Journal of American College Health最新文献

Objective: Although complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been widely used, there are a few quantitative studies through which these trends in minority young adults can be analyzed. The purpose of this study is to describe and understand Hispanics' use of Mexican American complementary and alternative medicine with a focus on Hispanic college students' exposure and attitudes toward CAM. Participants: We surveyed at a mid-sized, Hispanic-serving public university located in the southwestern US. Of the 203 students, 38% of the Hispanic students in the sample reported that they have used a form of CAM. Methods: We performed logistic regression and mediational analyses to analyze the data. Results: We found positive associations between personal exposure to Mexican American CAM and the use of CAM. Additionally, belief in the influences of emotional and supernatural states on physical health strongly predicted the usage of Mexican American CAM, whereas belief in the efficacy of Western biomedicine was inversely associated with the use of CAM. Conclusion: Recognizing the cultural and attitudinal factors that shape healthcare decisions can guide the development of more inclusive, culturally tailored healthcare approaches and educational initiatives for young Hispanic college students.

Objective: Campus sexual misconduct causes adverse physical, mental, behavioral, reproductive, and financial consequences. Informing prevention efforts at federal, state, and institution levels requires valid data. We assessed the appropriateness of Clery Act Campus Crime Statistics data for evaluating campus sexual misconduct. Participants: We sampled 40 institutions within the American Association of Universities (AAU) from 2014 to 2020. Methods: We determined annual differences between rates of sexual misconduct reported in public Clery Act data and those reported by institutional Title IX coordinator offices (which are not required to be public). Results: Clery Act data offer a considerable undercount relative to Title IX Office sexual misconduct data. The magnitude of the differences was similar in both the institutions that published Title IX data and those that did not. Conclusions: Clery Act data are not appropriate for evaluating campus sexual misconduct, necessitating policy steps that require standardization and publication of Title IX Office data.

Objective:  To determine whether learning about growth mindset toward mental health (GMMH) influences college students' retention, GMMH and resilience beliefs, and participation in activities associated with mental health (AMH).

Participants:  258 first-year students at a small, private liberal arts college.

Methods:  A between-subjects design (students had or had not participated in a GMMH intervention) compared student retention, GMMH using Dwecks' Growth Mindset Scale, resilience via the Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10), and participation in AMH.

Results:  Learning about GMMH impacted retention (p = .026), particularly among first-generation students (p = .031). Learning about GMMH improved first-year students' engagement in AMH (p = . 045), particularly among non-White and International students (p = .015).

Conclusions:  Learning about GMMH positively impacts vulnerable students' retention and engagement in AMH, even when self-reported beliefs in GMMH and resilience are not impacted. Tracking behavior provides an informative way to measure the potential success of GMMH interventions.

Objective: Optimizing sexual history intake is crucial for effective STI screening and diagnosis. This study, conducted at a university health center, investigated whether implementing a self-administered electronic questionnaire focused on organ contact, compared to the conventional verbal intake method used previously, would increase the number and diversity of screening tests, and subsequently improve detection rates for chlamydia (CT) and gonorrhea (GC).

Methods: The number and types of CT and GC tests ordered, along with diagnosis rates, were analyzed during the implementation of the electronic questionnaire and compared with data from the preceding four years.

Results: There was a significant increase in both testing frequency and CT and GC diagnoses after initiation of the new sexual history intake compared to previous years.

Conclusion: Implementing a self-administered electronic questionnaire for sexual history intake focusing on organ contact may enhance STI screening strategies and improve diagnostic yield for CT and GC infections.

Objectives: During the second COVID-19 pandemic wave in Israel, we examined COVID-19-specific stressors and academic and financial challenges as potential risk factors for anxiety and depression among university students in Israel. Based on conservation of resources (COR) theory, we hypothesized that the threat of resource loss within the personal domain, academic challenges, and financial concerns would increase the likelihood of experiencing anxiety and depression. Participants: We sampled 18,686 students who responded to an online questionnaire. Methods: Data collection occurred from September 6 to November 8, 2020. Anxiety and depression were assessed by the GAD-7 and PHQ-9, respectively. We conducted multiple hierarchical logistic regression analyses predicting depression and anxiety symptoms at the clinical level. Results: Greater positive learning experiences were associated with a 38% reduction in the odds of experiencing depression (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.59-0.65). Conclusions: Developing integrated services for students addressing their mental health during disasters is necessary.

Objective: Stigma is a known barrier to seeking behavioral health support and treatment. This study assesses college students' stigma toward students seeking help for alcohol use. Participants: 237 students from a diverse major at a private university in the southeastern United States. Method: Respondents reported personal stigma and public stigma (i.e., the estimated prevalence of personal stigma among peers). We compared public stigma estimates with the prevalence of respondents' personal stigma. Logistic regression models were fit to estimate correlates of overestimating public stigma. Results: More than 70% overestimated public stigma. Estimates from regression models indicated that consuming alcohol 3+ days per week (aOR = 4.63; 95% CI 1.39-15.41; p = 0.012) and personal stigma (aOR = 14.06; 95% CI 3.64-54.36; p < 0.001) were associated with overestimating public stigma. Conclusions: Students overestimated public stigma toward students seeking help for alcohol use. Future research should assess whether correcting overestimates increases help-seeking for alcohol use.

Objective: This study examined the independent and joint effects of ADHD status, distress tolerance, and delay of gratification on the propensity to engage in health risk behaviors (drug use, alcohol use, disordered eating).

Participants/methods: Participants included 115 female college students (41.7% with ADHD) who completed online questionnaires.

Results: College students with a prior diagnosis of ADHD reported significantly lower distress tolerance, decreased delay of gratification, more drug and alcohol use, and more disordered eating in comparison to those without ADHD. Main effects for delay of gratification in predicting uncontrolled and emotional eating and two significant moderation analyses emerged. For individuals with ADHD, poorer distress tolerance was associated with more drug use.

Conclusion: Results highlight the potential to target distress tolerance to reduce engagement in drug use among female college students with ADHD, and to target the ability to delay gratification to reduce risk for disordered eating among all college students.

Objective: While young adults have the highest prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs), treatment seeking is low in this age group. This study aimed to identify stigmatizing attitudes toward SUDs in the college setting, and to test whether SUD stigma was related to knowledge of addiction and familiarity with addiction (e.g., knowing someone with a SUD). Participants: Participants included 602 undergraduates from a public university in the southeastern United States (M_Age=18.51, SD = 0.81, 80.2% Female, 79.9% White Non-Hispanic). Methods: Participants completed an anonymous, online survey which included various SUD stigma, familiarity, and knowledge measures. Results: Results showed negative emotions toward individuals who have SUDs was inversely correlated with knowledge level. In addition, desired social distance from individuals with SUDs was inversely related to level of familiarity. There was no significant interaction between knowledge and familiarity. Conclusion: The findings have implications for college programming aimed at reducing stigma toward individuals with SUDs.

Objective: College students experience elevated rates of alcohol and sexual risk behaviors, but underrepresentation of rural institutions precludes tailored intervention. This study characterizes prevalence and short-term alcohol-sex risk at a rural institution.

Participants: Undergraduates at a rural northeastern university.

Method: Online health behavior surveys at Time 1 (T1; N = 327) and Time 2 (T2; n = 150, M_interval=34 ± 7 days).

Results: 75% reported lifetime, 73% past-year, and 65% past-month drinking at T1. Despite past-month sexual risk behavior (48% without barrier, 31% under influence of alcohol/drugs, 12% without querying STI status), only 23% endorsed past-year STI testing. Drinking students were more likely than non-drinking peers to endorse all sexual risk behaviors. T1 drinking was associated with T2 sex, sex under the influence of alcohol/drugs, and unprotected sex.

Conclusions: College drinking predicted short-term sexual risk behaviors at this rural institution, suggesting potential unique risk mechanisms. Findings may inform multilevel, culture-centered intervention for students attending rural universities.

Objective: The study analyzes e-health message content shared by university health centers and determines college students' engagement with those messages. Method: Using the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA) framework, the current study content analyzed the RAA components (target behavior, attitudes/expectancies, social norms, and efficacy) within Instagram messages that were shared by official university health services accounts to promote health behaviors among college students. Results: Results showed that university health services are often using RAA-informed message strategies, with just under half of all posts containing at least one RAA component. Also, students are more likely to engage with university health services content that includes positive expectancies-specifically, improved academic performance and general efficacy. Conclusion: The present research will help university health services tailor their theory-driven messaging to improve student engagement with their e-health content.