American Journal of Applied Psychology

Special Issue

Psychology of University Students

  • Submission Deadline: 30 May 2015
  • Status: Submission Closed
  • Lead Guest Editor: Ming Sing Chai
About This Special Issue
University students, regardless of whether they have just graduated from high schools or have been out of school systems for decades, are going through many challenges in their endeavor to obtain academic qualifications because of differences between school and higher education. This transition from school education to higher education requires students to make many changes and adjustments physically, emotionally, socially and mentally in order to succeed in higher education. There are many issues concerning university students that are worth looking into for researchers, such as academic achievement, motivation, emotion, psychological health, learning, personality, addictions, stress, coping, psychological interventions and other relevant areas. This special issue focuses on issues of concern to university students with the goal of contributing knowledge and understanding on psychology of university students, gaining insights into how to help improve university students’ academic achievement and general well-being and also to develop their full potential and help them to get prepared for the working world. This special issue invites submissions of articles covering all areas of psychological researches that are related to university students. Empirical, theoretical or conceptual, review articles and commentaries are welcome.
Lead Guest Editor
  • Ming Sing Chai

    Faculty of Social Science, Arts and Humanities, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Guest Editors
  • Ioanna V. Papathanasiou

    Nursing Department, Technological Educational Institute of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece

  • Annie Chooi Seong Dr Lai

    Department of Social Science, Faculty of Social Science, Arts and Humanities, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  • Larysa Zasiekina

    General and Social Psychology Department, Lesya Ukrainka Eastern European National University, Lutsk, Ukraine

  • HARIKRISHNAN MADHUSOODANAN

    DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF KERALA, TRIVANDRUM, India

  • Sau-Keng Cheng

    Department of Social Science, Faculty of Social Science, Arts and Humanities, University College of Tunku Abdul Rahman, Setapak, Malaysia

  • Siew Fong Lin

    Department of Social Science, Faculty of Social Science, Arts and Humanities, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Published Articles
  • Measuring Academic Misconduct: Evaluating the Construct Validity of the Exams and Assignments Scale

    Kenneth D. Royal , Keven Flammer

    Issue: Volume 4, Issue 3-1, June 2015
    Pages: 58-64
    Received: 28 May 2015
    Accepted: 16 June 2015
    Published: 30 June 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.20
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    Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Examinations and Assignments Scale (EAS), a newly designed instrument intended to capture perspectives about the severity of a variety of potential misconduct actions and behaviors, and examine evidence for construct validity. A total of 140 veterinary medical students com... Show More
  • Mediating Effect of Self-Esteem in the Predictive Relationship of Personality and Academic Self-Handicapping

    Sau Keng Cheng , Mei Yui Law

    Issue: Volume 4, Issue 3-1, June 2015
    Pages: 51-57
    Received: 1 April 2015
    Accepted: 2 April 2015
    Published: 17 April 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.19
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    Abstract: This study was undertaken to examine the predictive relationship between personality traits and academic self-handicapping with self-esteem as the mediator. A total of 62 (19 males, 43 females) Psychology undergraduates participated in the study. Respondents completed a questionnaire that measured their personality, academic self-handicapping and s... Show More
  • Dog Ownership, Perceived Social Supports and Stress Among University Students

    Vei Kit Lee , Ming Sing Chai

    Issue: Volume 4, Issue 3-1, June 2015
    Pages: 45-50
    Received: 1 April 2015
    Accepted: 2 April 2015
    Published: 11 April 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.18
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    Abstract: This study was conducted to determine whether there is a significant mean difference of perceived stress between dog owners and non-dog owners and whether there are significant correlations between different sources of perceived social supports and perceived stress. Participants were 116 undergraduate students in a Malaysian private university coll... Show More
  • Personality Traits, Emotional Intelligence and Academic Achievements of University Students

    Yoke Theing Chen , Chooi Seong Lai

    Issue: Volume 4, Issue 3-1, June 2015
    Pages: 39-44
    Received: 20 March 2015
    Accepted: 21 March 2015
    Published: 7 April 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.17
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    Abstract: This research investigated the relationships between personality traits, emotional intelligence and academic achievements among 160 university students in Malaysia. Big Five Inventory (BFI) was used to measure the five dimensions of personality traits - extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness; Schutte Emotional Intelli... Show More
  • Personality, Coping and Stress Among University Students

    Ming Sing Chai , Chee Seong Low

    Issue: Volume 4, Issue 3-1, June 2015
    Pages: 33-38
    Received: 19 March 2015
    Accepted: 19 March 2015
    Published: 28 March 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.16
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    Abstract: The study examined the relationship between personality, coping strategies, and level of psychological stress. Participants consisted of 148 university students from a private university college in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Leonard Personality Inventory (LPI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and COPE Inventory were used. The results revealed that partic... Show More
  • Personality and Leadership Qualities among Student Leaders

    Ming Sing Chai

    Issue: Volume 4, Issue 3-1, June 2015
    Pages: 27-32
    Received: 15 March 2015
    Accepted: 16 March 2015
    Published: 23 March 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.15
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    Abstract: This research focused on a group of student leaders who have been elected by their peers to hold various positions in societies and clubs in the university setting. It explored the leadership qualities that student leaders had and the influence of personality on those leadership qualities among student leaders. A total of 59 participants from a pri... Show More
  • An Exploratory Study on Personality Traits and Procrastination Among University Students

    Chooi Seong Lai , Abdul Rahman bin Ahmad Badayai , Khartikka Chandrasekaran , Siew Yen Lee , Rubini Kulasingam

    Issue: Volume 4, Issue 3-1, June 2015
    Pages: 21-26
    Received: 9 March 2015
    Accepted: 9 March 2015
    Published: 20 March 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.14
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    Abstract: The present research examines the association between personality traits and procrastination behavior among 148 university students (52 males, 96 females). Respondents completed two measurements - Leonard Personality Inventory and General Procrastination Scale. Descriptive analysis indicated that Diploma Year 2 students scored the highest (Mean = 5... Show More
  • Student Approaches to Learning Among University Students

    Hee Chong Teoh , Teng Teng Yap

    Issue: Volume 4, Issue 3-1, June 2015
    Pages: 15-20
    Received: 26 February 2015
    Accepted: 26 February 2015
    Published: 9 March 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.13
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    Abstract: This study evaluated the learning characteristics of university students based on three learning approaches (surface approach, deep approach and achieving approach) and six subscales, namely three learning motives (LM) and three learning strategies (LS). A survey form adapted from Biggs’s study process questionnaire (SPQ) was distributed to a total... Show More
  • Computer-Mediated Communication and Its Influence on Psychological Functioning

    Ming Sing Chai , Joyce Baptist

    Issue: Volume 4, Issue 3-1, June 2015
    Pages: 7-14
    Received: 23 February 2015
    Accepted: 24 February 2015
    Published: 6 March 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.12
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    Abstract: This study applied online disinhibition effect [1] to examine perceived psychological benefits (PPB) derived from computer-mediated communication (CMC). The models examined the relationship between psychological health (loneliness, self-esteem and social anxiety) and CMC for social interaction (to seek romantic/sexual relationships and emotional/so... Show More
  • Students’ Perceptions of Using Collaborative Learning as a Tool for Acquiring Writing Skills in University

    Daljeet Singh Sedhu , S. Chee Choy , Mun Yee Lee

    Issue: Volume 4, Issue 3-1, June 2015
    Pages: 1-6
    Received: 12 January 2015
    Accepted: 2 February 2015
    Published: 6 March 2015
    DOI: 10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.11
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    Abstract: This paper examines students’ perceptions of the use of group discussion as a collaborative learning tool among English-as-a-Second-language (ESL) learners when learning writing skills in university. Studies on collaborative learning have shown that group discussions enhance students’ learning experiences and knowledge. Collaborative learning in th... Show More