The nation is at a critical juncture in history as it seeks to increase the number of students who enter the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce. The national push to have a properly trained STEM workforce was at the forefront of the past administration's top priority list. The higher education community has a unique…

Student satisfaction surveys are widely accepted for measuring the quality of students' overall experience with the received teaching and informing the design of improvements in higher education. However, several studies have shown that these surveys have biases that may lead to discrimination or unfair decisions against female academics. Yet it…

Background/Context: Law students of color have been struggling to recover from the heightened challenges they endured during the first two years of the pandemic. Struggles with food insecurity, financial anxiety, and emotional strain contribute to declining academic success for populations that were marginalized on law school campuses long before…

Objective: The objective was to examine mental health of undergraduate researchers (UGRs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants: We surveyed 962 UGRs who were conducting research in Spring 2020 at over 100 US universities. Methods: We conducted an online survey in July 2020. We analyzed data using descriptive statistics and multivariable…

This study examined sexual assertiveness among female undergraduate students at an institution of higher education in the southeastern United States from the context of the social-ecological model. An online survey instrument examined sexual assertiveness, sexual communication self-efficacy, campus climate, and sexual scripts. Structural equation…

Objective: This study aimed to investigate interactions among physical fitness, sleep quality, sedentary behavior, and depression among female college freshmen. Participants: A cohort of 1,514 Chinese female college freshmen (M[subscript age] = 18.8 ± .63) were recruited from four universities. Methods: Participants completed a survey assessing…

STEM graduate education is vitally important in producing the talent needed to fuel our economy and provide solutions for the challenges we face in emerging diseases and climate change. Yet recent research indicates that women and students who identify as members of minority groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM face extraordinary…

The present preliminary study is aimed at finding the interconnection between maladaptive personality characteristics, sexually aggressive behaviors, and rape myth endorsement in a sample comprised of college men. Sexual violence is particularly rampant in the college venue, therefore, understanding more about the risk factors associated with…

Objective: The current study examined the influence of rape myth acceptance on self-blame and psychological symptoms following a sexual assault. Participants: The sample included 280 female sexual assault survivors in college. Methods: In an online survey, participants completed the Sexual Experiences Survey -- Short Form Victimization, Updated…

Objective: The aim of this study was to formatively evaluate a health communication campaign on body image targeting undergraduate female students. Participants: A total of 331 students at a large public Midwestern university participated in the study. Methods: Researchers used central intercept procedures to recruit students from residence halls.…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine college cis-women's experiences with gender microaggressions and perceptions of campus climate, institutional betrayal, and institutional courage, how those experiences and perceptions are related, and how each predicts college students' likelihood of reporting sexual assault to the University.…

Women face heightened risk of sexual assault and a growing body of research has suggested that bystanders play a key role in preventing violence against women. To date, research has not fully explored bystander responses "following" a sexual assault event. Using self-categorization theory, this study employed an experimental design with…

Objective: This study tested how media, family, and peer sources of health and beauty information predict indoor tanning (IT) beliefs and behavior. Participants: 210 undergraduate women at a state university in the southeastern United States. Methods: Respondents completed a survey about sources of health and beauty information, IT beliefs, and IT…

Non research-intensive institutions of higher education are effective at narrowing STEM gender gaps in major selection and persistence to degree completion, yet the decision to attend such a setting is likely seen as counterintuitive when such institutions typically have lower levels of research, financial resources, and total student enrollments…

The goal of the present study was to examine the link between connectedness to campus and the likelihood of help-seeking from a mental health professional/school counselor for thoughts of suicide among college women. An online survey was administered to college students to assess perceived likelihood of seeking help, feelings of connectedness to…