Elaine M. Eshbaugh

Personality as a Predictor of Hooking Up Among College Students

Hookups—casual sexual encounters that may or may not include intercourse—are common on college campuses. Previous research has suggested that these casual sexual encounters may have serious health-related consequences. Understanding the relationships among multiple predictors of hooking up is important if high-risk prevention programming among college students is to be effective. This study considers each of the Big Five personality traits as predictors of hooking-up behaviors in a sample of Midwestern undergraduates (N = 247). Fifty-six percent of women and 63% of men reported engaging in a hookup. In general, Extraversion was positively associated with hooking up behaviors; Conscientiousness was negatively associated with hooking up. Relationships between personality and hooking up were significant while controlling for alcohol use. Implications for prevention programming on college campuses are discussed.

Predictors of Self-Reported Likelihood of Working with Older Adults

This study examined the self-reported likelihood of working with older adults in a future career among 237 college undergraduates at a midsized Midwestern university. Although aging anxiety was not significantly related to likelihood of working with older adults, those students who had a greater level of death anxiety were less likely than other students to report a future likelihood of working with older adults. In addition, quality relationships with unrelated older adults were positively correlated with likelihood of working with older adults. Recommendations for future research and ideas for attracting college students to gerontology as a career are discussed.

Predicting School Readiness for Low-Income Children with Disability Risks Identified Early

This study examined school readiness at kindergarten entry for low-income children whose disability indicators were identified before age 3. Data were collected as part of the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Longitudinal Follow-up study. Children who had suspected developmental delays and did not receive Part C services had lower preacademic skill scores at kindergarten entry than those who had no disability indicators. In contrast, the preacademic skills at age 5 of children who received Part C services did not differ from those who had no disability indicators. A large proportion of children who had suspected developmental delays and did not receive Part C services by age 3 received Part B services later. Results highlight the importance of early intervention for low-income children who have suspected developmental delays to enhance their school readiness skills.

Tuning them in versus turning them on: how do we interest students in working with older adults?

As a nation, we face a shortage of individuals to serve our aging population. Therefore, the recruitment of undergraduate students into gerontology programs is an important, although challenging task. The purpose of this study was to determine if students who do not choose to major in gerontology do so because they simply are unaware of the opportunities or because they are uninterested. College students who were not gerontology majors (N = 226) were surveyed to determine whether they were aware of a gerontology major at their university, whether they could define gerontology, and their reasons for not pursuing gerontology. Results suggest that a lack of awareness, rather than a lack of interest, may be responsible for the challenges of recruiting college students into the field of gerontology. This implies that the most efficient path to bolstering our gerontology workforce may be to make students aware of the diverse and rewarding career opportunities in the field of aging.

Promoting Careers in Gerontology to Students: What Are Undergraduates Seeking in a Career?

The graying of the Baby Boomers has created a shortage of professionals in aging-related careers. However, colleges and universities with gerontology and aging programs face a challenge of recruiting students. The purpose of this study was to determine what students are looking for in a career and whether these attributes are congruent with careers in gerontology. Results of this study indicated that factors important to students in a future career include whether career is enjoyable, has adequate benefits, provides personal fulfillment, provides excitements, provides an opportunity to help others, is well respected by others, and provides opportunities for employment.

College Students' Positivity Toward Teen Mothers

Although teen pregnancy and parenthood are more visible in society than in the past, teen mothers are often stereotyped and stigmatized. The study examined positivity toward teen mothers among college students (N = 316) at a midwestern university. Although students responded positively to some items regarding teen mothers, other statements showed endorsements of stereotypes. Positivity toward teen mothers was positively related to empathy and classification (freshman, sophomore, etc.). Those who did not report having a teen mother in their family had higher levels of positivity than those who reported having a teen mother in their family. Research should examine perceptions of teen mothers among social workers and interventionists as a moderator of intervention effectiveness.

Brief Report: Does Mastery Buffer the Impact of Stress on Depression Among Low-Income Mothers?

Mastery is the extent to which one believes their own outcomes are under their control and is an important coping mechanism in negotiating difficult life circumstances. Furthermore, increased mastery may lead to greater psychological functioning. It was hypothesized that mastery would moderate the relationship between stress on depression among mothers living in poverty (N = 2256). Although stress predicted depression among mothers with low and high mastery, the link was stronger for mothers with low mastery. This supports the stress-buffering hypothesis, indicating that difficulties may be more predictive of depression for those with low compared to high mastery. Professionals implementing programs to assist low-income mothers may want to focus on concepts such as mastery and empowerment.

Identification of Disabilities and Service Receipt Among Preschool Children Living in Poverty

This study examined the prevalence of indicators of disability or potential disability among preschool-aged children enrolled in the Early Head Start Research and Evaluation Longitudinal Follow-Up. Three categories of indicators were established: received Part B services, developmental risk, and biological risk. The majority of participating children (62%) were classified into at least one category. Children living in poverty from birth through preschool and of minority status were among those most likely to be classified; these children were likely to have received a variety of services. The majority of children who received Part C services (79.8%) received Part B services as preschoolers, but 33% of the children with a developmental risk identified before age 3 continued to have a developmental risk during preschool yet did not receive specialized services. Results highlight the importance of understanding the relations among child and family characteristics and service receipt to inform policy and practice.

Sexuality-Related Outcomes of Adolescent Children of Teen Mothers

ABSTRACT The relationship between being an adolescent child of a teen mother and sexuality-related outcomes was investigated using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Adolescents whose mothers were teenagers at first birth were more likely to have had sex by age 16 than other adolescents. Gender moderated this effect, as this relationship was stronger for sons than for daughters. In addition, children of mothers with a lower level of education, adolescents who lived in poverty, and adolescents who resided with less than two biological parents at the start of the study were more likely to have had sex.

Gaps in Alzheimer's Knowledge Among College Students

Despite the prevalence of the disease, it appears that there may be a need for increased education for formal and family caregivers of those with Alzheimers disease and related dementias. Todays college students will be asked to fill both of these roles in the future. This study examined the level of knowledge of Alzheimers disease among college students. Two-hundred college students at a mid-sized midwestern university completed an online survey that included the Alzheimers Disease Knowledge Scale (Carpenter et al., 2009). Although most participants knew that people with Alzheimers remember things from the distant past better than more recent events, many college students were unfamiliar with risk factors and average life expectancy. Implications and recommendations for educational programs and curriculum are discussed.