Journal of American College Health最新文献

Introduction: To bridge gaps in health product access on campus, a vending machine containing reduced-priced emergency contraceptives, over-the-counter health products, and free naloxone, was installed by student advocates at a large Midwestern University (termed: health vending machine). The purpose of this study is to present product sales data from the health vending machine to inform implementation of similar initiatives in the university setting.

Methods: This is an observational study using descriptive statistics to report units dispensed monthly, by product, from October 2024 to May 2025, approximately one academic year.

Results: Naloxone, emergency contraception, and pregnancy tests were the top three products dispensed, totaling 297, 232, and 64 units, respectively.

Conclusions: Product data demonstrated a distinct pattern from other university-based health vending machines, with naloxone being the most dispensed item. Comparatively greater dispensed naloxone and emergency contraceptives support this model as a practical strategy to improve access to time-sensitive health products.

Objective: To examine associations between post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), impulsivity, drinking motives, and alcohol outcomes among college women who experienced adult sexual violence. Participants: 122 college women from a large southeastern university, predominantly White (90.2%), ages 18-24, reporting adult sexual violence and weekly alcohol consumption. Methods: Participants completed validated measures assessing PTSS, positive and negative urgency, coping and enhancement drinking motives, alcohol use, and alcohol consequences. Path analysis tested direct and indirect associations among these variables. Results: PTSS had significant direct effects on negative urgency and coping motives, and indirect effects on alcohol consequences via these variables. Positive urgency had a significant effect on enhancement motives, which subsequently was significantly associated with alcohol outcomes. Standardized coefficients ranged from β = .22 to .47 across significant pathways, indicating moderate effect sizes. Coping motives, unexpectedly, correlated negatively with alcohol use but positively with consequences. Conclusions: Findings underscore the distinct roles of negative and positive urgency and drinking motives in influencing alcohol outcomes among college women survivors of sexual violence, highlighting implications for targeted interventions.

Objective: This study examined how prior trauma relates to depression and anxiety symptoms among 713 college students across generational immigrant groups - first-, second-, and "later"-generation. Methods: Participants completed the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 and reported bereavement, social support, and trauma exposure. Results: Symptoms of depression and anxiety were similar across generational groups, though predictors varied. Among first-generation students, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) scores (β = .35, p < .001), age (β = -.30, p < .001), social support (β = -.28, p < .001), and recent bereavement (β = .14, p = .036) significantly predicted depression, explaining 26% of variance; age (β = -.27), ACE scores (β = .28), and social support (β = -.21) predicted anxiety (20% variance explained). For second-generation students, social support (β = -.27, p < .001) was the strongest depression predictor, alongside ACE scores (β = .27, p < .001), trauma exposure (β = .14, p = .008), and male gender (β = -.13, p = .007), explaining 25% of variance; ACE scores (β = .26), social support (β = -.20), trauma exposure (β = .11), and male gender (β = -.10) predicted anxiety (16% variance explained). For later-generation participants, ACE scores (β = .23, p = .025), social support (β = -.18, p = .034), and Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity (β = .16, p = .048) predicted depression (11% variance); ACE scores (β = .30, p = .003) and Black ethnicity (β = -.18, p = .027) predicted anxiety (13% variance). Social support was negatively associated with depression and anxiety across most groups. Conclusions: Adverse childhood experiences are key predictors of depression and anxiety symptoms in immigrant students, though other predictors vary by subgroup. These findings underscore the necessity of considering generational context when addressing mental health in immigrant populations and that interventions should prioritize trauma-informed, culturally sensitive approaches.

Objective: This study examined the psychometric properties and preliminary validity of a nine-item evaluative scale designed to capture holistic wellbeing among college students. Participants: Data came from 197 racially/ethnically, socioeconomically, and educationally diverse full-time undergraduates, primarily from a large public university. Methods: Exploratory factor analysis with principal axis factoring and Promax rotation assessed structural validity and internal consistency, while preliminary nomological validity was examined through correlations and mean differences across academic and demographic characteristics. Results: A reliable single-factor solution emerged (α = .86), explaining 41.3% of the variance and supporting a unidimensional construct of evaluative holistic wellbeing. Significant differences were observed by year in college, GPA, household income, first-generation status, and race/ethnicity. Conclusions: Findings provide preliminary support for an evaluative holistic wellbeing factor that captures students' satisfaction across life domains and meaningfully differentiates wellbeing across diverse student populations.

Objective: The current study investigated how viewing a printed informational brochure about local mental health resources can affect help-seeking in college students. Method: Undergraduate participants (n = 187) were randomly assigned to read a printed brochure for 5 min about local mental health resources or facts related to their university. Results: Reading the mental health resources brochure led to greater knowledge about said resources, lower perceived public stigma toward help-seeking, more positive attitudes toward seeking professional help, and greater willingness to engage in help-seeking behavior. There was no significant impact on personal stigma, self-stigma, or intentions to seek help. Conclusions: The results provide evidence of the utility of printed brochures in reducing barriers to help-seeking in college students. Even in today's digital age, printed informational materials can be relevant mediums for addressing stigma, improving mental health literacy, and disseminating knowledge about treatment options.

The Eliminate Tobacco Use (ETU) Initiative was founded by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas (UT) System in 2015 to reduce tobacco use in higher education settings across five campus constituencies-students, faculty, staff, patients, and the community. The operational framework was conceived to design, implement, and advance tobacco control actions involving public policy, awareness programming, and the delivery of tobacco cessation services. With commitment from every UT System president, participating institutions adopted evidence-based strategies, resource sharing, and toolkits. The ETU model attracted interest from colleagues outside of Texas with over 60 institutions/schools and across eight states. ETU has reached more than two million individuals, contributed to healthier academic environments, and served as a model for collaboration and sustainable impact in tobacco control within higher education. Campuses may be able to strengthen their tobacco-control efforts by following the recommendations outlined in this report.

Objective: Examine associations between college students' physical activity (PA) resource use and PA levels during the pandemic, identifying sociodemographic disparities in resource use.

Participants: Undergraduate and graduate college students.

Methods: Data were from the COVID-19 Texas College Student Experiences Survey (n = 904). Ordinal logistic regressions examined relationships between resource use and PA levels. Logistic regressions explored resource use differences by sociodemographics.

Results: Students using off-campus gyms, parks/trails, home/neighborhood, and online resources exhibited higher PA levels (p < 0.01). Males had greater off-campus gym use (vs. females; p < 0.05). Park/trail use was less likely among students with overweight/obesity (vs healthy weight; p < 0.05) and Asian or Other race (vs. White; p < 0.05). Students 45 years and older were less likely to use parks/trails, online, or home/neighborhood resources (vs. 18-25-year-olds; p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Higher education institutions should move beyond general promotion and diversify PA resources to promote health enhancing PA among college students.

Objective: This study examined whether a brief, online social media literacy curriculum could improve digital competence and body image resilience among college students. Participants: Students enrolled in a general education wellness course at a Midwestern university were randomly assigned by course section to intervention or control groups. Methods: The intervention group completed a one-week online module with six short video lectures with embedded quizzes. Students completed pre- and post-intervention assessments, including the Social Media Competence Scale for College Students (SMCS-CS) and the Sociocultural Attitudes Toward Appearance Questionnaire-4 (SATAQ-4). Results: Students in the intervention group showed significant improvements in Technical Utility (p = 0.005), Content Interpretation (p = 0.019), and Content Generation (p = 0.004). No significant differences emerged for Anticipatory Reflection or any SATAQ-4 subscales. Conclusion: A brief curriculum-integrated media literacy intervention improved multiple domains of social media competence but did not affect body image resilience.

Objective: This paper outlines a collaborative initiative, showcasing how direct student involvement can enhance the relevance and effectiveness of wellness resources on college campuses.

Participants: Participants were graduate students in a Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology program.

Methods: Recognizing the unique set of wellness challenges faced by graduate students, a Wellness Lab team of faculty, staff and students used a co-developed approach to create a dedicated wellness space specifically for graduate students. The team surveyed graduate students (n = 65) to gather input on their preferences for a wellness space.

Results: Most graduate students desired a quiet space that could be used before or in between classes for relaxation, with comfortable seating and wellness resources.

Conclusions: The study team followed a co-production model emphasizing shared decision-making, with graduate students as active co-creators. Their involvement ensured the wellness space was culturally relevant and accessible to students for daily use.

Objective: This study explored the association between campus sexual assault victimization and campus characteristics (e.g., enrollment size), student behavioral climate (e.g., binge drinking), campus climate (e.g., belonging), and diversity. Participants: The sample included 181,599 students (from 306 campuses) who completed the ACHA-NCHA III survey between Fall 2021 and Spring 2023. Methods: We used mixed-effect logistic regression to explore the association between campus-level characteristics and student experiences of sexual assault. Results: Various aspects of campus climate were associated with increased risk of experiencing sexual assault, such as higher proportion of students who reporting binge drinking or experiencing discrimination and higher average levels of campus loneliness. Other factors were associated with reduced risk of sexual assault, such as greater diversity of students on a campus. Conclusions: Findings suggest a need for campus sexual violence prevention programming to focus on campus-level factors and structural characteristics that create risk for sexual assault.