No abstract

The study sought to find out whether factors such as parental, peer, and media influences predict Ghanaian adolescent students' eating habits. A random selection of 150 students from a population of senior high school students in Ghana were asked to complete the Eating Habits Questionnaire for Adolescents. Data were analyzed by the use of bivariate correlation, t test, and multiple regression analytical techniques using SPSS version 16. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between peer influence and eating habits suggesting that the higher the peer pressure, the more unhealthy the students' eating habits. Counterintuitively, parental and media influences did not significantly correlate with students' eating habits. Gender difference in eating habits suggested that girls had more unhealthy eating habits than boys. Finally, multiple regression analysis revealed that peer influence was a better predictor of students' eating habits than parental and media influences. The findings were discussed and recommendations were given in light of the study's limitations.

Counseling is an age-old practice with roots dating back to the 20th century. Twenty-first-century boom in technology has offered new opportunities for counseling practice, making it possible for counselors and clients to interact virtually without recourse to physical meetings. This study sought to investigate students’ experiences of online counseling in some Ghanaian universities. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to examine the experiences of undergraduate students using online counseling. Five of the student-clients used WhatsApp messaging, two used e-mailing, and one used WhatsApp video. A thematic approach was used to analyze student-clients’ experiences. Accessibility, convenience, privacy, and mobility were some significant benefits they indicated concerning online counseling. On the contrary, loss of non-verbal cues, mistrust, and poor internet connectivity were their major obstacles to online counseling. Nevertheless, their issues were resolved with the use of online counseling. It is recommended that Counselors are trained in the use of online resources for counseling, and Management of Universities should introduce counseling technology devices to students to make online counseling more accessible and convenient.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of higher education students' lives. The COVID-19 has influenced their cognitive abilities regarding schoolwork, balancing their lives, and maintaining academic success using mindfulness awareness and academic resilience as productive strategies. Therefore, this study examined Ghanaian students' mindfulness and academic resilience amid the pandemic with a descriptive quantitative design survey. Data for the study were collected with adapted versions of the mindfulness and academic resilience scales. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential procedures. The study revealed that students were mindful about themselves in the pandemic, and their level of academic resilience was high. In addition, the study found no statistically significant differences in mean scores of mindfulness between male and female students and their academic levels, but statistically significant differences existed in mean scores of academic resilience and their academic levels. In this regard, the study concludes that students were mindful and resilient about activities they do during the pandemic. Therefore, higher learning institution management and faculty need to devote time in advocating for and training of students about mindfulness and resilience, as well as providing them with the best strategies for their application.

Education is vital to everyone, but it is significant for girls and women. The importance of education is true not only because education is an entry point to other opportunities, but also because the educational achievements of women can have ripple effects within the families and across generations. However, the effect of the inadequate support system in the University and home on academic performance, childcare and other domestic chores cannot be overemphasised. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to investigate the challenges encountered in school and the home and also to explore the perceived coping strategies adopted by student nursing mothers in a tertiary institution in Ghana. A qualitative approach using the descriptive phenomenological design was adopted. Eighteen participants were drawn from an accessible population of 30 student nursing mothers using a purposive and snowballing sampling method. The study employed a thematic approach to analyze student nursing mothers' responses to interviews conducted. The study revealed a lack of concentration, lack of time to study and unfriendly lecture schedule as some challenging experiences of the mothers. On home challenges, student nursing mothers experienced a decline in marital happiness and inadequate care of older kids. Based on these findings, it may be deduced that the programme structure of the university programmes is not student mother-friendly and that student nursing mothers may have problems with grades and psychological wellbeing. Again, there may be some lack of lactating resources in the institution which students' mothers may have utilized to ease the pressure in nursing of their babies. Recommendations were therefore given in light of the study.