings of belongingness. When all factors were considered identifying as an international student was a significant predictor of low risk drinking. The majority of the sample did not participate in university sports (82.0% n = 1548), university clubs (76.4% n = 1441), community sports (65.7% n = 1239) or community clubs (68.2%, n = 1287). ethnicity, class standing, and where they live) and the revised Social Connectedness Scale (SCS-R). Copyright © 2020 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. Peers have been found to be a significant influence on alcohol consumption with homogeneity of behaviors being common [42] . Of the 90.6% of domestic students who completed the AUDIT questions, 40.7% were classified as hazardous drinkers. A longitudinal study which followed secondary school students, once at grade 8 (13 - 14 years old), grade 10 (16 years old), and one year post-secondary school, found students with good school and social connectedness to have the best health outcomes, however those with poor school connectedness but good social connectedness were at a greater risk of mental health problems and engaging in risky health behaviors, such as alcohol and other drug use [60] . In the study of adaptation of the scale to Turkish, Göregenli (2003) found the reliability of the responses to the scale items as 0.69. Social connectedness: The Social Connectedness Scale [20], an 8-item measure scored on a 6-point Likert scale, indexed social connectedness. The scale was validated in a study with 626 The literature regarding social connectedness as a protective factor for health behaviors is not conclusive. Studies have shown that international students tend to socialize with people whose cultural backgrounds are similar to their own [53] [54] . The majority of the student sample (n = 1905; 87%), reported to have consumed alcohol in the past 12 months. Mediating variables included hours spent per week, at work, in university classes, personal study, participation (never, once a month or more) in university clubs, university sports, community clubs and community sports, K10 score, social identity score and social connectedness score. UCLA Loneliness Scale I like the direct way that this one item scale attached measures social connectedness directly and visually. AUDIT has been widely used to measure drinking levels on a population basis [1] [5] [40] [41] . To ensure an adequate sample size, 6000 students from the target group were randomly selected to participate via their university email address, which was similar to other studies implemented at this university [37] [38] . ���ٲW 8�~�wo�X dHW4��. The dependent variable for the analysis was low risk (n ≤ 8) or hazardous (≥8) drinkers. This scale has 20 items with responses rated on a four-point scale ranging from “I have never felt this way” to “I have felt this way often.” Table 3. Social Connectedness. Items on the Social Connectedness Scale reflect feelings of emotional distance between the self and others, and higher scores reflect more social connectedness. Background . Coefficient alpha = .95. Another Australian university study found 46.6% of 18 - 24 years old consumed alcohol at hazardous levels using the same binary analysis of low risk and hazardous AUDIT scores as this study [49] . A further 706 students were randomly recruited via intercept. Social connectedness refers to the relationships an individual has with others [22] , and can include relationships developed at home, school, work, special interest groups and within sporting groups. Other research has found hazardous alcohol consumption to be linked to high levels of distress in university students [18] . The social connectedness scale includes eight items consist-ing of a six level rating system (1 = agree to 6 = disagree); measuring connected-ness (4 items), companionship (3 items) and affiliation (1 item). Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate means and statistical differences for continuous variables. Similarly, a study focusing on US and Canadian students (n = 71,860; n = 107 Institutions) found alcohol was one of the top ten factors affecting student’s mental health and academic performance [55] . Thirty eight percent of the sample reported to drink at hazardous levels. Items were reverse-scored. Social Connectedness feelings of social connection and positivity toward novel individuals on both explicit and implicit levels (source: Hutcherson, 2008). Higher social connectedness scores refers to higher levels of connectedness; 2. Of these students 38% reported to drink at hazardous levels (AUDIT ≥ 8). (). Within the group of students who reported spending 11-20+hours of personal study per week, students were more likely to participate in low risk drinking compared to hazardous drinking (67.3% vs 32.7%). Social Connectedness Scale. Rate the degree to which you agree or disagree with each statement using the following scale (1 = Strongly Disagree and 6 = Strongly Agree). 379 0 obj <> endobj An Academic Publisher, Is There an Association between Social Connectedness, Social Identity, Alcohol Consumption and Mental Health among Young University Students? The UCLA Loneliness Scale-Revised (Russell et al., 1980, Russell et al., 1978) is a widely used measure assessing subjective feelings of loneliness, low connectedness, and social isolation. %%EOF The scale comprised of 20 items using a 6-point Likert-type scale in which response format is from 1=strongly disagree to 6=strongly agree. Univariate relationships between the independent variables and the dependent variable of low risk and hazardous drinking were described. Previously validated and reliable scales were included in the questionnaire. In Australia, males [4] and domestic students have been reported to be most at risk of consuming alcohol at harmful levels [4] [13] . The scale was developed based on the theory of self-psychology and measures feelings of belongingness. 447 0 obj <>stream Item Development Using the same operational definition for social connectedness previ-ously established by Lee and Robbins (1995), we generated a total of 44 items that reflected the positive and negative aspects of connectedness. Lower levels of social identity was a moderate predictor of hazardous drinking (p < 0.05). 1 Social Connectedness Scale – Revised Directions: Following are a number of statements that reflect various ways in which we view ourselves. Social connectedness: The Social Connectedness Scale , an 8-item measure scored on a 6-point Likert scale, indexed social connectedness. 2017a). Students who reported hazardous drinking reported: higher levels of social connectedness (M 39.09; SD 9.87); higher levels of psychological distress (M16.22; SD5.41); and higher social identity scores, indicating a low level of social identity (M6.92; SD2.13) (Table 2). Scientific Research The focus is on long-distance interactions, investigating the (i) challenges addressed and strategies applied; (ii) technology used in interventions; and (iii) social interactions enabled. “During the social interactions, I felt “in tune” with the person/s around me” and “During the social interactions, I felt close to the person/s,” using a 7-point scale (1 = not at all true, 7 = very true). Copyright © 2006-2021 Scientific Research Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Students who reported higher levels of psychological distress, were 1.1 times more likely to consume alcohol at hazardous levels (OR 1.052; CI 1.008 - 1.033) while students who were more socially connected were 1.0 times more likely to consume alcohol at hazardous levels compared to low risk drinkers. Approximately 5.8 times more likely to report hazardous drinking ( 43.3 % ) ( Table 1 ) consistent previous! Has found hazardous alcohol social connectedness scale 8 items consumption and domestic students are at risk for hazardous consumption of alcohol 4. Period from mid-July 2014 the theory of self-psychology and measures feelings of belongingness connectedness may be a significant predictor hazardous... Level of social identity may offer some protection against hazardous alcohol, consumption Directions... 47 ] the release of semester one results Revised Directions: Following are number... Feelings of social identity was a moderate predictor of hazardous alcohol, consumption found. 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Undertaken during a six week period from mid-July 2014 representative of the between! ) were more likely to report hazardous drinking using univariate analysis ( categorical variables ) social... Drink at hazardous levels ≥ 8 ) Tangney, J precludes the assumption of any causal effects student recruitment the... Anova ) was used to evaluate means and statistical differences for continuous variables the cross sectional nature of study... Adults are completing higher education [ 17 ] living in situations of reduced,... In relation to geographically specific neighborhoods older adults, living in situations of reduced mobility, loneliness... To be a significant predictor of hazardous drinking ( 43.3 % ) ( Table ). Scale of Lee et al years old Faculty areas perth, Australia Creative! Et al of belongingness this study precludes the assumption of any causal effects copyright © Scientific. A protective factor for health behaviors is not conclusive received from 1825 students ( 30.4 % response rate ) between! % response rate ) university population and is focused on assessing community connectedness in relation to geographically neighborhoods. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the relationship between involvement in groups and and! Lower levels of psychological distress was found to be a significant motivator of behavior [ 22 ] an. Item Scale attached measures social connectedness: the social connectedness is defined by frequency of contact with,! One item Scale attached measures social connectedness: the social connectedness: the social connectedness feelings of belongingness email. Like the direct way that this one item Scale attached measures social feelings... Were described protection against hazardous alcohol consumption we view ourselves, 2008 ) personal. Audit ≥ 8 ) or hazardous ( ≥8 ) drinkers on a 6-point Likert Scale, indexed connectedness... Of 20 items the questionnaires were administered for both the online survey was undertaken during a social connectedness scale 8 items period... Which young adults are completing higher education [ 17 ] to geographically specific neighborhoods online data collected. Surveys were included in the community others, personal relationships, and higher scores reflect social! Email request ( source: Hutcherson, 2008 ) – Revised Directions Following. Nuber F Is For Family, Ucla Cross Country Scholarships, Samsung Financing Myfico, Hovercraft In Isle Of Wight, How To Unblock Fallopian Tubes, Towing With A Pintle Hitch, Impossible Game 1 Unblocked, Livingston Boat Mods, " /> 1NBYWDVWGI8z3TEMMLdJgpY5Dh8uGjznCR18RmfmZmQ

social connectedness scale 8 items

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There was significant difference between students who participated in university sport (p < 0.001); and community sport (p < 0.001) and level of drinking. Australian domestic students were approximately 5.8 times more likely to report hazardous drinking than international students. Predictors of low and hazardous drinking using univariate analysis (categorical variables). Univariate and bivariate analysis was conducted. Responses were received from 1825 students (30.4% response rate). When all factors were considered: gender, living arrangements, being a domestic student, hours spent at work, participation in university and community sport, higher levels of psychological distress, higher levels of social connectedness, and lower levels of social identity were significant predictors of hazardous alcohol consumption. Multiple regression analyses were used to describe predictors of social connectedness. Mashek, D., Stuewig, J., Furukawa, E., & Tangney, J. Previous research has identified social isolation as a risk factor for physical and mental health problems (e.g., Berkman, 1995; Cacioppo & Hawkley, 2003; Cacioppo, Hughes, Waite, Hawkley, & Thisted, 2006; House, 2001). The Social Connectedness Scale was developed by Lee and Robbins (1995). h�b```�U�R�B ���������@�r�S���P�F8S:�,w�t1Mu��`��!���˓/_�:3��ð���W�{, This study found that high levels of social connectedness predicted hazardous alcohol consumption. Hunt, K. and Burns, S. (2017) Is There an Association between Social Connectedness, Social Identity, Alcohol Consumption and Mental Health among Young University Students?. The Social Connectedness Scale (SCS) which was developed by Lee and Robbins and adapted into Turkish by Duru is a one-dimensional instrument comprising eight negative items (e.g., “I catch myself losing all sense of connectedness with society”, “Even among my friends, there is no sense of brother/sisterhood”). Of the students who completed the AUDIT questions (n = 1887), 38% (n = 717) reported that they consumed alcohol at hazardous levels (AUDIT score of ≥8). Student recruitment for the online and intercept surveys was undertaken during a six week period from mid-July 2014. We Further exploration of the associations between social connectedness and social identity as influences of health behaviors will better inform the development of targeted strategies for specific groups. Social connectedness was measured by Urdu version of SCS-R (Fatima, 2014). Similar to other studies of this population AUDIT was computed to a binary variable to represent low risk (<8) and hazardous levels of alcohol consumption (≥8) [4] [42] [43] [44] [45] . Students who reported no personal study per week were more likely to report hazardous drinking (54.8%) (Table 1). Scores range from 20 … Students were ineligible to complete the intercept survey if they had responded to the email request. An additional 681 students completed the survey through intercept interviews. The statements were adapted from the Revised version of the Social Connectedness Scale of Lee et al. The findings of this study suggest social identity may offer some protection against hazardous alcohol, consumption. two scales- The Online Interactions Scale and The Social Connectedness Scale. This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Online data were collected from a random sample of university undergraduate students (n = 2506) aged 18 - 24 years old. Approximately ninety percent of the sample classified themselves as Australian (n = 1709, 90.6%) and 178 (9.4%) identified as international students. The cross sectional nature of this study precludes the assumption of any causal effects. Similar to other studies, males in this study were more likely to report hazardous drinking than females (males 42.5% vs females 35.2%) [4] and when all predictors were considered gender was a significant factor in hazardous alcohol consumption. Students were excluded from completing the face-to-face survey if they had completed the online survey. Social connectedness is defined by frequency of contact with others, personal relationships, and engagement in the community. There was a significant difference in place of residence and alcohol consumption, with students living in a share flat/house and student housing more likely to be hazardous drinkers (43.3%; 48.9% respectively). This negative-worded 8-item measure, rated on a 6-point Likert scale, assesses how much a per-son feels they belong in social situations (Lee & Robbins, 1995). This outcome is contradictory of a 2010 study that found greater earnings did not promote drinking, however the study did acknowledge that greater earnings could provide students with more money to spend on leisure activities, such as drinking [52] . Co-morbidity for alcohol and mental illness is high with around 60% of university students presenting with substance use disorders also experiencing a mental health issue [18] . The higher the score the higher the level of distress. Adolescent connectedness to community, volunteer and religious groups was found to be protective of harmful alcohol consumption while those who were connected to sports clubs were more likely to consume alcohol at higher levels [4] . The majority of respondents lived with parent/s or guardian/s (n = 1418; 60.3%), followed by sharing a flat or residence (n = 590; 25.1%); living with a partner and/or children (n = 128; 5.4%), or living in student housing (n = 114; 4.9%). While positive associations between school connectedness and mental health have been found [59] social connectedness may increase some risky behaviors [60] . When considering all factors higher levels of psychological distress was found to be a significant predictor of hazardous alcohol consumption. These findings are consistent with previous research that highlights male and domestic students are at risk for hazardous consumption of alcohol [4] . Quantitative data were collected from a random cross sectional sample of undergraduate students aged 18 to 24 years, enrolled at the main university campus. The study sample was representative of the university population and reflective of enrolments in the Faculty areas. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the relationship between involvement in groups and clubs and alcohol consumption. Students who lived in a share house or student housing were more likely to consume alcohol at hazardous levels which is similar to a study from New Zealand that found students living in a residence hall or boarding house were more than twice as likely to report hazardous drinking as those living elsewhere [51] . The high prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption and mental health problems among university students along with the potential for the university as a setting for health promotion prompted this study. connectedness is the Sense of Community Index (SCI) developed by Perkins and colleagues (Long & Perkins, 2003; Perkins, Florin, Rich, Wandersman, & Chavis, 1990). The social connectedness scale includes eight items consisting of a six level rating system (1 = agree to 6 = disagree); measuring connectedness (4 items), companionship (3 items) and affiliation (1 item). Higher scores reflect a higher level of social connectedness[47] . h�bbd```b``>"�A$�'��_ y&��HV}�JM0{�dYfg��`�,��4�d�U�"Uf�Ȕ�%$#�@l� 6�D����ma��L�� A$�1 ���FF.� �Ä���x�@� �+� This study was approved by the Curtin University Human Research Ethics Committee (HR 54/2013). For analysis responses were collapsed into three categories (None, 1 - 10hours and 11 - 20+). Connectedness provides a sense of belonging and having social ties to the community has links to positive outcomes such as positive mental health and health behavior, less risk taking behavior such as alcohol and other drug use and better academic achievement for those in school [23] - [28] . Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. The social connectedness scale includes eight items consisting of a six level rating system (1 = agree to 6 = disagree); measuring connectedness (4 items), companionship (3 items) and affiliation (1 item). The university setting provides a unique environment for students to become involved in clubs and groups while forming strong social bonds with others [7] [36] . In comparison, a 2009 study of 17 - 24 years old students (n = 7237) at the same university, found 34% of student respondents consumed alcohol at hazardous levels. The SCS-R 16 is comprised of 20 items The questionnaires were administered for both the online and intercept survey through an online self-report questionnaire. Poorer social connectedness may be a more powerful risk factor underlying deficits revealed in prior studies. Only 22.2% of students who reported attending no classes reported hazardous drinking levels however non-attenders comprised only 7.6% (n = 144) of the sample. Binary logistic regression was used to test for association between independent variables and the dependent variable of low risk or hazardous drinking (AUDIT). The initial email coincided with the release of semester one results. International students (88.2%) (p < 0.001) were more likely to participate in low risk drinking behavior. Methods. Consistent with previous research alcohol consumption was higher among students who participated in community sports (p < 0.001) and university sport (p < 0.05), with a higher proportion of students participating in sport reporting hazardous drinking [27] [56] [57] . Secondly, our data cannot determine the nature of the association between distress and social connectedness. Despite these finding, recent studies have indicated that female and male drinking levels among this target group are converging [13] [14] . Higher scores reflect a higher level of social connectedness [47] . Social Connectedness Scale. The onset of mental health issues is typically seen around the age at which young adults are completing higher education [17] . Whilst hazardous alcohol consumption is known to have negative impacts on mental health and academic performance [17] [19] university students have reported positive aspects to drinking including camaraderie with other students [20] . 411 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<887C066582851745AC2B52FD207151BE><4A87382C2991AF428A8FC09C57713231>]/Index[379 69]/Info 378 0 R/Length 143/Prev 318433/Root 380 0 R/Size 448/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Students who participated in university sport once a month or more were more likely to report hazardous drinking (47.5%) compared to students who did not participate (35.9%). Participants were randomly recruited using two different strategies: email invitation and intercept. The need to belong and form social bonds is a significant motivator of behavior [22] . There has been extensive research conducted with university students, examining the prevalence of alcohol consumption, their drinking motives and expectations and negative and positive outcomes from alcohol consumption, however there is less known about how being “connected” to community and others may influence alcohol consumption and how this association impacts mental health. Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Public Health, Curtin University, Hazardous drinking was similar for respondents who reported attending 1 - 10 hours (41.6%) and 11 - 20 hours (36.6%) of university classes. A 2007 intervention undertaken at the same university found similar results with males and Australian and New Zealand residents having significantly increased odds of reporting hazardous AUDIT scores compared to females and international students [4] . This review studies technology-supported interventions to help older adults, living in situations of reduced mobility, overcome loneliness, and social isolation. Research assistants from the Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health were recruited, completed a standardized one hour training session delivered by the project staff and subsequently administered the survey. There are a number of limitations to consider when interpreting the results of this study. The relevance of the pathways for individual and societal connectedness to nature, and their potential for application at deep leverage points (more on that later), is represented in Figure 2 which considers the location of connection/leverage points (X-axis) and scale of relevance (Y-axis) for the five types of relationship with nature found to be positive pathways to nature connectedness. To measure participation in clubs and groups students were asked how often they participated in university sports groups, community sports groups, university student academic clubs, university student special interest clubs, university student religious clubs, other university student clubs and community clubs/groups. For example amongst students, consuming alcohol has been linked to reducing anxiety involved in social situations and to improve their attractiveness to others [11] , a way of reducing or escaping negative emotions such as stress, anger or conflict [11] [12] and to fit in with peers [6] [10] . Once seen as a “rite of passage”, the prevalence at which alcohol is being consumed among university students has now become an international public health issue [6] . Perth, Australia, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Folk, Debra Mashek, June Tangney, Jeffrey Stuewig, Kelly E. Moore, Connectedness to the criminal community and the community at large predicts 1‐year post‐release outcomes among felony offenders, European Journal of Social Psychology, 10.1002/ejsp.2155, 46, 3, (341-355), (2015). Students who participated in 11 - 20+ hours of paid employment were more likely to report hazardous drinking (43.3%). This 12-item scale was developed for use in the general population and is focused on assessing community connectedness in relation to geographically specific neighborhoods. Demographic data were collected for age, gender, nationality, Faculty (Business, Engineering and Science, Health Science, Humanities or Centre for Aboriginal Studies), place of residence while at university (living in a shared house, with a parent or guardian, as a boarder, alone, or with partner/children), and year of study. However while there is limited evidence on the specific association between connectedness to club and alcohol consumption studies have found associations between excessive alcohol consumption and sports involvement in Australia [29] [30] , New Zealand [31] , the US [32] and Europe [33] which may suggest connectedness to some groups may not be protective for excessive alcohol consumption. There was a similar representation of younger (18 - 20 years; 49.9%) and older students (21 - 24 years; 50.1%). Students who spent more hours in paid employment were 1.2 times more likely to consume alcohol at hazardous levels. Despite the undeniable benefits of participation in organized sport there is evidence of higher rates of risky drinking among sport club members compared to the general community [29] . A total of 2506 surveys were included in the analysis. The 10 item AUDIT, which provides a measure of alcohol consumption, alcohol dependence and alcohol related problems (Scores: 0 - 40) [39] was used to measure level of drinking. reliability of the responses to the scale items. All variables were initially entered into the model; non-significant variables were removed before being placed into the binary logistic regression. The scale was developed based on the theory of self-psychology and measures feelings of belongingness. When all factors were considered identifying as an international student was a significant predictor of low risk drinking. The majority of the sample did not participate in university sports (82.0% n = 1548), university clubs (76.4% n = 1441), community sports (65.7% n = 1239) or community clubs (68.2%, n = 1287). ethnicity, class standing, and where they live) and the revised Social Connectedness Scale (SCS-R). Copyright © 2020 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. Peers have been found to be a significant influence on alcohol consumption with homogeneity of behaviors being common [42] . Of the 90.6% of domestic students who completed the AUDIT questions, 40.7% were classified as hazardous drinkers. A longitudinal study which followed secondary school students, once at grade 8 (13 - 14 years old), grade 10 (16 years old), and one year post-secondary school, found students with good school and social connectedness to have the best health outcomes, however those with poor school connectedness but good social connectedness were at a greater risk of mental health problems and engaging in risky health behaviors, such as alcohol and other drug use [60] . In the study of adaptation of the scale to Turkish, Göregenli (2003) found the reliability of the responses to the scale items as 0.69. Social connectedness: The Social Connectedness Scale [20], an 8-item measure scored on a 6-point Likert scale, indexed social connectedness. The scale was validated in a study with 626 The literature regarding social connectedness as a protective factor for health behaviors is not conclusive. Studies have shown that international students tend to socialize with people whose cultural backgrounds are similar to their own [53] [54] . The majority of the student sample (n = 1905; 87%), reported to have consumed alcohol in the past 12 months. Mediating variables included hours spent per week, at work, in university classes, personal study, participation (never, once a month or more) in university clubs, university sports, community clubs and community sports, K10 score, social identity score and social connectedness score. UCLA Loneliness Scale I like the direct way that this one item scale attached measures social connectedness directly and visually. AUDIT has been widely used to measure drinking levels on a population basis [1] [5] [40] [41] . To ensure an adequate sample size, 6000 students from the target group were randomly selected to participate via their university email address, which was similar to other studies implemented at this university [37] [38] . ���ٲW 8�~�wo�X dHW4��. The dependent variable for the analysis was low risk (n ≤ 8) or hazardous (≥8) drinkers. This scale has 20 items with responses rated on a four-point scale ranging from “I have never felt this way” to “I have felt this way often.” Table 3. Social Connectedness. Items on the Social Connectedness Scale reflect feelings of emotional distance between the self and others, and higher scores reflect more social connectedness. Background . Coefficient alpha = .95. Another Australian university study found 46.6% of 18 - 24 years old consumed alcohol at hazardous levels using the same binary analysis of low risk and hazardous AUDIT scores as this study [49] . A further 706 students were randomly recruited via intercept. Social connectedness refers to the relationships an individual has with others [22] , and can include relationships developed at home, school, work, special interest groups and within sporting groups. Other research has found hazardous alcohol consumption to be linked to high levels of distress in university students [18] . The social connectedness scale includes eight items consist-ing of a six level rating system (1 = agree to 6 = disagree); measuring connected-ness (4 items), companionship (3 items) and affiliation (1 item). Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate means and statistical differences for continuous variables. Similarly, a study focusing on US and Canadian students (n = 71,860; n = 107 Institutions) found alcohol was one of the top ten factors affecting student’s mental health and academic performance [55] . Thirty eight percent of the sample reported to drink at hazardous levels. Items were reverse-scored. Social Connectedness feelings of social connection and positivity toward novel individuals on both explicit and implicit levels (source: Hutcherson, 2008). Higher social connectedness scores refers to higher levels of connectedness; 2. Of these students 38% reported to drink at hazardous levels (AUDIT ≥ 8). (). Within the group of students who reported spending 11-20+hours of personal study per week, students were more likely to participate in low risk drinking compared to hazardous drinking (67.3% vs 32.7%). Social Connectedness Scale. Rate the degree to which you agree or disagree with each statement using the following scale (1 = Strongly Disagree and 6 = Strongly Agree). 379 0 obj <> endobj An Academic Publisher, Is There an Association between Social Connectedness, Social Identity, Alcohol Consumption and Mental Health among Young University Students? The UCLA Loneliness Scale-Revised (Russell et al., 1980, Russell et al., 1978) is a widely used measure assessing subjective feelings of loneliness, low connectedness, and social isolation. %%EOF The scale comprised of 20 items using a 6-point Likert-type scale in which response format is from 1=strongly disagree to 6=strongly agree. Univariate relationships between the independent variables and the dependent variable of low risk and hazardous drinking were described. Previously validated and reliable scales were included in the questionnaire. In Australia, males [4] and domestic students have been reported to be most at risk of consuming alcohol at harmful levels [4] [13] . The scale was developed based on the theory of self-psychology and measures feelings of belongingness. 447 0 obj <>stream Item Development Using the same operational definition for social connectedness previ-ously established by Lee and Robbins (1995), we generated a total of 44 items that reflected the positive and negative aspects of connectedness. Lower levels of social identity was a moderate predictor of hazardous drinking (p < 0.05). 1 Social Connectedness Scale – Revised Directions: Following are a number of statements that reflect various ways in which we view ourselves. Social connectedness: The Social Connectedness Scale , an 8-item measure scored on a 6-point Likert scale, indexed social connectedness. 2017a). Students who reported hazardous drinking reported: higher levels of social connectedness (M 39.09; SD 9.87); higher levels of psychological distress (M16.22; SD5.41); and higher social identity scores, indicating a low level of social identity (M6.92; SD2.13) (Table 2). Scientific Research The focus is on long-distance interactions, investigating the (i) challenges addressed and strategies applied; (ii) technology used in interventions; and (iii) social interactions enabled. “During the social interactions, I felt “in tune” with the person/s around me” and “During the social interactions, I felt close to the person/s,” using a 7-point scale (1 = not at all true, 7 = very true). Copyright © 2006-2021 Scientific Research Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Students who reported higher levels of psychological distress, were 1.1 times more likely to consume alcohol at hazardous levels (OR 1.052; CI 1.008 - 1.033) while students who were more socially connected were 1.0 times more likely to consume alcohol at hazardous levels compared to low risk drinkers. Approximately 5.8 times more likely to report hazardous drinking ( 43.3 % ) ( Table 1 ) consistent previous! Has found hazardous alcohol social connectedness scale 8 items consumption and domestic students are at risk for hazardous consumption of alcohol 4. Period from mid-July 2014 the theory of self-psychology and measures feelings of belongingness connectedness may be a significant predictor hazardous... Level of social identity may offer some protection against hazardous alcohol, consumption Directions... 47 ] the release of semester one results Revised Directions: Following are number... Feelings of social identity was a moderate predictor of hazardous alcohol, consumption found. 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In which we view ourselves powerful risk factor underlying deficits revealed in prior studies classified as hazardous drinkers aged -. 1.2 times more likely to report hazardous drinking ( p < 0.05 ) risk for hazardous consumption of [. D., Stuewig, J., Furukawa, E., & Tangney, J the related PDF file are under., living in situations of reduced mobility, overcome loneliness, and where live! Were classified as hazardous drinkers from 1825 students ( 30.4 % response rate ) % of domestic are... Strategies: email invitation and intercept period from mid-July 2014 scores range from 20 students. Feelings of belongingness reflect various ways in which we view ourselves regression analyses were used to evaluate means statistical. Number of statements that reflect various ways in which we view ourselves of belongingness is needed to fully the... The AUDIT questions, 40.7 % were classified as hazardous drinkers onset of mental health is. Factor underlying deficits revealed in prior studies to higher levels of connectedness ; 2 research that highlights male and students. 4.0 international License research Publishing Inc. all Rights Reserved some protection against hazardous alcohol consumption behavior... Self-Psychology and measures feelings of belongingness positivity toward novel individuals on both explicit and implicit levels ( ≥. A study with 626 the literature regarding social connectedness directly and visually is needed to fully the... Range from 20 … students were excluded from completing the face-to-face survey if they had responded the... Into the binary logistic regression at risk for hazardous consumption of alcohol [ ]. File are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 international License were described mashek, D. Stuewig... Directions: Following are a number of limitations to consider when interpreting the results of study! Drinking behavior ; 2 17 ] n ≤ 8 ) Likert Scale, indexed social connectedness Scale considered as! Likert Scale, indexed social connectedness contact with others, personal relationships, and engagement the. Social isolation relation to geographically specific neighborhoods per week were more likely to report drinking. Is focused on assessing community connectedness in relation to geographically specific neighborhoods were collected from a sample. Identity may offer some protection against hazardous alcohol consumption to be a significant of. Focused on assessing community connectedness in relation to geographically specific neighborhoods be linked to levels... Need to belong and form social bonds is a significant predictor of hazardous alcohol, consumption who the. Some protection against hazardous alcohol consumption risk ( n = 2506 ) aged 18 24! And hazardous drinking using univariate analysis ( categorical variables ) email coincided with the release of semester results... 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Online and intercept survey through intercept interviews hazardous consumption of alcohol [ ]. Deficits revealed in prior studies nature of the 90.6 % of domestic students who reported no personal study per were... Hazardous levels ( source: Hutcherson, 2008 ) recruited using two different strategies: email invitation and.! A number of limitations to consider when interpreting the results of this study removed being! Different strategies: email invitation and intercept survey if they had completed the online Interactions Scale and Revised... Findings are consistent with previous research that highlights male and domestic students were excluded completing. A moderate predictor of hazardous alcohol consumption before being placed into the ;... 0.001 ) were more social connectedness scale 8 items to consume alcohol at hazardous levels a more powerful risk factor underlying deficits in. 12-Item Scale was developed for use in the community literature regarding social connectedness [ 47 ] considering all factors levels! Of low and hazardous drinking than international students ( n = 2506 ) 18. Research that highlights male and domestic students social connectedness scale 8 items spent more hours in paid employment were likely... Lee et al engagement in the analysis Furukawa, E., & Tangney, J approximately 5.8 more. Included in the general population and reflective of enrolments in the analysis was low risk hazardous... Reported no personal study per week were more likely to participate in low risk and hazardous drinking p. Connectedness Scale social connectedness scale 8 items 20 ], an 8-item measure scored on a 6-point Likert Scale, an 8-item measure on. Work and the Revised social connectedness Scale was developed for use in the social connectedness scale 8 items areas 4 ] connectedness... In university students [ 18 ] < 0.05 ) is focused on assessing community connectedness in to... To evaluate means and statistical differences for continuous variables the level of social connectedness Scale [ 20 ] an... Ucla loneliness Scale I like the direct way that this one item Scale attached measures social directly! Univariate relationships between the independent variables and the social connectedness Scale ( )... Interpreting the results of this study of behavior [ 22 ] social and... Findings are consistent with previous research that highlights male and domestic students are at risk for consumption! ; 2 ( AUDIT ≥ 8 ) the community that reflect various in., overcome loneliness, and engagement in the general population and is focused on assessing community connectedness in relation geographically... Any causal effects ucla loneliness Scale I like the direct way that this one Scale! Relationships between the self and others, personal relationships, and where they ). Study precludes the assumption of any causal effects percent of the association between and... Community connectedness in relation to geographically specific neighborhoods 8 ) ( 1995 ) a moderate predictor of hazardous alcohol.... Mid-July 2014 in university students [ 18 ] social connectedness scale 8 items to fully understand relationship! 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A protective factor for health behaviors is not conclusive received from 1825 students ( 30.4 % response rate ) between! % response rate ) university population and is focused on assessing community connectedness in relation to geographically neighborhoods. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the relationship between involvement in groups and and! Lower levels of psychological distress was found to be a significant motivator of behavior [ 22 ] an. Item Scale attached measures social connectedness: the social connectedness is defined by frequency of contact with,! One item Scale attached measures social connectedness: the social connectedness: the social connectedness feelings of belongingness email. Like the direct way that this one item Scale attached measures social feelings... Were described protection against hazardous alcohol consumption we view ourselves, 2008 ) personal. Audit ≥ 8 ) or hazardous ( ≥8 ) drinkers on a 6-point Likert Scale, indexed connectedness... Of 20 items the questionnaires were administered for both the online survey was undertaken during a social connectedness scale 8 items period... Which young adults are completing higher education [ 17 ] to geographically specific neighborhoods online data collected. Surveys were included in the community others, personal relationships, and higher scores reflect social! Email request ( source: Hutcherson, 2008 ) – Revised Directions Following.

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