Journal of American College Health最新文献

Objective: Suntanning is a strong risk factor for skin cancer. Although intentional tanning is common among college students, their unintentional tanning is not well characterized. We aimed to examine (1) how college students conceptualized unintentional tanning, (2) how they perceived outcomes of unintentional tanning, and (3) potentially predictive factors that can be tested in future large-scale studies. Participants: 30 Northeast US college students who reported any unintentional tanning in the past year. Methods: Data were collected using semi-structured interviews in November 2019 and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: College students identified outdoor activities as a reason for recent unintentional tanning. A range of attitudes, positive and negative, were conveyed. Many discussed past sunburns and the circumstances surrounding them. The roles of culture and racial/ethnic background in tanning were important to many. Conclusions: This study adds complexity to previous understandings of college students' tanning; implications include the development of behavioral interventions.

Objectives: To increase health insurance literacy (HIL) and self-efficacy to find in-network healthcare providers among Nigerian students in a US university to ensure access to quality and affordable healthcare services. Participants: First-year and returning undergraduate and graduate students of Nigerian origin studying at a midwestern university (N = 39). Method: Using social cognitive theory, this project designed a tailored HIL training for Nigerian students to improve their HIL and to increase self-efficacy in finding in-network healthcare providers. The HIL training was conducted during an orientation event on campus, and pre- and post-tests were administered. Process improvement feedback from participants was also collected. Result: Paired sample t-tests revealed an increase in HIL after the training. However, there was no significant improvement in self-efficacy to find in-network healthcare providers. Conclusion: A tailored HIL training for Nigerian students may improve HIL. Future trainings should seek to include interviews with participants for process improvements.

Objective: To identify the most relevant dimensions of wellness for assessment and intervention among traditional undergraduate students, and clarify disputed dimensions influenced by external factors.

Participants: Twenty 18-25-year-old undergraduate students at a private liberal arts university in Southern California were recruited from a health and wellness course.

Method: Five focus group sessions explored students' perceptions of wellness. Data was analyzed, themed, and coded.

Results: Physical, social, and emotional wellness were prioritized. Intellectual and spiritual wellness were acknowledged. Cultural, environmental, financial, and occupational dimensions were identified but lacked consensus, being influenced more by external factors.

Conclusions: Students primarily associate wellness with physical health, social relationships, and support systems, with less emphasis on emotional and spiritual aspects. University wellness centers can better support student wellness by focusing on the five foundational dimensions: emotional, intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual.

Objective: To qualitatively explore athletic trainers' (ATs') perceptions of how they support injured college athletes' basic psychological needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness. Participants and methods: Thirteen U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association ATs completed semi-structured interviews. Four researchers conducted a deductive thematic analysis. Techniques (audit trail, bracketing of biases, and member checking) were utilized to enhance the study's rigor. Results: Three themes with eight sub-themes representing need-supporting strategies were constructed: (a) ATs attempted to foster injured athletes' perceived relatedness by cultivating trusting connections; (b) ATs attempted to foster injured athletes' perceived competence by engendering mastery during rehabilitation; and (c) ATs attempted to foster injured athletes' perceived autonomy by promoting ownership of their rehabilitation. Conclusions: Multiple strategies described by ATs were aligned with need-satisfying approaches discussed by athletes in previous research. The present study offers rich descriptions of techniques for facilitating optimal motivation in injured college athletes for ATs to consider.

Objective: To explore female college students' perceptions of fitness influencer content and interest in a social media-based physical activity intervention. Participants: Female college students from around a large southeastern university (ages 18-24) who were insufficiently physically active. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted: Part 1 included semi-structured interviews, and Part 2 was a focus group discussing Part 1 findings and reactions to a proposed physical activity intervention. Sessions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for themes. Results: Participants (N = 12; M_age=20.7 years; 75% White) reported daily exposure to fitness influencers and viewed them as reliable sources. In Part 1, participants preferred beginner-friendly, educational content from honest, relatable influencers and were less interested in misleading, appearance-based content. In Part 2, participants (n = 11) found the proposed intervention with social support appealing. Conclusions: Participants regarded fitness influencers as reliable sources of physical activity information and considered a social media-based intervention leveraging influencer content promising.

Objective: This pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of light therapy (LT) on depressive symptoms in college students and to identify barriers to adherence. Participants: A total of 207 college students (mean age = 22.5 years, SD = 5.3; 80.7% female) participated in the LT program, utilizing a lightbox daily for an average of 45 days. Methods: Pre- and post-therapy assessments were conducted using the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-8) to measure depressive symptoms. Adherence barriers were also explored based on participant feedback. Results: The results revealed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms from pre- to post-therapy (M(post-pre) = -2.72; p < .0001). Most students (96.5%) reported that LT improved their mood and alleviated symptoms. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that LT is a potential intervention to reduce depressive symptoms among college students. Future research should include randomized control trials to assess its effectiveness and further explore how patterns of use may impact outcomes. Therapy instructions should also address time management and brightness concerns.

This study examined the association between anxiety symptoms (i.e., panic/somatic, generalized, separation, social) and suicidal ideation (SI) among racially/ethnically minoritized college students, and the moderating role of acculturative stress. Participants were 508 students (78.3% female (n = 398); mean age =19.61 [SD = 2.08]), self-identifying as racially/ethnically minorized, (61.2% (n = 311) Hispanic/Latinx; 20.7% (n = 105) Black; 12.4% (n = 63) Asian; 3.9% (n = 20) Multiracial; 1.4% (n = 7) Middle Eastern/North African; 0.2% (n = 1) Native American; 0.2% (n = 1) Other), who completed a survey examining mental health and culture. About 16% reported experiencing SI in the past two weeks. Analyses revealed that panic/somatic anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with SI. The relationships between SI and generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, and social anxiety were not significant. Acculturative stress also emerged as a significant predictor of SI and moderated the association between panic/somatic symptoms and SI. Assessing panic/somatic symptoms and acculturative stress may be especially important when assessing suicide risk among minoritized college students.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine whether participation in a hybrid mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) is associated with lower level of perceived stress, and higher levels of self-compassion and well-being. Participants: Participants were 73 students (Physician Assistant, Nursing, and Occupational Therapy) and faculty/staff in a Northeastern university. Methods: This study employed a quantitative pretest, post-test design in which MBI outcomes were measured using the Perceived Stress Scale, the short Self-Compassion Scale, and the Well-Being Index through a Wilcoxon test. Results: Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis reveal a statistically significant improvement in self-compassion scores (Z = 3.254, p = .001); non-statistically significant improvements in perceived stress (Z = .909, p = .364); and a statistically significant improvement in well-being scores for faculty/staff (Z = 1.841, p = .066). Conclusion: This pilot study highlights the potential of a hybrid MBI to help health professions students and faculty/staff improve self-compassion and well-being.

Objective: To examine how disordered eating attitudes and behaviors (DEABs) and intuitive eating (IE) differ between first-generation college students (FGCS) and continuing-generation college students (CGCS).

Participants: A total of 854 college students in 2022.

Methods: College-going generation was self-reported DEABs and IE were assessed from the Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns-5 and Intuitive Eating scale-2, respectively. Logistic and linear regressions were used to examine associations of college-going generation status with DEABs and IE, respectively.

Results: The predicted probabilities of DEABs were substantial in both FGCS (29.6-53.3%) and CGCS (26.8-50.3%) with no significant differences between FGCS and CGCS. However, FGCS had a lower IE score than CGCS (β = -0.54, 95% CI = -1.10, -0.01) after adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity/race, and body mass index.

Conclusion: The differences in eating behaviors by college-going generation status emphasizes the need for inclusive efforts to prevent DEABs while highlighting the need to develop strategies to assist FGCS in practicing IE.

Objectives: This study evaluated the relationship between imposter syndrome symptoms (IS) and screening positive for eating disorders (EDs) in college and university students. Participants: The sample consisted of 4257 students from the 2021-2022 Healthy Minds Study. Methods: Measures assessed IS (five questions from the Clance Imposter Syndrome Scale), ED symptoms (SCOFF), and demographics. A binary logistic regression tested the association between IS total score and screening positive for an ED, adjusting for BMI, gender, race/ethnicity and age. Results: Higher IS total scores were associated with greater odds of screening positive for EDs (OR = 1.10, 95% CI [1.09, 1.12]), after adjusting for covariates. Conclusion: IS symptoms may be a risk factor for ED pathology; however, more research is needed to understand potential causal or correlational relationships.