Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought digital practices and engagement to the forefront of society, which were based on behavioral changes associated with adhering to different government mandates. Further behavioral changes included transitioning from working in the office to working from home, with the use of various social media and communication platforms to maintain a level of social connectedness, especially given that many people who were living in different types of communities, such as rural, urban, and city spaces, were socially isolated from friends, family members, and community groups. Although there is a growing body of research exploring how technology is being used by people, there is limited information and insight about the digital practices employed across different age cohorts living in different physical spaces and residing in different countries. Objective: This paper presents the findings from an international multisite study exploring the impact of social media and the internet on the health and well-being of individuals in different countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Data were collected via a series of online surveys deployed between April 4, 2020, and September 30, 2021. The age of respondents varied from 18 years to over 60 years across the 3 regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. On exploring the associations of technology use, social connectedness, and sociodemographic factors with loneliness and well-being through bivariate and multivariate analyses, significant differences were observed. Results: The levels of loneliness were higher among respondents who used social media messengers or many social media apps than among those who did not use social media messengers or used ≤1 social media app. Additionally, the levels of loneliness were higher among respondents who were not members of an online community support group than among those who were members of an online community support group. Psychological well-being was significantly lower and loneliness was significantly higher among people living in small towns and rural areas than among those living in suburban and urban communities. Younger respondents (18-29 years old), single adults, unemployed individuals, and those with lower levels of education were more likely to experience loneliness. Conclusions: From an international and interdisciplinary perspective, policymakers and stakeholders should extend and explore interventions targeting loneliness experienced by single young adults and further examine how this may vary across geographies. The study findings have implications across the fields of gerontechnology, health sciences, social sciences, media communication, computers, and information technology. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): RR2-10.3389/fsoc.2020.574811

Background and Objectives: “Successful aging” concerns the process of growing older while maintaining physical, cognitive, and social well-being, emphasizing independence for overall satisfaction and quality of life. We investigate the impact of eHealth literacy on reducing loneliness and sustaining well-being during the pandemic, comparing middle- and high-income countries. Research Design and Methods: Online surveys were conducted between April 4, 2020, and September 30, 2021, collecting responses (N = 2,091) from medium- and high-income countries in Europe, Asia, and North America. T-tests and ANOVAs were used to test how sociodemographic predictors were associated with differences in e-Health literacy, loneliness, and well-being. Results: Respondents from high-income countries reported significantly higher well-being scores than those from middle-income countries and respondents from high-income countries had significantly higher e-HEALS (e-Health literacy) scores compared to middle-income countries. No significant difference was observed in loneliness scores between high-income and middle-income country respondents. Well-being is associated with age, with younger adults (18–29 years) and those aged 40+ reporting higher levels. Higher education and income are linked to greater well-being. Gender differences are observed, with females and those with a partner reporting higher well-being. In middle-income countries, higher education levels are more linked to loneliness, while in higher-income countries, loneliness is observed across education levels. Discussion and Implications: Future interventions by governments and policymakers should consider intersectionality in e-Health planning and offer digital literacy and digital skills training to those with lower education levels.

The purpose of this research is to examine the relationships between student engagement in a higher education system and the desire to attend university and academic success. A causal design was used in the research. The research sample consisted of 3,093 undergraduate students in Turkey, selected using the stratified sampling method. NSSE was used as a data collection tool in the study. Pearson product-moment correlation analysis, simple linear regression analysis, and multilevel logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Within the scope of the research, it was determined that student engagement statistically significantly predicted academic success and the desire to attend university. As students' level of engagement increases, their academic success and desire to attend their universities also increase. In this context, universities should establish institutional policies to enhance student engagement and regularly evaluate their progress by measuring the level of student engagement within their institutions.

Bu araştırmanın amacı, Türk yükseköğretim sisteminde öğrenci bağlılığının ulusal düzeyde hangi seviyede gerçekleştiğini belirlemek ve öğrencilerin kişisel ve üniversite deneyimlerine göre öğrenci bağlılığını incelemektir. Araştırmada nicel araştırma yaklaşımlarından tarama modeli kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın örneklemi ise, tabakalı örnekleme yöntemi kullanılarak belirlenen 11 devlet üniversitesinde öğrenim gören 3,093 lisans öğrencisinden meydana gelmektedir. Araştırmada Yükseköğretim Öğrenci Bağlılığı Ölçeği kullanılarak elde edilen veriler betimsel t-testi ve ANOVA ile çözümlenmiştir. Sonuçlar, üniversite öğrencilerinin yükseköğretim öğrenci bağlılığı ölçeğinden aldıkları puanların orta düzeyde olduğu göstermiştir. Ayrıca öğrencilerin yükseköğretim öğrenci bağlılığı ölçeğinden aldıkları puanlar kişisel ve üniversite deneyimlerine yönelik özelliklerine göre anlamlı farklılıklar göstermektedir.

Bu çalışmanın amacı yükseköğretimde öğrenci bağlılığını ölçmeye yönelik geliştirilen Yükseköğretim Öğrenci Bağlılığı Ölçeği’nin (YÖBÖ) Türk dili ve kültürüne uyarlamasını gerçekleştirmek ve ölçeğin geçerlik ile güvenirliğini test etmektir. Araştırma 450 öğretmen adayı üzerinde yürütülmüştür. Ölçeğin uyarlanma sürecinde sırasıyla çeviri geçerliği, dil ve anlam geçerliği, içerik geçerliği, yapı geçerliği ve güvenirlik analizi çalışmaları yapılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular neticesinde YÖBÖ’nün uyarlaması yapılan orijinal ölçekte olduğu gibi yükseköğretimdeki öğrenci bağlılığını on boyutlu bir yapı olarak ölçebildiği doğrulanmıştır. Ölçek için elde edilen geçerlik ve güvenirlik sonuçlarına göre, ölçeğin Türkçe formunun orijinali gibi kabul edilebilir düzeyde geçerlik göstergelerinin bulunduğu ve yeterli güvenirlik katsayılarına sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak YÖBÖ’nün, yükseköğretimdeki öğrenci bağlılığını ölçebilecek güvenilir ve geçerli bir ölçme aracı olduğu ortaya konmuştur.

This study examines how the knowledge and skills acquired by preservice early childhood teachers through the Classroom Management and Teaching Practicum courses are reflected in their classroom management processes. The study was designed using a phenomenological approach. The participants consisted of 26 preservice teachers studying in the Department of Early Childhood Education at the Faculty of Education of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University. The sample was determined through criterion sampling, with the criterion of having completed both the Classroom Management and Teaching Practicum courses. Data were collected through individual interviews using semi-structured interview forms and analyzed through content analysis. The findings indicate that the Classroom Management course increases preservice teachers’ professional awareness, particularly regarding classroom management concepts, time management, creating a positive classroom climate, and coping with problem behaviors. However, participants emphasized that the practical dimension of the course is limited and that more opportunities for real classroom experiences are needed. The findings also revealed that preservice teachers were able to use their theoretical knowledge to some extent during the teaching practicum, but experienced difficulties related to classroom dynamics, individual differences among children, and crisis management. The results suggest that teacher education programs should integrate theory and practice more effectively.