MS, University of Cincinnati, 2010, Education : Health Promotion and Education

This study aimed to determine whether college students' perceived overall happiness and stress differed significantly based on frequency of using effective acute stress management techniques, emotional closeness to important others (social connections), and level of involvement in spirituality. In addition, this study examined whether college students' use of effective acute stress management techniques differed significantly based on perceived benefits, barriers, and cues to using effective acute stress management techniques. A convenience sample of 485 college students at a large public Midwestern university completed a 101-item instrument assessing their perceived overall happiness, perceived overall stress, frequency in using effective acute stress management techniques, perceived benefits in using effective acute stress management techniques, perceived barriers in using effective acute stress management techniques, and cues to using effective acute stress management techniques. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that perceived overall happiness differed significantly based on perceived overall stress and perceived emotional closeness to important others. Perceived overall stress differed significantly based on perceived emotional closeness to important others. Frequency in using effective acute stress management techniques differed significantly based on level of perceived benefits, barriers, and cues to using effective acute stress management techniques. Recommendations have been offered to improve college students' happiness and decrease their stress through campus wellness programming. Recommendations for future studies have also been offered.

Committee: Keith King PhD (Committee Chair); Amy Bernard PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Health Education