An Arabic translation of Fenigstein, Scheier, and Buss's 1975 Self-consciousness scale was administered to 254 United Arab Emirates University undergraduate students, 99 men and 155 women with a mean age of 24 years. A factor analysis of the intercorrelations indicated the same general factors as in the original and other replicating studies. This study, however, differed from them in item loadings and distribution of items within the three factors of the scale. Other factor solutions were also tried and reported. Differences between men and women were also noted. In contrast with previous studies, the Arabic version showed differences in the magnitude of correlations among subscales. These differences were discussed in the light of cross-cultural and Arabic studies showing the influence of culture.

Background: Smoking among university students is a social and public health problem worldwide. There is a high prevalence of smoking in Saudi Arabia. Aims: To investigate the factors associated with the onset and cessation of smoking behaviour among university students in Saudi Arabia, and establish what contributes to changes of students' smoking behaviour. Methods: A sample of 340 students from a national university in Saudi Arabia was randomly recruited and surveyed twice at a 5-month interval. Multiple ordinal logistic regression was run to compare changes in social, psychological and political factors and their impact on students' smoking behaviour. Results: We found that beliefs supporting nonsmoking (e.g., religious prohibition of smoking) correlated with changes in smoking behaviour among university students [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.23-2.91]. There was a significant positive correlation between government policy and changes in male university students' smoking behaviour (AOR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.29-0.072). The psychological effect of smoking, such as releasing psychological pressures, was also correlated with changes in smoking behaviour (AOR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.21-0.47). Conclusions: Our study suggests that the government can play a significant role in curbing smoking by strengthening beliefs promoting antismoking among university students, by developing corresponding policies against smoking, and by providing psychological consultation for them.

The present study investigated the effect of language dominance on 40 subjects' performance on a Stroop task. In the first group were 20 Education majors using mainly the Arabic language, while in the second group of 20 students were majors in English. Each group performed two different Stroop tasks. Analysis showed that language comprehension affected the way subjects processed the information. This difference was explained in terms of cognitive processes involved and by a late selective attention process.

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The current study aimed to investigate the development of actively open-minded thinking (AOT) among Saudi College students and its impact on their future time perspective (FTP). The study samples included 1,797 undergraduate students from different majors, and used AOT inventory of (Stanovich & West, 1997) and a short version of Zimbardo FTP inventory. The results showed that there was no development of AOT as illustrated by linear regression among college students depending on the AOT subfactors. However, the FTP results demonstrated that there was development of the present experience (FTP subfactor), as indicated by linear regression according to age in the present experience (FTP subfactor) was increased by age. The findings revealed a difference in the AOT, AOT subfactors, FTP and FTP subfactors in relation to sex, with males showing a higher score compared to females. In addition, the results indicated the interaction of AOT by sex on FTP subfactors (i.e., present vs. future). These findings indicate that AOT does not show developmental change according to age among the study sample. In contrast, some developmental changes occurred in FTP and FTP subfactors according to age.