Journal of American College Health最新文献

Objective: Drawing on social cognitive theory (SCT), this study examined the relationship between international students' resilience, well-being, and academic performance during COVID-19. We also explored the differences among these variables by home continent.

Participants: International students (n = 186) from 53 countries studying in the United States participated in the study.

Methods: Data were collected through an online survey in Spring 2021 and analyzed using a mediation analysis and MANOVA.

Results: Resilience was positively associated with both students' well-being and increased study hours. Resilience was also indirectly and positively associated with a better grade through an increase in study hours. However, well-being had no direct or indirect association with either the change in study hours or grades. We also found between-continent differences in some of the hypothesized variables.

Conclusions: Consistent with SCT, these findings highlight the importance of international students' resilience during a crisis and offer practical implications for university administrators during a future crisis.

Objective: This study examined characteristics and usage patterns of students who use a campus-based food pantry at a private university. Participants: Student clients of a campus-based food pantry at a private university (N = 30). Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. A supplementary questionnaire assessing demographics, food security, and campus-based pantry usage/satisfaction was administered. Results: Food security scores revealed 50% of participants experienced high food security, 33.3% experienced low food security, and 16.67% experienced very low food security. Forty-three percent of participants were International Students. Interview themes included Unique Needs of International Students, Pantry Usage Patterns, Stigma Related to Food Assistance Usage, and Ideas for Pantry Improvement/Awareness. Conclusion: Students value hygiene products, culturally relevant options, and ready-to-eat items. International students are a major subset of pantry clients at a private university; the needs of international students should be considered during the planning and implementation of pantries at private universities.

Building on Seddio et al.'s study of ADHD symptoms, anxiety, and internalizing behaviors among college students during COVID-19, we identify key methodological limitations and propose refinements. The study's cross-sectional design, small sample size (n=200) from a single northeastern institution, high ADHD prevalence (35%), gender imbalance (82.1% female), reliance on self-report measures, and lack of ADHD subtype differentiation limit its generalizability and clinical applicability. We recommend standardized mental health screenings for internalizing behaviors, integrated care pathways within student health services, and faculty training to recognize subtle signs of distress. Future research should adopt longitudinal designs with multi-institutional cohorts, control groups, and diverse demographics to better understand comorbid ADHD and anxiety during acute stress. These improvements would strengthen the evidence base for supporting collegiate mental health.

Objective: Prior research demonstrated that military/veteran students report lower belongingness than civilian students, but the reasons why remain unclear. We investigated the impact of demographic characteristics, state and local politics, and school-specific veteran resources on reported belongingness. Participants: Participants included 104,162 students (2,814 military/veteran) who completed a survey for the Healthy Minds Study between 2014 and 2018. Methods: A combined mixed effect model and models stratified by military status to determine differences in belongingness between military/veteran students and civilian students. Results: Unadjusted models indicated military/veteran students reported lower belongingness than civilian students (b = -0.10, p < . 001). However, adjusting for demographic characteristics and state and school attributes reduced this effect (b = -0.04, p = .001). Conclusion: We were able to demonstrate that military/veteran students' reduced belongingness is largely due to the demographic differences among military/veteran students rather than aspects of the school or political leanings.

Objective: The mental health of college students is declining at an alarming rate. Understanding behaviors linked to positive mental health outcomes and psychological wellbeing (PWB) are needed. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between volunteering and PWB. Participants/methods: Students (N = 741) completed an online survey assessing PWB and volunteerism (frequency and motives). Results: A positive correlation was found between PWB and volunteering frequency (r = 0.14, p < 0.001). Factors motivating volunteerism and PWB were associated: protective-to lessen negative feelings and/or avoid personal problems (r = 0.193), enhancement-self-oriented motivation (r = 0.237), social-develop relationships (r = 0.276), career-improve career prospects (r = 0.287), values-altruism (r = 0.348), and understanding-knowledge (r = 0.362), all p < 0.001. Conclusions: There is a positive correlation between PWB and volunteering frequency. Understanding the motivation for volunteering, and how those factors related to PWB provides valuable information that may help students understand the importance of volunteering for altruistic reasons but also for their own mental health and wellbeing.

Objective: This study explores the concept of food insecurity as a syndemic among U.S. college students, examining its connections with mental health issues and socioeconomic determinants. Participants: The data came from two national surveys of U.S. college students (N = 63,680) before and after the 2020 campus shutdown. Methods: Our analysis assess the prevalence of food insecurity among U.S. college students during the Covid outbreak and its impact on their mental well-being, academic performance, and various socioeconomic factors. Results: Food insecurity affected 40.8% of U.S. college students before the Covid pandemic and 35.0% of them after it. Viewing food insecurity as a syndemic reveals its links to diminished academic performance, increased obesity rates, mental health issues, and parents' educational background. Conclusions: These findings help identify at-risk students and develop interventions to alleviate food insecurity like expanding on-campus support systems, delivering emergency food aid, and reconfiguring residential dining programs.

Branch campus students are an often-overlooked population in higher education, with their mental health and well-being notably absent from academic discourse. This commentary aims to raise awareness of the unique challenges faced by these students and advocates for their inclusion in the broader discussion on student mental health and well-being. The article reviews the definition and characteristics of branch campuses, provides a rationale for increased focus on these campuses, and concludes with practical recommendations. These actionable strategies require minimal financial and time investment and call for changes in how research on college students is conducted and published to ensure the inclusion of branch campus students.

Objective: To explore the effects of guided imagery with progressive deep muscle relaxation (PDMR) and meditation programs on chronic stress perception and health related quality of life in college students. Participants: College students were recruited from a local private university in Northeast Pennsylvania. Participants were not concurrently enrolled in another weekly meditation class. Students were randomly assigned to a meditation group (n = 16) or guided imagery with PDMR (n = 17). Method: The study design was an experimental, repeated measures design with two groups and two independent variables: the Perceived Stress Scale and Health-Related Quality of Life (SF-36v2). Results: Students in both the meditation and guided imagery groups demonstrated a decrease in chronic stress and increase in their mental-health related quality of life midway through the 8-week program and maintained throughout. Conclusion: This research lends support for weekly participation in a mind-body class as a viable method to decrease stress for college students.

Objective: Stress among college students contributes to and results from poor sleep. We created a brief, remotely-delivered sleep hygiene intervention and tested whether it improved sleep hygiene and reduced sleep disturbance and stress, compared to a sleep education control condition. Participants: We studied 108 racially/ethnically diverse undergraduates (76.9% females, 18.5% males, 1.9% nonbinary, 1.9% prefer not to disclose). Methods: Baseline and two-week follow-up questionnaires assessed sleep hygiene, sleep disturbance, and perceived stress. ANCOVAs compared intervention and control conditions at follow-up; mediation analyses explored whether the intervention reduced stress through improved sleep. Results: Compared to controls, the intervention improved sleep hygiene and sleep disturbance (both p < .001, η_p² = 0.21, large effects) and lowered stress (p = .006, η_p² = 0.07, medium effect). Mediation analyses suggest that the intervention reduced stress via improved sleep hygiene and disturbance. Conclusions: Brief, remotely-delivered, sleep hygiene training decreases undergraduates' stress, perhaps by improving their sleep hygiene and sleep quality.

This study presents factors contributing to food insecurity (FI) in Division Three (D3) athletes. The 2014 NCAA deregulation of feeding led to growth in registered dietitians within athletic departments except at D3 institutions. Increased food security concerns for D3 athletes followed as food access and security are crucial for optimal performance. Methods: This study included 222 D3 athletes who completed a questionnaire on FI, sports nutrition knowledge, and health habits. Exploratory factor analysis was used to extract constructs and multiple regression was used to determine if constructs were predictive of FI. Results: Cost of food, lack of dietary foods, food outlet hours of operation, lack of facilities to prepare food, reliable transportation, and location of food outlets were statistically significant predictors of FI. Discussion: These findings suggest that college policies can significantly impact FI among D3 athletes, highlighting potential avenues for institutions to reduce or eliminate the issue.