Walter C. Buboltz

Relationship of Sleep Hygiene Awareness, Sleep Hygiene Practices, and Sleep Quality in University Students

Abstract College students are known for their variable sleep schedules. Such schedules, along with other common student practices (eg, alcohol and caffeine consumption), are associated with poor sleep hygiene. Researchers have demonstrated in clinical populations that improving sleep hygiene knowledge and practices is an effective treatment for insomnia. However, researchers who have examined relationships between sleep hygiene and practices in nonclinical samples and overall sleep quality have produced inconsistent findings, perhaps because of questionable measures. In this study, the authors used psychometrically sound instruments to examine these variables and to counter the shortcomings in previous investigations. Their findings suggest that knowledge of sleep hygiene is related to sleep practices, which, in turn, is related to overall sleep quality. The data from their regression modeling indicated that variable sleep schedules, going to bed thirsty, environmental noise, and worrying while falling asleep contribute to poor sleep quality.

Development and Evaluation of the Sleep Treatment and Education Program for Students (STEPS).

University students report significantly worse sleep quality than the general population. Sleep problems are related to increased health concerns, irritability, depression, fatigue, and attention and concentration difficulties, along with poor academic performance. Clinical research indicates that psychoeducational interventions are among the most effective methods for improving sleep quality in the general population. Similar studies for university students are lacking. In this study, the authors describe the development of the Sleep Treatment and Education Program for Students (STEPS) and evaluate its effectiveness with a double blind, experimental design. Students in the treatment group reported significantly improved sleep quality and sleep hygiene behaviors at 6 weeks posttreatment.

Content Analysis of Research in the "Journal of Counseling Psychology" (1973-1998).

A content analysis of the research published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology (JCP) was conducted for a 26-year period (1973-1998). A total of 2,027 articles were classified into 14 substantive content categories. Frequency distributions were used to identify the most frequently published authors and institutional affiliations, as well as the gender and ethnic characteristics reported. The principal areas of research activity and publication in the JCP were process only, process and outcome, vocational behavior research, and the development and evaluation of tests and measures. These 4 categories accounted for 55.2% of the articles examined. Typical reported samples contained college students of both genders. This content analysis revealed that over this 26-year time span, the research reported in the JCP has remained consistent with the mission statement of the journal.

Facebook and romantic relationships: intimacy and couple satisfaction associated with online social network use

Online social networks, such as Facebook, have gained immense popularity and potentially affect the way people build and maintain interpersonal relationships. The present study sought to examine time spent on online social networks, as it relates to intimacy and relationship satisfaction experienced in romantic relationships. Results did not find relationships between an individuals usage of online social networks and his/her perception of relationship satisfaction and intimacy. However, the study found a negative relationship between intimacy and the perception of a romantic partners use of online social networks. This finding may allude to an attributional bias in which individuals are more likely to perceive a partners usage as negative compared to their own usage. Additionally, it was found that intimacy mediates the relationship between online social network usage and overall relationship satisfaction, which suggests that the level of intimacy experienced in a relationship may serve as a buffer that protects the overall level of satisfaction.

Differentiation of Self and Psychological Reactance

This study examined the relationship between differentiation of self and psychological reactance. A total of 279 college students completed the Personal Authority in the Family System Questionnaire, the Therapeutic Reactance Scale, the Questionnaire for the Measurement of Psychological Reactance, and demographic questions. Results showed that three measures of differentiation (i.e., intergenerational individuation, peer intimacy, and peer individuation) significantly predicted psychological reactance. Implications of these results for therapists are provided.

The Relationship Between Attachment to Parents and Psychological Separation in College Students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between attachment to parents and psychological separation in college students. Three hundred sixty-eight undergraduate students completed the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (Armsden & Greenberg, 1987) and the Psychological Separation Inventory (Hoffman, 1984). Results suggest an association with the attachment variables of low trust and high positive communication and psychological separation from parents, with the exception of independence from conflict, for both men and women. For men to psychologically separate, it was also important to have low alienation from fathers. Implications of the results are discussed.

Content analysis of the Journal of Counseling Psychology: Buboltz, Miller, and Williams (1999) 11 years later.

A content analysis of research published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology (JCP) was conducted for Volumes 46 (1999) through 56 (2009). The analysis involved the placement of 514 articles in 15 substantive content categories. In addition, we identified the most frequently published authors, most frequent institutional affiliations, and several reported demographic characteristics. The principal areas of research activity in the JCP were multiculturalism and/or diversity, research on development and evaluation of tests and measures, personality and adjustment, outcome research, and interpersonal and/or social support and/or attachment, with these categories accounting for 57% of the articles published. Over 40% of the samples reported were college students, with a large number of samples including both genders and indicating the ethnic breakdown. This content analysis revealed that the JCP has remained consistent with its stated mission while incorporating changes in the field in its publications.

Toward a Tripartite Model of Research Motivation: Development and Initial Validation of the Research Motivation Scale

An instrument designed to measure a 3-factor model of research motivation was developed and psychometrically examined in the present research. Participants were 437 graduate students in biology, chemistry/biochemistry, physics/astronomy, and psychology. A principal components analysis supported the retention of 20 items representing the 3-factor structure. Intrinsic Reward explained 32.19% of the variance in the data, followed by Failure Avoidance (15.84%), and Extrinsic Reward (7.49%). A follow-up confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the 3-factor model provided a better fit to the data than competing 1-, 2-, and 4-factor models. A nomological network of relations with academic achievement motivation, fear of failure, behavioral activation/inhibition sensitivity, and other constructs also revealed support for the measure’s convergent and discriminant validity. Implications for theory and research in the achievement motivation and career development domains are discussed.

Holland Code Type and Psychological Reactance

This study investigated the relationship between the construct of psychological reactance and personality type. Recent studies have suggested that psychological reactance may well be an important client variable mediating the process and outcome of therapy. Psychological reactance was measured by both the Therapeutic Reactance Scale (TRS) and the Questionnaire for the Measurement of Psychological Reactance (QMPR). Personality type was measured by the Self-Directed Search. A total of 186 participants, including 80 males and 106 females, were administered the instruments. Regression analysis showed that three of the six Holland Code types significantly predicted psychological reactance for both the TRS and QMPR. These results add to the description of the psychological reactant individual and could allow therapists to devise treatment strategies, general therapeutic approaches, and treatment interventions that best meet the needs of the client.

Research Productivity in Counseling Psychology An Update

This article is an update and review of institutional research productivity in counseling psychology. Institutional research productivity is assessed by totaling credits for articles published from 1993 to 2002 in the following journals: Journal of Counseling Psychology, The Counseling Psychologist, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Journal of Vocational Behavior, Journal of Counseling and Development, Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, and Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. Results show that the rankings of many programs have remained fairly stable over the years, while others have substantially changed. Additionally, two factors were found to represent the research productivity of institutions in the field. These results are discussed in terms of the identity of counseling psychology and research productivity.