Journal of American College Health : J of ACH

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...

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol use is a substantial problem among college students and has several negative consequences. The current study examined the associations between anhedonia and alcohol use and related problems via impulsive behavior (e.g., negative urgency, sensation seeking). We parsed anhedonia into four specific facets: consummatory, anticipatory, recreational, and social anhedonia. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred and forty college students aged 18-25 were included in the final analysis...

Objective : We examined whether meaningful subgroups of self-injurious behaviors (SIBs) would emerge within a pool of first-year college students already deemed at elevated risk. Participants: First-year undergraduates ( N  = 1,068) recruited in 2015-2018 Fall terms. Methods: Past-year nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) frequency, past-year number of NSSI methods used, lifetime suicide attempt (SA) history, and recency of SA were included in a latent profile analysis. Results: Four subgroups emerged: low SIB ( n  = 558, 52%), high NSSI only ( n  = 182, 17%), high SIB ( n  = 141, 13%), and high SA only ( n  = 187, 18%)...

Objective: Less attention has been given to how green space can impact college students' moods. This study aimed to examine whether university students exposed to outdoor and indoor green space-natural and artificial would experience a change in moods compared to students not exposed to green space. Method: Seventy-nine participants were randomly assigned to four different conditions: office without greenery, office with posters of nature, office with green plants, and outside in a garden. The Brunel Mood Scale was used to assess participants' moods before and after spending time in their assigned setting...

OBJECTIVE: To identify pandemic-specific stressors among college students and compare patterns of stressors in samples obtained during early and chronic phases of the pandemic. METHOD: Different undergraduate student samples from a Southeastern university completed an online survey in Spring 2020 (early pandemic; N  = 673) and Fall 2020 (chronic pandemic; N =  439). This repeated cross-sectional survey study used a mixed methods triangulation design to validate and expand on quantitative findings using qualitative data...

In 2020, the US was consumed by the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice protests. California was further compounded by a devastating fall wildfire season. Negative effects related to these events have been documented in research. Objective: This study sought to expand the literature by exploring areas of personal growth and development among college students with a lens on the impact of these three events. Methods: A diverse group of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in a large public university system in California were recruited to participate in one of six focus groups held during the winter of 2020/2021 with 35 students...

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to understand current research on the utilization of mobile health (mHealth) technologies for college students with disabilities. METHODS: We conducted a bibliometric analysis to understand the longitudinal research trends and dominant topics in mHealth research for college students. Next, we performed a scoping review to gain a more in-depth understanding of the current research on the use of mobile technologies for college students with disabilities...

Objectives: This longitudinal study was designed to examine the growth trajectory of depressive symptoms among early-stage college students and how the development of vigorous, moderate, and light leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) was related to the growth trajectory. Participants: Four hundred and eighty-eight first- and second-year undergraduate students completed measures of depressive symptoms and LTPA at the beginning, middle, and end of a semester. Methods: Latent growth mixture modeling (LGMM) was conducted...

Objective: To investigate the impact of COVID-stress and discrimination on mental health among a group of diverse college students using an intersectional framework. Participants: One thousand six hundred seventy-one undergraduate students ( M age = 20.42, SD  = 2.74) were recruited from nine college campuses. Methods: Participants completed an online questionnaire assessing mental health symptoms, COVID-stress, and in-school discrimination. Hierarchical regressions and multi-group SEM path analysis were conducted to examine differences across intersectional identities...

Objective: Picky eating, which occurs in emerging adulthood and is associated with psychological distress and quality of life, has historically been conceptualized as unidimensional despite research suggesting it is a multifaceted construct. Participants: An undergraduate sample ( N  = 509; Mage = 19.96). Methods: A cross-sectional survey assessed picky eating facets (food variety, meal disengagement, meal presentation, and taste aversion), disordered eating, anxiety, depression, stress, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and social phobia symptoms, and quality of life...

College immunization policies vary. To evaluate the landscape of college immunization programs, we distributed a 45-item survey to college health administrators between July and September 2021. Items measured perceptions of institutionally recommended and required vaccines, enforcement strategies, barriers to vaccine uptake, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of 566 invitations sent, only 66 college health administrators completed the survey (11.7% response rate). The majority of participating institutions (89%) required at least one vaccine, with measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) being the most commonly required (83%)...

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...

Objective : The COVID-19 pandemic has simultaneously exacerbated mental health concerns among college students and made it more challenging for many students to access mental health support. However, little is known about the extent of mental health support loss among college students, or which students have lost support. Participants: 415 undergraduate students who reported receiving mental health support prior to the pandemic participated. Methods : Students completed an online questionnaire between March and May of 2020...

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of sexual orientation and gender identity in the relationship between physical activity (PA), stress and resilience. PARTICIPANTS: A nationally-representative sample of students ( n  = 91,718) from United States postsecondary institutions. METHODS: Students reported aerobic and strength training (ST) behaviors, stress, resilience, gender identity and sexual orientation. Moderated regressions examined the influence of gender identity and sexual orientation on the relationship between PA and stress or resilience...

Objective: Loneliness is increasingly acknowledged as a public health concern due to its association with morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of loneliness is highest in the post-secondary population. Understanding the correlates of loneliness may assist in developing policy and program interventions. Participants and Methods: Post-secondary students ( n  = 28,975) from the Winter 2022 Canadian Campus Wellbeing Survey (CCWS) cycle. A multi-level logistic regression controlling for the institution was built to determine how demographic, health behaviors, mental health and institutional level factors are associated with loneliness...

Objective: Asians and Asian Americans (A/AA) in the United States were reported to experience a rising number of discrimination and hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study explored A/AA university students' experiences of discrimination and the helpful supports during this challenging time. Participants: This study included ten A/AA university students from a major research university in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Methods: A phenomenology approach was employed in the study. Results: Two structural themes were identified: (1) campus supports and (2) community supports...

Objectives: This study explores whether the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the prevalence of food insecurity (FI) among US college students. Participants : College students ( n  = 489) enrolled at a Mid-Atlantic university. Methods : A mixed methods design was utilized for data collection and analysis through an electronic survey and semi-structured interviews. Multiple regression was used to assess predictors of FI before and during COVID-19. The McNemar test determined if significant differences in FI existed...

Since the pandemic started, food insecurity has become a more serious issue for U.S. college students. The study goals were to evaluate whether pandemic-specific stress contributes to current food insecurity (as of February-March of 2022) and to determine which student characteristics are associated with food insecurity. We used the 2022 Spring American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment data ( n  = 620) collected at a public university. We estimated two multiple logistic regression models...

Introduction: This study examined the relationship between stress and pre-gaming (i.e., drinking prior to going out to an event) in female college students. Methods: Thirty-four female college students were grouped as pre-gamers or non-pre-gamers based on self-reported drinking patterns. They completed surveys about alcohol use and mental health and provided a set of salivary cortisol samples upon waking, 30 min later, and at 10am on the same day. Results: Pre-gamers and non-pre-gamers did not differ on demographics or psychosocial variables...

Objective : The study aimed to identify phases of bystander intervention (BI) for problematic alcohol use (PAU) among college students. Participants : Twenty focus groups and nine interviews were conducted. Methods : Transcripts were thematically analyzed. Results : The phases of the Bystander Intervention for Problematic Alcohol Use Model (BIPAUM) include: (1) plan in advance, (2) notice and interpret a sign, (3) decide (i.e., assume responsibility, assess support/feasibility to intervene, and identify intervention strategy), (4) intervene, and (5) assess outcomes...