Journal of American College Health最新文献

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: 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.

Objective: In this study, we examine social support and sense of belonging as protective factors against depression and anxiety among undergraduates with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), a growing population at heightened risk for mental health problems.

Participants: Our sample of 170 undergraduates (ages 18-25) attending a large public university in the southwestern US was comprised of predominantly female-identified (69%), South Asian (45%), junior and senior (78%), full time (97%) students.

Methods: Students self-reported ACEs, perceived social support, sense of school belonging, and depression and anxiety symptoms in fall 2022.

Results: Controlling for age, higher ACEs and lower social support and belonging predicted more severe depression and anxiety. Higher ACEs only significantly predicted higher depression severity when support and belonging were low. Interactions predicting anxiety were nonsignificant.

Conclusions: Findings highlight social support and belonging as potential intervention targets for reducing mental health risk among students with ACEs or other traumatic experiences.

Introduction: Stress is especially profound among minority college students who experience magnified levels of prejudice and discrimination. High levels of stress significantly impact their academic performance, and health.

Objective: The present study aimed to examine the constructs of Lazarus and Folkman's transactional theory of stress and coping for stress management in college students from a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

Methods: One hundred fifty undergraduate students completed the survey. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to measure the incremental variance accounted for by each predictor set.

Results: The final regression model accounted for 56% of the variance in perceived stress scores, a large effect size. In the final model, significant contributors to perceived stress variance were emotion-oriented coping, core self-evaluations, and social support.

Implication: These findings can inform the development of effective psychosocial interventions to support minority college students develop personal strengths and social support, buffering against the negative effects during a college mental health crisis.

Objective: College sexual assault (SA) survivors tend to underutilize university resources in favor of reporting to family or friends. The current study assessed prevalence and SA disclosure themes and patterns amongst college students. Participants: Data obtained from a campus sexual violence climate survey included 3,398 students. Method: Quantitative and qualitative data examined SA prevalence, themes of disclosure, and knowledge of university resources. Results: Although participants indicated potential utilization of university resources in the event of SA, most survivors reported disclosing to family and friends, while those who had not experienced SA indicated that they would disclose to police or campus programs. Reasons for non-disclosure to university resources among SA survivors included minimization of the SA experience and discomfort with the reporting process. Conclusions: Results demonstrate the need for universities to involve peers and families as additional sources of support for SA survivors, and the need to address barriers to reporting.