Journal of American College Health最新文献

Objective: Identify the prevalence of food insecurity (FI) and compare sociodemographic, mental, physical, behavioral, and environmental risk factors for FI among students at a private university, community college, and historically black college or university (HBCU).

Participants: Adult students attending a private university, community college, or HBCU (n = 4,140) located within the southeastern United States.

Methods: Using an online survey (2017-2019), FI, sociodemographic, mental, physical, behavioral, and environmental data were collected to understand their association with FI.

Results: Up to 37.1% of students experienced FI. Identifying as black, other/multi-racial, having poor sleep, federal loans, depressive symptoms, high stress, social isolation, or a chronic condition were associated with FI. These associations varied by institution.

Conclusions: FI is prevalent within diverse post-secondary institutions that serve traditional and nontraditional students with risk factors varying between institutions. The prevalence of FI and risk factors can inform institutional policy responses to ameliorate the effects of FI.

Aim: This study explored the relationship between impostor phenomenon (IP), campus connectedness, self-compassion, and mental health among Black female undergraduate students attending an HBCU. Methods: Participants completed study measures via an online survey platform. Results: Linear regression analyses identified statistically significant relationships between campus connectedness, self-compassion, feelings of IP, and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that both self-compassion and campus connectedness explained statistically significant variance in mental health after controlling for the influence of IP on students' anxiety and depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Implications of this finding suggest student support services could develop and utilize programs that educate students about self-compassion interventions in order to decrease IP, which is directly linked with depression and anxiety.

Objective: The study ascertained the effects of Black college women's experiences of gendered racism on worry. Psychosocial resources were examined as factors expected to reduce the impact of gendered racial microaggressions on worry. Participants: The sample comprised 197 Black-identified students enrolled at a southern Historically Black College or University. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used. After adjusting for covariates, Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression models evaluated the associations between gendered racial microaggressions, psychosocial resources, and worry. Results: Frequent experiences of gendered racial microaggressions were associated with heightened worry. The Angry Black Woman stereotype had the most robust relationship with worry. Psychosocial resources, specifically mastery, self-esteem, and resilience, reduced the impact of gendered racial microaggressions on worry. Conclusion: Gendered racism contributes to increased worry, and thus, heightens the risk of experiencing anxiety. High levels of mastery, self-esteem, and resilience reduce the effects of gendered racism on worry.

Objective: To explore resources and approaches that exist at community colleges to promote student sexual health and prevent/respond to sexual violence. Participants: Administrators, faculty, and staff involved in efforts to promote sexual and relationship health (SRH) at community colleges across the U.S. (N = 33). Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted via web-conferencing software from 2022-2023. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using an iterative inductive thematic analysis. Results: Six themes emerged. On-campus SRH resources are limited and colleges rely on community-based resources. College personnel view their role as a bridge for students to access resources - sometimes highlighting extensive partnerships with community organizations - and helping students overcome barriers to care. Differences in approaches to addressing sexual violence versus sexual health were revealed, and several characteristics of effective resources were illuminated. Conclusions: Community colleges work within logistic, budgetary, and cultural constraints and often struggle to provide students with comprehensive and accessible SRH resources.

Objective: Shame and guilt are often present prior to and consequent to alcohol use among college students. Little is known about the propensity to experience these emotions in the context of transgressions that occur while drinking alcohol. We examined the association between shame and guilt propensity for alcohol-related transgressions with hazardous drinking, and the role of gender in these relationships. Participants: College student drinkers (N = 130; M_age=19.39; 68% females; 86% White) from a Mid-south college. Methods: An online confidential survey included measures of hazardous drinking, guilt and shame propensity, and guilt and shame propensity specific to alcohol-related transgressions. Results: Our preliminary findings suggest that experiencing guilt (but not shame) after alcohol-related transgressions was related to less hazardous drinking when controlling for general guilt and shame propensity for male and female students. Conclusions: Targeting components of guilt (e.g., reparative behaviors) after alcohol-related transgressions may help to reduce problematic drinking among college students.

Objective: The present study examines self-compassion (SC) as a potential protective factor in the relationship between value-behavior discrepancy guilt (VBDG) and the mental health outcomes of anxiety and suicide risk in a sample of Mexican-descent college students.

Method: Participants consisted of 810 college students of Mexican descent. Students were recruited through a psychology participant pool and completed an online survey. Two regression analyses examined the direct effect of VBDG on anxiety symptoms and suicide risk with SC as a moderator.

Results: Results indicated that high levels of SC were protective in the relationship between VBDG and mental health outcomes. On the other hand, lower levels of SC put one at risk for increased anxiety symptoms and higher suicide risk when they experience VBDG.

Conclusion: The study shows the need to develop interventions that cultivate a high sense of SC in Mexican-descent college students.

Objective: To examine the effects of a mindfulness intervention on health-related quality of life in female Division I collegiate athletes.

Participants: 135 female collegiate athletes, ages 18 - 23 years.

Methods: Health related quality of life (HRQoL) was reported twice/year in approximately January and July from January 2017 to 2020 with the 12-question Veterans Rand survey (VR-12). Twenty-three of the participants received a 6-week, in-person, group mindfulness training in spring 2019, while 112 did not.

Results: A significant interaction between time and mindfulness was identified with respect to the mental component score of the VR-12 of the VR-12 (MCS; β = 3.86 ± 1 .56, p = 0.012) but no significant relationships were identified with respect to time (pre-mindfulness: β = -2.36 ± 1.38, p = 0.074), mindfulness (yes: β = -2.26 ± 1.54, p = 0.14) or season (winter: β = -0.84 ± 0.57, p = 0.14). With respect to the physical component score (PCS), no significant relationships were identified with respect to time (pre-mindfulness: β = -1.09 ± 1.21, p = 0.37), mindfulness (yes: β = 1.30 ± 1.31, p = 0.32), season (winter: β = 0.50 ± 0.50, p = 0.32), or the interaction between time and mindfulness (β = 0.35 ± 1 .36, p = 0.80).

Conclusions: Among female collegiate athletes, mindfulness training is associated with significant improvements in mental HRQoL, but not physical HRQoL.

Objective: The aim of this scoping review was to examine what is known about the relationship between the resilience and mental health of undergraduate students enrolled in university or college programs, globally.

Methods: Five electronic databases were searched, yielding a total of 1,498 articles that were screened independently by two researchers. Thirteen articles were eligible for inclusion.

Results: The mental health of undergraduate students in the studies reviewed ranged from low to moderate. Undergraduate students also reported high, moderate, and low levels of resilience. Further, resilience was positively correlated with mental well-being.

Conclusion: Findings revealed that the mental health of undergraduate students was poor. Given the established relationship between students' mental health and resilience, evidence-based approaches aimed at strengthening students' resilience, such as providing opportunities for social support, are warranted in order to improve students' mental health. Additional research to rigorously assess this relationship in representative student populations is needed.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore contraceptive awareness among college women in the Southeast United States. This study sheds light on the gaps in contraceptive use found in college women and can be used to improve educational interventions on college campuses. Participants: College-age women ages 18-25 completed in-depth qualitative interviews over Zoom. Methods: Interviews examined levels of awareness by asking participants to list the contraceptive methods they were aware of, followed by probes that assessed their understanding of different contraceptive methods. Results: Prominent themes (n = 44) included high awareness of condoms, the pill and IUD, positive attitudes toward contraceptive options, fear and emotional anxiety from hormonal contraceptives and inability to explain how contraceptives work in the body. Conclusion: Results from this study will inform future contraceptive education campaigns for college women.