Indoor Tanning and Problem Behavior

Objective: The authors examined factors predicting college students' use of tanning beds. Participants and Methods: Undergraduate students (N = 745) at a large Northeastern university participated in the study by answering a survey measuring tanning behavior and other psychosocial variables, including sensation seeking, self-esteem, tanning image beliefs, and friends' tanning bed use. Results: All 3 systems from problem behavior theory predicted past tanning bed use and intention to use tanning beds. The authors observed a positive association between sensation seeking and intention to use tanning beds. Tanning image beliefs were positively associated with both past tanning behavior and intention to use tanning beds. Conclusions: Interventions focusing on friend and acquaintance social network influences may be more effective than health-risk campaigns in reducing tanning bed use.     

Prevalence of Insomnia and Its Psychosocial Correlates Among College Students in Hong Kong

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the prevalence of insomnia and its psychosocial correlates among college students in Hong Kong. Participants: A total of 529 Hong Kong college students participated in the study. Methods: Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire that included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Revised Life Orientation Test, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory, and questions about sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. A PSQI global score equal to or greater than 5 indicated insomnia. Results: Results indicated that 68.6% of the participants were insomniacs. Adjusted regression analyses revealed that optimism, stress, and depression significantly predicted insomnia (p < .01). Conclusions: These results suggest that insomnia is very common among Hong Kong college students and associated with other psychosocial factors. This study provides preliminary data on sleep quality and risk factors for insomnia, which may be used to guide sleep hygiene promotion and intervention among college students.     

College students’ use of transportation networking companies: An opportunity to decrease substance-impaired driving

Abstract

Objective: To examine the use of transportation networking companies (TNCs) (eg, Uber) among substance-using students in rural and urban college settings. Participants: Students at two large state universities were randomly selected and screened for substance use. Participants reported use of TNCs generally and after substance use and whether TNC use was on or near campus or in other environments. Methods: Data were evaluated using chi-square test, t-tests, and Fisher’s exact tests. Results: Most (85%) participants (n?=?99, 61% response rate) had used a TNC. Among students who used TNCs on/near campus, 98% of rural students used them after substance use compared to 85% of urban students (p?=?.037). We did not detect differences in TNC use by gender or age. Conclusions: Results indicate that TNC use is common after college student substance use and may play a particularly important role in preventing impaired driving for rural campuses where existing transportation options are limited.     

Willingness to Participate in Organ Donation Among Black Seventh-Day Adventist College Students

Objective and Participants: The authors studied a group of black and white Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) college students (N = 334) to compare the power of religious socialization with racial socialization. Methods: The authors compared the levels of willingness to donate organs between black and nonblack students in an availability sample. Results: Black SDA college students were significantly more likely than white SDA students or SDA students of other races to perceive racism in the healthcare system and to believe that doctors would not make heroic efforts to save their lives if they knew they were organ donors; they were 66.9% less likely to donate organs than were white SDA students or SDA students of other races. Conclusions: Despite a common religion with a purposive indoctrination, the racial socialization of black SDA students exerted a stronger influence on willingness to participate in organ donation than did that of white students and students of other races within this religion.     

A Population-Wide Screening and Tailored Intervention Platform for Eating Disorders on College Campuses: The Healthy Body Image Program

Abstract

Objectives: This article presents a new approach to intervention for eating disorders and body image concerns on college campuses, using a model of integrated eating disorder screening and intervention. Formative data on implementation feasibility are presented. Participants: College students enrolled at 2 universities between 2011 and 2012. Methods: The Healthy Body Image program is an evidence-based screening and intervention platform, enacted via community and online resources. An online screen was used to identify students at varying levels of risk or eating disorder symptom status; responses were used to direct students to universal or targeted online interventions or further evaluation. Universal prevention programs to improve healthy weight regulation and body image culture were offered to all students. Results: Formative data from 1,551 students illustrates the application of this model. Conclusions: The Healthy Body Image program is feasible to deliver and provides a comprehensive system of screening, evidence-based intervention, and community culture change.     

Social Norms of Alcohol,Smoking, and Marijuana Use Within a Canadian University Setting

Abstract

Objective: To study actual and perceived substance use in Canadian university students and to compare these rates with US peers. Participants: Students (N = 1,203) from a large Canadian university. Methods: Participants were surveyed using items from the National College Health (NCHA) Assessment of the American College Health Association questionnaire. Results: Alcohol was the most common substance used (65.8%), followed by marijuana (13.5%) and cigarettes (13.5%). Substance use and norms were significantly less than the NCHA US data. Overall, respondents generally perceived the typical Canadian student to have used all 3 substances. Perceived norms significantly predicted use, with students more likely to use alcohol, cigarettes, or marijuana if they perceived the typical student to use these substances. Conclusions: Similar to their US peers, Canadian university students have inaccurate perceptions of peer substance use. These misperceptions may have potentially negative influences on actual substance use and could be a target for intervention. Further research examining the cross-cultural differences for substance abuse is warranted.     

Associations among trauma,depression, and alcohol use profiles and treatment motivation and engagement in college students

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study examined how profiles of alcohol use and symptoms of common mental health disorders (depression and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) influenced the perceived need for and actual seeking of different types of treatment (for alcohol versus psychological distress) in college student drinkers. Participants: Undergraduate students (n = 164) were assessed between September 2009 and August 2015. Methods: We classified students into different symptom profiles using model-based clustering and compared these profiles on a variety of variables. Results: The cluster model yielded three profiles: Low Risk (n = 66), Concomitant (n = 35), and Heavy Drinking (n = 63). Students in these profiles significantly differed in alcohol consumption, alcohol-related cognitions and problems, and perceptions of need and prior engagement in treatment. Conclusion: A variety of strategies can be used to engage students experiencing heavy drinking and/or mental health problems into treatment on campus.     

Transdiagnostic mechanisms involved in nonsuicidal self-injury,risky drinking and disordered eating: Impulsivity,emotion regulation and alexithymia

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to explore common and differential relationships between nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), risky drinking, and disordered eating attitudes and impulsivity, emotion dysregulation, and alexithymia. Methods: We investigated these associations in a sample of 951 college students (79.4% female, Mage = 21.86?years) by means of self-report questionnaires assessing the constructs of interest. Results: Overall, 28% of the students reported a history of NSSI, one third engaged in risky drinking, and less than 5% reported disordered eating symptoms. Negative urgency and difficulties in emotion regulation were both related to each of the three behaviors and can be considered as common transdiagnostic mechanisms. Conclusions: We discuss the implications of transdiagnostic mechanisms involved in these three dysregulated behaviors with respect to their assessment and treatment in college counseling settings.     

Reasons for Not Reporting Victimizations to the Police: Do They Vary for Physical and Sexual Incidents?

Victimization is a significant problem among college students, but it is less likely to be reported to the police than are victimizations in the general population. Objective: In this study, the authors examined (1) whether reasons for not reporting varied by type of victimization (sexual or physical) and (2) victim-, offender-, and incident-related predictors of these reasons. Participants: To address these objectives, the authors used data collected from 492 female college students. Methods: The authors recruited women via flyers placed around campus that asked them to come to the student health center to complete anonymous surveys. Results: Findings from within-subject analyses indicated that women were more likely to cite the following reasons for not reporting a sexual rather than a physical victimization: the incident would be viewed as their fault, they were ashamed, they did not want anyone to know about the incident, or they did not want the police involved. Results from logistic regression analyses indicated that the predictors of not reporting also varied across crime types. Conclusions: The authors discuss study implications for campus-based prevention strategies.     

American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment Spring 2008 Reference Group Data Report (Abridged): The American College Health Association

Objective: Assessing and understanding the health needs and capacities of college students is paramount to creating healthy campus communities. The American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) is a survey that ACHA developed in 1998 to assist institutions of higher education in achieving this goal. The ACHA-NCHA contains approximately 300 questions assessing student health status and health problems, risk and protective behaviors, and impediments to academic performance. Participants: The spring 2008 reference group includes ACHA-NCHA data from 80,121 students at 106 institutions of higher education. Methods: Officials at participating institutions administered the ACHA-NCHA to all students, randomly selected students, or students in randomly selected classrooms. ACHA collected data between January and May 2008. Results: Results from the spring 2008 reference group (N = 80,121) are presented. Conclusions: These data expand the understanding of the health needs and capacities of college students.     

Using smartphones to collect daily sexual behavior data from college students

ABSTRACT

Objective: Our objectives were to measure reporting differences between sexual behavior data from daily diary and retrospective estimates and to assess the utility of using smartphones to collect sexual behavior data from a college student population. Participants: Eighty-six participants (68 women, 18 men) completed the study. Methods: For 30 days during the Spring 2017 semester, participants received prompts to participate in daily diaries about their previous day's sexual behavior on their smartphones. Participants then retrospectively reported their past 30 days of sexual behavior and provided feedback on the process of receiving daily diaries on their smartphones. Results: We found that college students overreported their sexual behavior on the retrospective survey compared to their daily diary reports (ps < .001; Cohen's ds ≥ 1.51). Participants provided positive and constructive feedback. Conclusions: Using smartphones to administer daily diaries is a promising technique for obtaining reliable sexual behavior data from college students.     

Adolescent’s Perceptions of Sexual Relationships Between Students and Teachers

ABSTRACT

Very little is known about how people perceive and respond to sexual relationships between students and teachers, and even less is known about how adolescents view these relationships. In this study, a large sample of high school students (N = 1203; Mean age: 16.83) responded to four scenarios describing a sexual relationship between a student and teacher. We manipulated student and teacher age, and the power differential between the student and teacher and we measured perceptions of wrongness and likelihood of reporting the situation. The data indicated that in situations of older students (18 vs. 14 or 16) and younger teachers (21 vs 30 or 40), they are less likely to be perceived as wrong and less likely to be reported. Likewise, situations were judged as more wrong when the power differential between students and teachers was greater. Further, there were strong gender differences, such that females (vs. males) consistently viewed the situations as more wrong and were more likely to report. Implications for future research and policy are discussed.     

American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment Spring 2007 Reference Group Data Report (Abridged)

Objective: Assessing and understanding the health needs and capacities of college students is paramount to creating healthy campus communities. The American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) is a survey that ACHA developed in 1998 to assist institutions of higher education in achieving this goal. The ACHA-NCHA contains approximately 300 questions assessing student health status and health problems, risk and protective behaviors, and impediments to academic performance. Participants: The spring 2007 reference group includes ACHA-NCHA data from 71, 860 students at 107 institutions of higher education. Methods: Officials at participating institutions administered the ACHA-NCHA to all students, to randomly selected students, or to students in randomly selected classrooms. ACHA collected data between January and May 2007. Results: Results from the spring 2007 reference group (N= 71, 860) are presented. Conclusions: These data expand the understanding of the health needs and capacities of college students.     

Rural-urban differences in college students’ cardiovascular risk perceptions

Abstract

Objective: To examine rural-urban differences in college students’ cardiovascular risk perceptions. Participants: College students in rural (n?=?61) and urban (n?=?57) Kentucky counties were recruited from November 2012 to May 2014. Methods: This was a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study examining rural-urban differences in cardiovascular risk factors. Students rated their risk for developing high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, having a stroke, and gaining excess weight. Chi-square and logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results: Rural students had lower odds of perceived high risk for developing high blood pressure compared to urban students (odds ratio (OR): 0.32, 95% CI: 0.11–0.96) after adjusting for race, sex, and body mass index. This association was not observed after adjusting for healthcare access variables. No other significant differences were observed. Conclusions: Efforts to raise perceived risk for developing hypertension among rural college students may be warranted.     

Weight Loss Practices and Body Weight Perceptions Among US College Students

Objective: The authors assessed associations between body weight perception and weight loss strategies. Participants: They randomly selected male and female college students (N = 38,204). Methods: The authors conducted a secondary data analysis of the rates of weight loss strategies and body weight perception among students who completed the National College Health Assessment survey. Results: Half of respondents (50%) were trying to lose weight, although only 28% of students were overweight or obese. Also, 12% of respondents had inaccurate body weight perception. Women and men with inaccurate body weight perception were significantly more likely to engage in inappropriate weight loss strategies than were those with accurate body weight perception. Of all students attempting to lose weight, 38% used both diet and exercise. Conclusions: These data show that college students are interested in weight loss and that body weight perception plays an important role in the desire to lose weight.     

Associations between backache and stress among undergraduate students

Abstract

Objective: Low back pain (LBP) is a very common symptom. It occurs in all age groups from children to the elderly population. Globally, years lived with disability caused by LBP increased by 54% between 1990 and 2015. Our objective was to investigate measures that associate with LBP in students. Participants: A structured, anonymous, self-report questionnaire was distributed in two study years, 2009 and 2015. Participants included 1,026 students, 57.7% of them female, with a mean age of 27.2 (SD?=?6.4). Methods: The questionnaire included validated questions on various subjects related to health status and health behaviors. Results: The associated factors of undergraduate students experiencing backaches are higher if they engage in smoking (AOR?=?2.15; p<.01), report study-based stress (AOR?=?2.39; p<.01), and show depressive symptoms (AOR?=?2.69; p<.000). Conclusions: Smoking, stress, and depression are strong measures associated with backache in undergraduate students, significantly more than BMI, physical activity, or sedentary behaviors.     

Prevalence of Sufficient Physical Activity Among Parents Attending a University

Objective: The benefits of regular physical activity are well documented. However, approximately half of all university students are insufficiently active, and no research to date exists on the activity behavior of university students who are also parents. Participants and Methods: Using an adapted version of the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (ie, the Physical Activity Prevalence Questionnaire), the authors examined the prevalence of sufficient physical activity among 245 parent students from 6 faculties and 12 programs. Results: Half (49.5%) of the students who were not parents (n = 90) were sufficiently physically active, compared with 16% of students who were parents (n = 3, p < .002). The authors found that 33.3% of parents and 13% of nonparents limited their activity level as a result of illness or injury (p < .05). Conclusions: Most parent students in this study were insufficiently active and at potential risk for the negative health consequences of inactivity. This is a grossly understudied population, and researchers must conduct further studies to understand what can be done to facilitate physical activity among this potentially vulnerable group of students.     

Impact of a sleep course on sleep,mood and anxiety symptoms in college students: A pilot study

Objective: To examine the impact of a sleep course on sleep-related behaviors, mood, and anxiety in college students. Participants: Participants were 145 students enrolled in either the sleep course (n = 70) or a psychology course (n = 75); data were collected in September 2014, November 2014, and February 2015. Methods: Sleep characteristics and symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed using validated questionnaires and sleep logs. Linear, logistic and proportional odds regression models were used to test course effects. Results: In November, sleep course students reported significant differences in sleep hygiene (SHI; p < .001), perceived sleep latency (PSQI; p < .05), and circadian sleep phase (MEQ; p < .05), compared to controls. In February, the sleep course students maintained most of the aforementioned gains and reported fewer symptoms of depression (CES-D; p = .05) and anxiety (BAI; p < .05). Conclusions: These positive preliminary results indicate that focused education has the potential to improve sleep among college students.