Gender Differences in the Relationships Among Major Depressive Disorder, Heavy Alcohol Use, and Mental Health Treatment Engagement Among College Students

Trends in the co-occurrence of substance use and mental health symptomatology in a national sample of US post-secondary students from 2009 to 2019

Objective: This study examined joint trends over time in associations between substance use (heavy drinking, cannabis, and cigarette smoking) and mental health concerns (depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation) among US post-secondary students. Participants: Data came from 323,896 students participating in the Healthy Minds Study from 2009 to 2019, a national cross-sectional survey of US post-secondary students. Weighted two-level logistic regression models with a time by substance interaction term were used to predict mental health status. Results: Use of each substance was associated with a greater odds of students endorsing depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Over time, the association with mental health concerns strengthened substantially for cannabis, modestly for heavy drinking, and remained stable for smoking. Conclusion: Given co-occurrence is common and increasing among post-secondary students, college and university health systems should prioritize early identification, psychoeducation, harm-reduction, and brief interventions to support students at risk.

Nursing student perspectives on improving mental health support services at university in Saudi Arabia - a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

University students' needs for mental health (MH) services are an important aspect of academic success or failure. Nursing students enrolled at Saudi Arabian universities in need of MH care encounter obstacles in accessing this type of care.

AIMS

The present work explores students' views and suggestions about the existing problems surrounding university students' MH and well-being support services.

METHODS

Twenty students enrolled in a Master of Nursing program were recruited as research participants. Individual interviews of students' perceptions of the needs and availability of MH services during their studies provided inductive data. These data were analysed through a constructivist thematic method.

FINDINGS

Three major themes and sub-themes regarding the issues and possibilities of MH services were distinguished from the research data, namely, social implications, access and opportunity, and ways to improve care. Participants emphasised a need for a university-wide approach to reforming MH services to provide students with the required support and alleviate service demand by qualified professionals.

CONCLUSION

The present work underscores the need for provision of good quality MH care for university students and health promotion which strives to reduce stigma related to MH care.

Gender, ethnicity differences in mental health status and COVID-19 vaccine intention among U.S. College students during COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: To examine mental health status, COVID-19 vaccine intention and barriers among college students in the U.S. Participants: Students (n = 337) registered at a large public university in 2021. Methods: Cross-sectional survey data were collected online and analyzed using independent samples t test, chi-square test, and one-way ANOVA. Results: Compared to male students, females reported greater anxiety (p < .05) and fear (p < .01). Hispanic participants reported increased anxiety level and the least positive pandemic coping strategies (both p < .05) across the ethnic groups. Black students were the racial group with the lowest trust in the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine (p < .05). Vaccine intention was positively correlated with factors such as vaccine safety measures, and perceptions toward vaccination (both p < .001). Conclusions: These gender- and ethnicity- based mental health struggles should be addressed immediately for better health and vaccine promotion outcomes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Relationship of compassion for self and others to sense of well-being of college students

Objective: The mental health issues among college students have increased significantly in recent years. The primary purpose of this study was to explore and describe the relationship between self-compassion, compassion for others, and a sense of well-being among undergraduate college students. Participants: This study surveyed N = 651 college students aged 18-24 years at an urban university in the Northeast. Methods: Students completed an online survey through Survey Monkey that was comprised of questions about their selfcompassion, compassion for others, and overall sense of well-being. Results: The results indicate that self-compassion, compassion for others, and sense of well-being are positively related. Exploratory tests for sex differences showed that females reported having significantly higher compassion for others while males reported having substantially higher self-compassion. Conclusion: The authors discuss the implications of the results and suggest a need for more compassion education programs at institutions of higher education. Suggestions are made for future experimental research that measures the impact of self-compassion and compassion for others, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic that impacted many college students' education, economy, relationships, and job prospects.

Moderated moderation modelling of subjective social status, pocket money and depressive symptoms of university students in Ghana

Introduction

Although the relationship between subjective social status and depression in university students has been well-established, this association could be seen as a spurious one. Previous studies have shown that key variables like financial resources and age could play key roles in explaining the variances in social status and mental health outcomes. In this research, we assessed the complex interrelationships between subjective social status, financial resources at their disposal and depressive symptoms among university students within their young and middle adulthood stages.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a university in Ghana to sample 1134 university students through accidental sampling. The McArthur Scale and WHO-5 Well-being measure were used for the data collection.

Results

The results revealed that higher levels of subjective social status were associated with lower levels of depression. It was further found that the interaction between students' pocket money and age played unique roles in the relationship between subjective social status and depression.

Conclusion

The study findings call on stakeholders in education to explore funding opportunities and to examine ways of empowering parents (financially) to adequately support the students. Health educationists and promoters, including psychologists, school counsellors and parents could compliment these efforts by helping to train and empower students through self-regulation or management skills to help improve their well-being. Continuous efforts are required to improve the financial status and mental health of students.

Is the Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Mental Well-Being in University Students Linear, Curvilinear or Absent?

Background: Both alcohol consumption and mental well-being problems have been found to be prevalent in higher educated students and often have severe consequences. However, previous findings of the association between these constructs are mixed, possibly because often linear models are fitted, while some theories suggest a curvilinear association between the two concepts. Objectives: To clarify previously mixed findings, the current study compared curvilinear and linear models for the relationship between alcohol consumption and mental well-being in university students. Because of potential gender differences in this relationship, these models were explored for females and males separately. Data from the first cross-sectional online survey wave of the Healthy Student Life project including 2,631 female and 998 male students was used. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-consumption was used to measure alcohol consumption. Mental well-being was assessed by six sub-concepts (i.e., depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, life satisfaction, happiness, and self-rated mental health). Results: For females both linear (for anxiety, life satisfaction, and self-rated mental health) and curvilinear (for depression, stress, and happiness) associations were found, while for males no support for either curvilinear or linear models was found. Conclusions: Results should be interpreted with caution due to the small effect sizes in the relationships for females but may suggest that testing the curvilinear association between alcohol consumption and mental well-being is an important future endeavor.

A latent profile analysis of social anxiety, depression, and pregaming motives among heavy-drinking college students

BACKGROUND

Pregaming is a high-risk drinking behavior that is associated with heavy drinking and negative alcohol-related consequences. College students may engage in pregaming for several reasons, including to enhance social experiences or cope with negative affect. Research shows that associations between drinking, social anxiety, and depression are multifaceted. However, our understanding of the complex associations of mental health symptoms with pregaming motives and behaviors remains limited.

METHODS

This study examined heterogeneity in how pregaming motives, social anxiety, and depression associate with past 30-day pregaming variables (quantity, frequency, and negative consequences). We used latent profile analysis (LPA) in a sample of heavy-drinking university students (N = 479).

RESULTS

LPA results indicated four profiles: mild/moderate social anxiety and depression symptoms, moderate motives (n = 285), minimal social anxiety and depression symptoms, low motives (n = 61), subclinical/elevated social anxiety and depression symptoms, high motives (n = 75), and clinically elevated social anxiety and depression symptoms, moderate motives (n = 58). The subclinical/elevated symptoms, high motives profile reported the highest pregaming frequency and consequences, including blackouts. Individuals in the clinically elevated symptoms, moderate motives profile reported more consequences than those in the minimal symptoms, low motives and mild/moderate symptoms, moderate motives profiles. Individuals in the minimal symptoms, low motives profile reported the fewest consequences.

CONCLUSIONS

Among these students, social anxiety and pregaming motives were associated with more frequent pregaming and social anxiety and depression were associated with greater negative consequences. Interventions that target pregaming-specific motives among students with mental health symptoms may be warranted to reduce this risky behavior and associated drinking-related harm.

Oral health-related quality of life and depressive symptoms in adults: longitudinal associations of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA)

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the relationship between oral health status and depressive symptoms in adults in England. The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal association between oral health parameters and depressive symptoms in adults in England.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA), which included information on self-rated oral health, oral impairment in daily life (Oral Impacts on Daily Performances, OIDP), and depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, CES-D) in 6790 adults aged ≥ 50 years. Wave 3 data were used as baseline, while Waves 5 and 7 were used for follow-up assessments. Logistic regression was used to determine whether depressive symptoms at baseline anticipated self-rated oral health and OIDP and whether oral health status (at baseline) was associated with the development of depressive symptoms at follow-up assessment.

RESULTS

Participants with poor self-rated oral health were at higher risk of developing depressive symptoms, even after adjusting for behavioral, clinical, and sociodemographic characteristics (OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.38-2.07). Similarly, having oral impacts on daily performances were associated with the development of depressive symptoms: The OR for developing depressive symptoms at Wave 5 or 7 was 2.19 (95% CI 1.62-2.96) after adjustment for all covariates. Participants with depressive symptoms at baseline were more likely to report poor self-rated oral health (OR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.52-2.44) or one or more oral impacts (OR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.45-2.40) at follow-up than those without depressive symptoms at baseline, even after adjusting for confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, a bidirectional association was found between depressive symptoms and poor oral health in older adults. Maintaining good oral health in older adults may be a protective factor against depressive symptoms. Therefore, more attention should be paid to promoting oral health awareness in older adults, including encouraging regular dental checkups, proper toothbrushing and flossing techniques, and healthy lifestyles.

Coping in the Digital Age: Do Coping Strategies Mediate the Link Between Online and In-Person Victimization and Depressive Symptoms?

With increased use of social networking sites in recent years, there has also been an increased opportunity for users to fall prey to bullying victimization. However, little is known about the differences between online and in-person victimization in association with depression or how different coping strategies may mediate this relationship among college students. The goal of the current study was to examine whether there were similarities or differences in the extent to which self-reported online and in-person victimization were associated with depressive symptoms in a sample of 210 undergraduate students (72.9% Women; 85.4% Cauasian), as well as whether different problem- and emotion-focused coping may differentially mediate the links between young adult victimization and depressive symptoms. Participants reported depressive symptoms, problem- and emotion-focused coping, and in-person and online victimization. In-person and online victimization independently predicted emotion-focused coping and depressive symptoms in young adults, and both problem- and emotion-focused coping predicted depressive symptoms. Further, emotion-focused coping partially mediated the effect of in-person victimization and depressive symptoms, suggesting that training more effective coping strategies may be an important intervention target to reduce depressive symptoms for those experiencing bullying victimization. Future research should continue to explore how different coping strategies act as a mechanism between victimization and depressive symptoms.

Psychometric characteristics of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised in a population of Polish university students

The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised (CESD-R) has already been validated on the Polish population. However, the structure of the scale obtained at that time was not confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in subsequent studies on the Polish sample and measurement invariance for gender was not performed. The purpose of this article is to present the results of psychometric analyses to verify the structure of the CESD-R in a university student sample. An online cross-sectional study was conducted with 1519 university students (March/April 2021). The dataset was randomly divided into three subsets to perform principal component analysis (PCA, Subset 1) and CFA for CESD-R versions with different numbers of factors and items (Subsets 2 and 3). Measurement invariance for gender was verified for the whole sample. PCA pointed to a three-factor solution that was analyzed in the subsequent CFA. Due to high correlation coefficients between factors, further steps were taken using only one factor. For CFA, 20-, 18- and 9-item versions of the CESD-R were used, but the 9-item version obtained the best model fit parameters and was used to evaluate the measurement invariance for gender, which was confirmed. The 9-item CESD-R has the best model fit compared to other versions of this scale and is gender invariant. Further research is needed to verify the criterion validity of this shortened scale.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Alcohol Use among Black College Students: Examining the Mediating Roles of Depression and Coping Drinking Motives

Background: Over the past two decades, research has linked adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to adult health-risk behaviors such as excessive alcohol use. Yet, few have investigated health-risk behaviors among Black college students. Research suggests that Black college students are at lower risk for hazardous drinking patterns, yet ACEs appear to alter the drinking patterns of Black students. Other studies have also shown depressive symptoms and coping-motivated drinking to predict greater alcohol consumption for this ethnic group. Objective: The current study investigated the relationship between ACEs and hazardous patterns of drinking, including frequency of alcohol use, binge, and heavy drinking episodes, using a sample of 282 Black students attending a historically black college/university (HBCU). Results: Depressive symptoms and coping drinking motives were tested as serial mediators between ACEs and the three drinking patterns. Results revealed a significant indirect effect of ACEs on the frequency of alcohol use, binge, and heavy drinking episodes, through depressive symptoms and coping drinking motives. Depressive symptoms also independently mediated the relationship between ACEs and heavy drinking episodes. Conclusion: The finding suggested that drinking perhaps serves as a maladaptive coping strategy to address underlying early life stress and depression for Black students.

Distress symptoms and alcohol consumption: anxiety differentially mediates drinking across gender

Introduction

The consumption of alcohol remains a significant health concern and represents a prevalent form of substance use worldwide. Previous research has identified sex differences in the consumption of alcohol. This study explores the relationship between drinking and the presence of distress symptoms across gender. Based on previous research, it was hypothesized that presence of distress symptoms, defined as increases in anxiety and depression, would be prominent features associated with alcohol consumption among women compared to men.

Methods

A sample of undergraduate students (N = 448) participated in an online-based questionnaire (71% female; M age = 22.1; 42.9% Hispanic/Latino). The questionnaire contained assessments related to demographic information and alcohol consumption over the past 30 days. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Results

Gender differences were observed with men consuming more alcoholic drinks than women. However, women who consumed alcohol reported having more distress symptoms relative to their male counterparts. A logistic regression revealed that this gender difference was moderated by anxiety, such that greater anxiety scores associates with whether women consumed alcohol. However, an ordinary least squares regression revealed that for men, anxiety scores significantly related to the amount of drinks consumed. Gender differences were not detected in relation to alcohol consumption and depression.

Conclusion

Our findings contribute to the literature by indicating that the mere presence of distress symptoms reveals distinctive gender-specific differences in relation to alcohol consumption in a non-clinical population. Identifying the distinct associations linked with alcohol use for men and women can aid in reducing drinking disparities among young adults.

Risk for alcohol use problems in severe mental illness: Interactions with sex and racial/ethnic minority status

BACKGROUND

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is exceedingly common among individuals with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. However, studies on alcohol use in psychiatric illness rely largely on population surveys with limited representation of severe mental illness (SMI); schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

METHODS

Using data from the Genomic Psychiatry Cohort (GPC) (Pato MT, 2013), associations of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia with alcohol use problems were examined in a diverse US based sample, considering the influence of self-described race (African Ancestry (AA), European Ancestry (EA), or Latinx Ancestry (LA)), sex, and tobacco use. Participants answered alcohol use problem items derived from the CAGE instrument, yielding a summed "probable" alcohol use disorder (pAUD) risk score.

RESULTS

This study included 1952 individuals with bipolar disorder with psychosis (BDwP), 409 with bipolar disorder without psychosis (BD), 9218 with schizophrenia (SCZ), and 10,416 unaffected individuals. We found that SMI (BDwP, BD, SCZ) was associated with elevated AUD risk scores (B = 0.223, p < 0.001), an association which was strongest in females, particularly those of AA and LA, and in tobacco users. Schizophrenia was associated with the greatest increase in pAUD score (B = 0.141, p < 0.001). pAUD risk scores were increased among participants with bipolar disorder, with greater increases in BDwP (B = 0.125, p < 0.001) than in BD without psychosis (B = 0.027, p < 0.001).

LIMITATIONS

Limitations include reliance on self-report data, screening items for AUD, voluntary recruitment bias, and differences in race/sex distribution between groups, which were statistically adjusted for in analytic models.

CONCLUSIONS

SMI is associated with risk for AUD, particularly among females from racial minority groups, smokers, and those with psychotic disorders.

Taking alcohol from one's parents' home without permission as a risk factor for greater alcohol and marijuana use during the transition into college

While adolescents and underage emerging adults typically obtain alcohol from social sources (e.g., parents, friends, parties), taking alcohol from the home without permission is not well understood. The current study investigated plausible individual characteristics associated with taking alcohol from one's parents' home without permission and associations between taking alcohol and drinking, alcohol consequences, and marijuana use. Two cohorts of alcohol-experienced underage emerging adults (N = 562) completed a web-based survey pre-college matriculation. Participants reported sources of alcohol (friend, mother, father, party, took it from home); drinking; consequences; marijuana use (ever and past 30 days); age of alcohol initiation; symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress; parental modeling of drinking; and demographic information. Results revealed that taking alcohol was significantly associated with several of the measures examined here (e.g., having obtained alcohol from friends, parents, and parties; earlier age of alcohol initiation; parental modeling of alcohol). Having taken alcohol from the home without permission and obtained it from friends were uniquely associated with increased odds of typical weekly drinking, consequences, and marijuana use in the past 30 days when controlling for all other variables assessed in this study (including drinking, in the consequences and marijuana models). Parent-based interventions targeting adolescents and emerging adults should inform parents of the risks associated with taking alcohol from the home and obtaining it from friends. Further, parents should also be informed that supplying their adolescent with alcohol or modeling drinking may increase the likelihood that they take alcohol from their home.

Socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyles, social support quality and mental health in college students: a cross-sectional study

Background

Mental health problems are important public health issues among college students and are associated with various social factors. However, these influencing factors were scarcely summarized in Chinese college students comprehensively. This study aims to assess the associations between socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyles, social support quality (SSQ) and mental health among Chinese college students .

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Wuhan, China, from October 2017 to February 2018. College students from 18 colleges or universities were randomly recruited using multi-stage cluster sampling method. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support scale and 12-items General Health Questionnaire were used to estimate students’ SSQ and mental health statuses, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyles, SSQ and mental health problems.

Results

A total of 10,676 college students were included. Among them, 21.4% were identified as having possible mental health problems. Students being a female, aged 18–22 years old, whose mother held college degrees and above, and drinking alcohol were more likely to have mental health problems (P < 0.05). Contrarily, having general or higher household economic levels, work-rest regularly, and sleeping ≥ 7 h were preventive factors (P < 0.05). Especially, a decreasing trend in the risk of having mental health problems with the improvement of SSQ was identified.

Conclusion

Besides socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, social support is a critical factor for mental health among college students. Improving SSQ, especially which from the family, could be an effective method to prevent mental health problems among college students.

Psychological Help-Seeking Among College Students: Applying the Multi-Theory Model of Health Behavior Change in Assessing Telehealth Use for Psychological Help-Seeking

Background

Due to the deleterious effects on psychological health and wellbeing spurred by the pandemic, utilization of telehealth-based care increased over the past few years. The rapid transition from in-person to telehealth-based health service delivery has yet to be fully understood. The aim of the current study was to examine telehealth use for psychological help-seeking among college students using the Multi-theory Model of health behavior change (MTM) as a theoretical framework.

Methods

A cross-sectional and survey-based study was conducted among students at a large US university (N = 356). Valid and reliable scales were used to measure domains of psychological distress and MTM constructs. Participants were grouped based on past 12-month utilization of telehealth for any mental, emotional, or substance use problems.

Results

Roughly 67% of the sample reported that they needed help dealing with psychological distress, and 56.1%,43.3%, and 38.7% screened positive for anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, respectively. Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation were positively associated with past 12-month telehealth-based help-seeking. Past 12-month telehealth users reported greater advantages, confidence, and emotion direction toward telehealth-based psychological help-seeking than their counterparts. Participants also perceived higher exhibition of behavioral skills and greater social support to aid help-seeking than their counterparts. Advantages and disadvantages as well as behavioral confidence predicted intentions for telehealth-based help-seeking after controlling for anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, perceived stigma, and perceived need for help among both groups.

Conclusion

The MTM theoretical framework is a valuable framework for predicting telehealth-based psychological help-seeking among college students. Such framework can be used to design and implement mental health programing.

Prevalence of heavy episodic drinking and alcohol use disorder diagnosis among US college students: results from the national Healthy Minds Study

Alcohol use is a common, recognized problem on college campuses. This study examined alcohol use in a national sample of US college students across 78 campuses. Using four waves of data from the Healthy Minds Study (2015-2019), we explored variations by student demographics in prevalence of recent: alcohol consumption, heavy episodic drinking (HED, 4/5 + drinks in one sitting), frequent HED (3 + HED events), and lifetime alcohol use disorder (AUD) diagnosis. Stratified analyses and logistic regression with response propensity weights were used. Two-thirds of students consumed alcohol and roughly-one-third engaged in HED in the past 2 weeks. Alcohol use was more common among students who: identified as cis women/men, bisexual or gay/lesbian/queer, white non-Hispanic, lived in Greek housing or off-campus, were not first generation, or those not rating religion as important. Prevalence of HED among recent drinkers was high (56.7%) but varied by gender identity, race-ethnicity, living situation, and religiosity. In addition, higher HED prevalence was reported among: international, undergraduate, and underage (under 21) students. There was little variation in HED by sexual orientation identity or first generation status among recent drinkers. In a sub-sample of students engaging in frequent HED, AUD diagnosis was uncommon (1.4%) and less likely among students identifying as: cis women/men, heterosexual, racial-ethnic minorities (particularly Asian/Asian American or Pacific Islander), international, religious, or living in Greek housing. Alcohol use continues to be a part of college life, while screening and treatment remains rare. There are opportunities for improved programming and outreach acknowledging college student diversity.

Licit Substance Use and Premenstrual Syndrome Symptom Severity in Female College Students

INTRODUCTION

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) affects the majority of women and is characterized by physical, behavioral, and mood symptoms, which can have a profound impact on quality of life. PMS symptoms have also been linked to licit substance use. This study examined the relationships between daily/problem use (DPU) of caffeine (Caf⁺), alcohol (Alc⁺), and tobacco (Cig⁺) and PMS symptomology in a sample of college women.

METHODS

Participants (N = 196) completed an anonymous one-time health survey. Demographic, PMS symptomatology, and DPU of licit substance variables were examined. Independent t-tests compared PMS symptom scores in women with and without Caf⁺, Cig⁺, and Alc⁺ use. One-way analysis of variances examined the associations between PMS symptom severity and number of DPU-positive substances.

RESULTS

PMS subscale severity (pain [F(2,190) = 4.47, p = 0.013], affective [F(2,192) = 8.21, p < 0.001], and water retention [F(2,191) = 13.37, p < 0.001]) and total PMS symptom severity [F(2,189) = 10.22, p < 0.001] showed a dose response effect, with the number of licit substances with DPU significantly associated with PMS symptom severity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study findings provide important new information about the relationship between PMS symptoms and at-risk substance use. These are cross-sectional data, however, and affirm a need for longitudinal research to better understand the associations, with a focus on potential benefits of education and intervention.

Mental health service use in a national sample of college students with co-occurring depression or anxiety and substance use

INTRODUCTION

Campus health systems can provide timely and accessible resources for students with co-occurring substance use and mental illness, but little is known about the degree to which students use these systems. This study examined mental health service utilization among students with symptoms of anxiety or depression, stratified by substance use.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used data came from the 2017-2020 Healthy Minds Study. Mental health service use was examined among students with clinically significant anxiety or depression (N = 65,969), stratified by substance use type (no use, alcohol or tobacco use, marijuana use, other drug use). We performed a series of weighted logistic regressions to assess the adjusted association of substance use type with past year use of campus, off-campus outpatient, emergency department, and hospital mental health services.

RESULTS

Among students, 39.3% reported exclusive use of alcohol or tobacco, 22.9% reported use of marijuana, and 5.9% reported use of other drugs. Use of alcohol or tobacco was not associated with mental health service utilization, while students who use marijuana faced increased odds of campus (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01, 1.20) and off-campus outpatient mental health service utilization (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.17, 1.37). Other drug use was associated with increased odds of off-campus outpatient (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.14, 1.48), emergency department (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.50, 3.03) and hospital service utilization (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.13, 2.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Universities should consider screening for substance use and common mental illnesses to support the health of high-risk students.

Narcissistic grandiosity and risky health behaviors in college students

Objective This study explored associations between narcissistic grandiosity (including its component traits) and reported risky health behaviors in college students. Participants: College men and women (N = 122) participated between December 2015 and January 2016. Methods: Participants completed self-report measures of grandiosity, alcohol consumption, number of sex partners, and condom use. Results: Grandiosity was positively associated with alcohol consumption. Gender interacted with grandiose traits, driving associations with reported sexual behaviors. College men high in entitlement/exploitativeness reported more sex partners. Grandiose exhibitionism was associated with condom use among women but not men, such that college women higher in grandiose exhibitionism were more likely to report not using a condom with their most recent partner. Conclusions: Grandiosity (and grandiose traits) may influence health behavior and/or the reporting of health behavior in college students, but associations may differ for men and women.

Double jeopardy: Intimate partner violence vulnerability among emerging adult women through lenses of race and sexual orientation

Objective: Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a public health concern for women age 18-25. While much is known about the IPV risk and experiences of heterosexual women, little is known about the IPV risk and experiences of their LGBTQ + counterparts and any contributions of multiple marginalization in such risk. This study examines the emotional, physical, and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) vulnerability of emerging adult college women with and without multiple minority statuses (e.g., women with both racial/ethnic and sexual minority identities). Participants: Participants were 9,435 women ages 18-25 from the National College Health Assessment (NCHA). Results: Findings demonstrate that being a sexual minority increases risk vulnerability for all forms of IPV, regardless of race. Conclusions: The risk for college women with multiple marginalized identities is exponentially greater than either their White or heterosexual counterparts. Implications for colleges/universities, university counseling centers and professionals, and future research directions are discussed.

The role of substance use coping in linking depression and alcohol use from late adolescence through early adulthood

Although theoretical models highlight the role of coping motivations in promoting co-development of depression and alcohol use, few longitudinal studies have examined such processes across early adulthood. The current study examined the role of coping in the association between depression and alcohol use across late adolescence and early adulthood. A control sample of adolescents (N = 498) from a longitudinal prevention trial completed the Brief Symptom Inventory, Life Events Coping Inventory, and a self-report survey on alcohol use at ages 17, 22, and 23, as well as the Composite International Diagnostic Interview at age 28-30. Path analyses integrated self-report and diagnostic measures. Although gender differences were observed in mean levels of depression, alcohol use, and the use of substances to cope, we did not find gender differences in structural relations across these domains over time. Substance use coping served as an intervening pathway in the association between alcohol use and depression both at the symptom level from age 17 to 23, and in predicting longer term diagnostic outcomes at ages 28-30. Depressive symptoms in early adulthood were indirectly related to major depressive disorder (MDD) through two independent paths, including the stability of depressive symptoms over time, and through the influence of depression on increasing the tendency to use substances to cope with stress. Our results underscore that coping effects provide unique predictive power across developmental transitions, over and above the stability of depressive symptoms and alcohol use, underscoring coping motives as a promising intervention target that may prevent co-occurring depression and substance use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Change in Perceived Stress and Health Behaviors of Emerging Adults in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in unprecedented disruptions, restrictions, and concerns about physical and mental health. Emerging adulthood, including the first year of college, is associated with declines in healthy eating and physical activity, as well as possible heightened distress. The impact of COVID-19 may exacerbate these concerns.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine changes in health behaviors and perceived stress in emerging adults over the first year of college and to determine whether prepandemic health behaviors were protective for mental health and stress during the initial changes after the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

First-year college students (N = 234, 58.6% female) completed three surveys during their first year of school, the third being after the onset of COVID-19 and during a stay-at-home order. At Time 3, we also assessed symptoms of anxiety and depression.

RESULTS

Using linear mixed modeling, sedentary time increased and physical activity decreased over time, but 20%-35% of students reported improvements in these behaviors. Dietary changes appeared mixed, with some improvements noted early during COVID-19. Perceived stress increased over time. Multiple regression indicated that of the health behaviors examined for protective effects on mental health and stress during the pandemic, only diet quality emerged as a significant predictor.

CONCLUSIONS

Although notable declines in some health habits were observed over time, including following COVID-19 disruptions, some students reported improved health behaviors. Efforts should be directed at identifying and intervening with students most at risk for poor functioning.

Lifestyle-related behaviors and depressive symptoms in college students

This study sought to examine the association between lifestyle-related behaviors and depressive symptoms among college students. This cross-sectional study analyzed baseline data of a dynamic-cohort study from a public university in Central-Western Brazil, in all 21 undergraduate full-time courses. Students up to 25 years old who were enrolled for the first time in a university were included in the study, except pregnant and/or nursing women. All students who met the eligibility criteria were invited to participate in the study. From a total of 1,212 eligible students, 1,038 were included (85.6%). All participants answered a self-administered questionnaire on smoking, alcohol consumption, screen time, sleep duration, and meal patterns. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Multivariate Poisson regression models stratified by sex were used to estimate the associations. Depressive symptoms was observed in 31.6% (males 23.6%; females 39.9%; p-value chi-square test = 0.01) of the students. Smoking, drinking spirits, and having irregular meal habits were directly associated with depressive symptoms in both males and females. The co-occurrence of two risk behaviors (men: aPR = 2.23, 95%CI: 1.25; 3.99; women: aPR = 1.54, 95%CI: 1.03; 2.30) and three or more risk behaviors (men: aPR = 3.42, 95%CI: 1.90; 6.16; women: aPR = 2.09, 95%CI: 1.39; 3.15) increased the occurrence of depressive symptoms among the students. Lifestyle-related unhealthy behaviors were associated with an increased occurrence of depressive symptoms among college students. These findings suggest the need of interventions encouraging changes in lifestyle to promote mental health and to improve the quality of life in this group.

The Role of Social Adjustment in a Collegiate Behavioral Activation Program

The transition to college is associated with significant changes in social support networks and concomitant increases in depressive symptoms. First-year students who are more socially engaged within their new academic settings may experience greater overall wellbeing. Behavioral activation (BA) is an evidence-based intervention which promotes individuals' engagement with valued activities and has been examined as a possible primary prevention for depressive symptoms among first-year students. Yet, the important role of social adjustment, and its impact on students' activity level, has not yet been considered. The current study is a secondary data analysis of research evaluating a BA-based intervention embedded into a first-year orientation course. The aim of the project was to evaluate the efficacy of BA on improving social adjustment and the effect of social adjustment on subsequent depressive symptoms. A diverse sample of college students (n = 71) attending a state university in the mid-Atlantic region reported on their levels of depression, behavioral activation, and social adjustment. Students then received either BA or standard programming. Results suggest that improved engagement in valued activities at mid-intervention was associated with increases in students' perceptions of their own social adjustment. This, in turn, predicted steeper decreases in rates of depressive symptoms post-intervention. Findings also indicate that greater social adjustment improved the efficacy of a BA-based intervention in reducing depressive symptoms, but had no impact on depressive symptoms for students receiving the standard orientation programming.

Effects of team sports on anxiety, depression, perceived stress, and sleep quality in college students

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of team sports on alleviating depression, anxiety, perceived stress, and poor sleep quality in college students. Participants: Undergraduates (n = 291) from a major public university in China. Methods: A 12-week quasi-experimental study was conducted. Students were enrolled in team sports classes (n = 138, experimental group) and aerobic dance classes (n = 153, comparison group). Data was collected via questionnaires at pre and post-test. Results: Results indicated significant improvement in depression and sleep quality for college students over time (p < .05). Depression levels decreased significantly more for team sports group (p < .05) compared to aerobic dance group. Results showed no significant differences in anxiety or perceived stress between the two groups over time (p > .05). Conclusions: Team sports may help reduce depression and poor sleep quality in college students. However, physical activity alone may not help improve anxiety and perceived stress.

Depression and its correlation with social support and health-promoting lifestyles among Chinese university students: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the prevalence of depression in college students and determine how social support and healthy lifestyle factors are associated with depression in this population.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional design.

SETTING

A comprehensive university in Changsha, Hunan, South China. The study was conducted from May to June 2019.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 541 students at the comprehensive university.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Social Support Rating Scale and Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP-II) were used to evaluate depression, social support and lifestyles, respectively, and analyse the mutual relationships among them.

RESULTS

Among the 541 participants, 161 (29.8%) experienced depressive symptoms, and there were significant gender-related and academic discipline-related differences in self-rated depression. The average social support score was 38.06 (38.06±7.52). The average HPLP-II score was 71.09 (71.09±11.47). A monofactor analysis showed that depression was correlated with social support and a healthy lifestyle. As demonstrated by logistic regression analysis, being a woman (OR=2.613, 95% CI: 1.541 to 4.43), inadequate social support (OR=0.912, 95% CI: 0.877 to 0.948), poor nutrition (OR=0.87, 95% CI: 0.775 to 0.977) and lack of self-actualisation (OR=0.644, 95% CI: 0.572 to 0.724) were significantly correlated with depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Owing to the high prevalence of depression among Chinese university students, educational institutions must take measures such as providing compulsory mental health education courses and improving the psychological counselling services available to students.

University students' sense of coherence, future worries and mental health: findings from the German COVID-HL-survey

Early-on in the COVID-19 pandemic when universities were closed as part of the nation-wide public health response to the COVID-19 outbreak, studying and student life significantly changed. Based on limited evidence the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between sense of coherence (SoC), future worries and mental health outcomes among German university students during the early phase of the pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey with n = 14 916 participants was carried out by inviting all private and public universities in Germany. All data were analysed using univariate, bivariate and multivariate statistics. Findings indicate a low and very low wellbeing for 38% of university students. Moreover, 29% reported being affected by at least two health complaints more than once week. Both health outcomes follow a social gradient and could be more frequently observed for respondents with lower subjective social status and female students. Regression analysis revealed significant association between the SoC dimensions and wellbeing (OR: 1.2−2.03) as well as health complaints (OR: 1.58−1.71). A high level of future worries was associated with low/very low wellbeing (OR: 2.83) and multiple health complaints (OR: 2.84). Based on the results, the public health response to the pandemic and university health promotion should therefore consider student mental health as an important target within their policy and action frameworks.

Sex and Racial Differences in Patterns of Disordered Eating and Alcohol Use

The present study aimed to determine how young adults' use of disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) and alcohol uniquely cluster with one another, how these clusters differ by sex and race, and map onto health-related correlates. As a part of a cross-sectional study assessing college student health and experiences, female (n = 1,026), male (n = 336), White (n = 640), and Black (n = 561) young adult college students at three universities (M_age = 20.54, SD = 1.80) completed measures assessing DEBs and alcohol use, and physical and mental health. Multigroup mixture modeling was used to identify subgroups of female, male, White, and Black young adults that are characterized by different levels of DEBs (fasting, food avoidance, loss of control eating, overeating) and alcohol use (binge drinking, drinking quantity). Whether group membership relates to theoretically and clinically relevant health correlates (stress, depressive symptoms, sleep health) was examined via auxiliary analyses. Qualitative and quantitative differences were identified in the best-fitting mixture models for female (four groups), male (four groups), White (five groups), and Black (three groups) participants that suggest sex and racial variations exist in patterns of DEBs and alcohol use severity. Generally, classification in groups characterized by moderate to high probabilities of DEBs only, or the combination of moderate to high DEBs and alcohol use, was associated with worse affective concerns across sexes and races. Targeting young adults' DEBs and alcohol use via diversity-informed treatments focused on coping skill development may help promote health and well-being.

Family history of depression is associated with alterations in task-dependent connectivity between the cerebellum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex

BACKGROUND

A family history of major depressive disorder (MDD) increases the likelihood of a future depressive episode, which itself poses a significant risk for disruptions in reward processing and social cognition. However, it is unclear whether a family history of MDD is associated with alterations in the neural circuitry underlying reward processing and social cognition.

METHODS

We subdivided 279 participants from the Human Connectome Project into three groups: 71 with a lifetime history of MDD, 103 with a family history (FH) of MDD, and 105 healthy controls (HCs). We then evaluated task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging data on a social cognition and a reward processing task and found a region of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) that responded to both tasks, independent of the group. To investigate whether the vmPFC shows alterations in functional connectivity between groups, we conducted psychophysiological interaction analyses using the vmPFC as a seed region.

RESULTS

We found that FH (relative to HC) was associated with increased sadness scores, and MDD (relative to both FH and HC) was associated with increased sadness and MDD symptoms. Additionally, the FH group had increased vmPFC functional connectivity within the nucleus accumbens, left dorsolateral PFC, and subregions of the cerebellum relative to HC during the social cognition task.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that aberrant neural mechanisms among those with a familial risk of MDD may underlie vulnerability to altered social cognition.

The Influence of Forest Activities in a University Campus Forest on Student's Psychological Effects

This study aimed to examine the psychological effects of forest activities in a campus forest. A pre-test and post-test control group design was employed to evaluate the psychological effect of forest activities in a campus forest. A total of 38 participants participated in this study (19 in the forest activities group; 19 in the control group). The Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaire, the Concise Measure of Subjective Well-Being (COMOSWB), and the modified form of the Stress Response Inventory (SRI-MF) were administered to each participant to assess psychological effects. This study revealed that participants in the forest activities intervention group had significantly positive increases in their mood, stress response, and subjective well-being, comparing with those of control group participants who did not partake in any forest activities. In conclusion, the implementation of forest activities in a campus forest is an efficient strategy to provide psychological well-being benefits to college students.

Substance Use, Family Functionality, and Mental Health among College Students in Spain

Mental health symptoms are overrepresented among college students worldwide. The current research investigates the associations among substance use, family functionality, and mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress) among college students in Spain. A total of 828 (59.2% female and 40.8% male) college students from two public universities completed a self-reported online survey that included items on demographic information, substance use (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, prescription sedatives, and recreational sedatives), mental health symptoms (using the DASS-21 questionnaire) and family functionality (using the APGAR questionnaire). College students reporting substance use (especially recreational sedatives) and family dysfunctionality were more likely to exhibit symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. These findings provide support for the underlying role of substance use and family functionality on mental health symptoms. Treatments targeting depression, anxiety, and stress among college students in Spain should aim to reduce substance use by and increase family support of students.

Protective Behavioral Strategies and Alcohol Use While Pregaming: The Moderating Role of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms

The study evaluated the moderating role of anxiety and depression symptoms on the association between subscales on the Protective Behavioral Strategies for Pregaming (PBSP) scale (safety and familiarity, setting drink limits, pacing drinking, and minimizing intoxication) and alcohol consumption during pregaming. Methods: Participants were 359 traditional age undergraduate college students (M = 20, SD = 1.37; 61.7% female; 61.2% White) who reported pregaming in the past year. All participants completed measures through an online survey which evaluated PBSP, depression and anxiety symptoms, and alcohol use during pregame events in the past month. Results: Among students with high depression symptoms, the more frequent use of PBSP to minimize intoxication was not associated with alcohol consumption levels, whereas among those with low depression symptoms, higher use of PBSP to minimize intoxication was associated with higher alcohol consumption. Among those with high anxiety symptoms, the more frequent use of PBSP to minimize intoxication was associated with lower alcohol consumption at pregaming events, whereas among those with low anxiety symptoms, the use of this PBSP was associated with higher alcohol consumption. The more frequent use of PBSP related to safety and familiarity among those with high anxiety symptoms was unrelated to alcohol consumption during pregaming, whereas among those low in anxiety symptoms, the more frequent use of this PBSP was associated with lower alcohol consumption. Conclusion: The findings begin to inform clinical care and intervention techniques aimed at reducing harm associated with risky drinking practices among a vulnerable subset of college students.

Perfil alimentar e inatividade física em mulheres universitárias na cidade de Brasília

Resumo Objetivo Analisar a associação entre perfil alimentar, atividade física e estado nutricional entre mulheres universitárias. Método Estudo transversal com 1500 mulheres. O questionário abordava questões sobre a vigilância de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas. As associações foram analisadas pelo teste qui-quadrado e análise de correspondência múltipla. Resultados Das 1500 mulheres, 64,3% tinham entre 20 e 29 anos. Aquelas fisicamente ativas consumiram mais frutas (p<0,01), salada (p<0,01) e vegetais/verduras (p<0,01), enquanto as fisicamente inativas consumiram mais refrigerantes (p<0,01), carne com gordura visível (p=0,03) e leite com gordura (p=0,04). As mulheres fisicamente inativas também apresentaram maior prevalência de diabetes mellitus (p<0,01), colesterol elevado (p<0,01) e dislipidemia (p=0,04). Conclusão e implicação para a prática As universitárias apresentaram comportamentos de risco a sua saúde, onde o consumo de álcool, baixo consumo de alimentos saudáveis e a alta prevalência de inatividade física contribuíram para o aumento dos fatores de risco para doenças crônicas. Ações preventivas com a participação de uma equipe multidisciplinar ajudará na melhora da saúde no ambiente acadêmico.

Collegiate Substance Use: A Tale of Differential Risk and Coping

INTRODUCTION

Young adults reporting combined alcohol and marijuana use indicate greater frequency of other substances, binge drinking rates, and alcohol-related negative consequences. Emotion regulation (ER) difficulties are linked to alcohol use and abuse, with effects commonly attributed to increased mindfulness and distress tolerance abilities. Evidence is mixed, however, regarding the interactive impact of substance use and mindfulness facets on mental health outcomes.

METHODS

The current study utilized a cross-sectional design to examine mental health outcomes predicted by ER and mindfulness facets in 229 college students across three substance use categories (no use; alcohol/marijuana; illicit use with alcohol/marijuana).

RESULTS

For participants reporting no substance use, linear stepwise regressions found that Non-Judging was significantly related to reduced anxiety, while Acting with Awareness was related to greater anxiety; for those reporting alcohol/marijuana use only, Non-Judging significantly related to lower stress and anxiety; for those reporting illicit substance use with alcohol/marijuana, Acting with Awareness was related to lower stress. Describing was related to higher distress across groups, and Observing was not significantly related to any aspect of mental health across groups. ER difficulties were positively related to depression, anxiety and stress across substance use groups, with one exception: ER difficulty was not significantly associated with depression for no use.

DISCUSSION

Mindfulness interventions should focus on certain facets, such as Non-Judging, in order to improve psychological functioning across various groups of substance use. Additionally, ER difficulties are closely linked to alcohol, marijuana, and illicit drug use.

Only Children Were Associated with Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms among College Students in China

This study explored the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among college students and analyzed the associations between only children and anxiety and depressive symptoms in college students in China. A total of 645 college students, from three universities in Jinan, Shandong, China, were investigated by questionnaire. The self-designed general information questionnaire was used to collect the demographic information such as gender, age, only children or not and so on. The Self-rating Anxiety Scale and Self-rating Depression Scale were used to reflect the psychological state of college students. Binary logistic regression analysis was applied to analyze associated factors of anxiety and depressive symptoms. We have found that there were 25.7% college students with anxiety symptom, 22.2% college students with depressive symptom, and 18.3% college students with a comorbidity of anxiety and depressive symptoms. The prevalence of anxiety symptom, depressive symptom, and comorbidity of anxiety and depressive symptoms in only children was higher than those among non-only children. There were no differences between males and females in anxiety symptom, depressive symptom, and comorbidity of anxiety and depressive symptoms among all college students, only child college students and non-only child college students. Only children were associated with anxiety symptom, depressive symptom, comorbidity of anxiety and depressive symptoms after adjusting potential important confounding factors, such as professional category, grade, parental relationship, parenting style, interpersonal relationship, activity participation enthusiasm, sleeping time, and eating habits. The prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among college students was high. We should pay more attention to the mental health of college students, especially that of only child college students.

Depressive symptoms as a moderator of college student response to computerized alcohol intervention

BACKGROUND

Personalized normative alcohol feedback (PNF) is associated with decreased alcohol use among young adults. However, limited research has examined the influence of depressive symptoms on PNF efficacy. This study examined symptoms of depression as a moderator of college student response to a computerized PNF intervention for alcohol use.

METHODS

College students (N = 212, 59% female) who reported drinking in a typical week completed baseline and one-month assessments as part of a previously published intervention trial. We randomized participants to alcohol PNF (n = 153) or assessment only (n = 59). We used regression models to examine the interaction between PNF and symptoms of depression on alcohol outcomes at one-month follow-up.

RESULTS

One in four participants screened positive for clinically significant symptoms of depression. Depressive symptoms did not moderate intervention effects on drinking quantity. However, PNF was only associated with reduced frequency of heavy episodic drinking and lower probability of any alcohol-related consequence in the context of mild to moderate (not minimal) symptoms of depression.

CONCLUSIONS

PNF is more effective than assessment alone in reducing drinking quantity, regardless of symptoms of depression. However, it may only be more effective in decreasing frequency of heavy episodic drinking and the probability of alcohol-related consequences among those experiencing mild to moderate (as opposed to minimal) symptoms of depression. Alcohol intervention trials should assess symptoms of depression and consider them in data analysis.

The Psychological Effects of a Campus Forest Therapy Program

This study aimed to examine the psychological effects of a campus forest therapy program. To evaluate these, pre-test and post-test control group design was employed. A total of 38 participants participated in this study (19 in the campus forest therapy program group, and 19 in control). The Profile of Mood State (POMS) questionnaire and Modified form of the Stress Response Inventory (SRI-MF) were administered to each participant to assess psychological effects. The results of this study revealed that participants in the campus forest therapy program group had significantly positive increases in their mood and stress response compared with those of control group participants. In conclusion, the campus forest therapy program is an efficient strategy to provide psychological health benefits to university students and our study can inform decision-makers on the priority of the campus forest program in societal efforts to promote psychological well-being among university students.

Evaluating the combination of a Brief Motivational Intervention plus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression and heavy episodic drinking in college students

[Correction Notice: An Erratum for this article was reported in Vol 34(2) of Psychology of Addictive Behaviors (see record 2020-16883-001). In the original article the order of authorship was incorrect. The correct second and third authors should appear instead as Brian Borsari and Jennifer E. Merrill.] Heavy episodic drinking (HED) and depressive symptoms often co-occur among college students and are associated with significant impairment. However, evidence-based treatments for these common co-occurring conditions are not available for college students. The current study compared the effectiveness of a treatment combining Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Depression and Brief Motivational Interviewing (CBT-D + BMI) versus Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Depression (CBT-D) alone among 94 college students with HED and depressive symptoms. Both treatment programs were associated with significant reductions of similar magnitude in HED, alcohol-related problems (ARP), and depressive symptoms at the end of treatment and at the 1-month follow-up assessment. Moderation analyses indicated that, among college students with fewer depressive symptoms at baseline, CBT-D was associated with greater sustained reduction in heavy drinking relative to CBT-D + BMI at the 1-month follow-up. Although the study did not include a no-treatment condition, the magnitude of improvement during treatment in both groups was greater than what is expected with passage of time. Although clinicians in college counseling centers may lack specialty training for co-occurring conditions, CBT-D is widely implemented in college settings. Our findings suggest that CBT-D may reduce both depressive symptoms and HED in college students and may be used to address a significant public health problem. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Influence of tobacco, alcohol consumption, eating habits and physical activity in nursing students

Objective:

to determine the consumption of alcohol, tobacco, eating habits, and physical activity among nursing students and to detect whether being a nursing student is a protective factor against these habits.

Method:

a questionnaire was used to collect information on age, academic year, sex, alcohol and tobacco consumption, physical activity, and healthy eating. An information sheet and informed consent form were given. The sample was composed of 264 students aged between 18-30 years from four academic years.

Results:

of the total sample, 15.5% smoked, 83.7% consumed alcoholic beverages and 97.2% consumed over the weekend. The total of 68.6% did not practice exercises and 70.5% needed changes in their diet.

Conclusion:

nursing students have high levels of alcohol consumption and low levels of smoking compared with other studies. The higher the academic year, the lower the age of onset of tobacco consumption. The number of men who exercised was higher, which is considered a protective factor against alcohol and tobacco consumption and is related to a healthy diet. Smoking has a negative influence on diet. The students needed to change their diet. Finally, being a nursing student is not considered a protective factor against alcohol and tobacco consumption, nor having good eating habits and exercising.

Fluctuations in progesterone moderate the relationship between daily mood and alcohol use in young adult women

BACKGROUND

Research has demonstrated associations between hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle and women's alcohol use. This association has been explained by mood changes that, for some women, accompany decreasing levels of progesterone during the menstrual cycle, particularly during the late luteal/premenstrual phase. The current study examined whether participants' daily ratings of mood interact with changing levels of progesterone to predict alcohol use.

METHOD

Young adult women attended two sessions scheduled two weeks apart, during which they completed questionnaires and provided salivary samples for the assay of progesterone levels. In the intervening two weeks, participants completed daily logs of their mood, alcohol use, and menses. Ordered Generalized Linear Mixed Models assessed the effects of daily mood (examined as both a within- and between-subject variable) on the likelihood of drinking, as a function of menstrual cycle phase and changes in progesterone across the two weeks.

RESULTS

One standard deviation increase in progesterone corresponded to a 1.61 decrease in the odds of drinking. This main effect was moderated by daily mood. Women were more likely to drink during a decrease in progesterone on days they rated their mood as negative, whereas during an increase in progesterone they were more likely to drink on days they reported a positive mood. Between-subject analyses showed that women who reported lower overall mood during the two-week period were more likely to drink with an increase in progesterone and less likely with a decrease.

CONCLUSIONS

Women's likelihood to drink increased when they experienced negative mood in the context of decreasing levels of progesterone, whereas the negative-mood/drinking association was mitigated among those with increasing levels of progesterone. However, compared to women who on average had an overall more positive mood, women with an overall lower mood (and corresponding higher levels of depression and anxiety at baseline) did not experience the protective effects of rising progesterone levels on drinking.

Treatment Rate for Major Depressive Disorder in China: a Meta-Analysis of Epidemiological Studies

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric disorder in China, but its reported treatment rate varies largely across different studies. The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the pooled treatment rate for people with MDD in China and its associated factors. Both English (PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Web of Science) and Chinese (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang and SinoMed) databases were searched from their commencement date to November 13, 2018. Epidemiological studies that reported the treatment rate of MDD were included and synthesized using a random effects model. Fifteen studies covering 609,054 participants were included. The pooled treatment rate for MDD in China was 19.5% (95% CI: 10.7%-28.4%). Among the 15 studies, 9 reported the number of patients who received treatments in psychiatric hospitals with a pooled treatment rate of 5.2% (95% CI: 2.8%-7.5%). Meta-regression found that study quality (β = 0.131, P = 0.028) and male gender (β = 0.006, P = 0.039) were significantly associated with a higher treatment rate for MDD. In China, the treatment rate for MDD, particularly in psychiatric hospitals, was low. Effective public education and increasing access to mental health services will probably increase the number of people seeking and receiving treatment.

Unhealthy behavior clustering and mental health status in United States college students

Objective: Examine the association of health risk behavior clusters with mental health status among US college students. Participants: 105,781 US college students who completed the Spring 2011 National College Health Assessment. Methods: We utilized the latent class analysis to determine clustering of health risk behaviors (alcohol binge drinking, cigarette/marijuana use, insufficient physical activity, and fruit/vegetable consumption), and chi-square and ANOVA analyses to examine associations between the class membership and mental health (mental health diagnoses, psychological symptoms, and self-injurious thoughts/behaviors). Results: Three classes were identified with differing rates of binge drinking, substance use, and insufficient physical activity but similar rates of insufficient fruit/vegetable consumption. Students classified with the highest rates of binge drinking and cigarette/marijuana use had the highest rates across all mental health variables compared to other classes. Conclusions: Students who reported engaging in multiple health risk behaviors, especially high alcohol and cigarette/marijuana use, were also more likely to report poorer mental health.

Gender Differences in Harmful Use of Alcohol Among Korean Adults

Objectives

Harmful alcohol consumption is associated with considerable social and economic damage to individuals and society. Because gender and ethnic background influence alcohol intake differently, examining gender specific factors influencing harmful drinking is necessary. This study investigated gender differences in alcohol consumption, harmful drinking, and the associated factors among Korean adults.

Methods

We analyzed the data from the 2012–2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Data from survey participants aged 20–64 years (N = 18,581) were included. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test was used for alcohol dependence, and pooled weights were used. Chi-squared tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted.

Results

The prevalence of harmful alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score ≥ 16) was 10.7% in the total sample; 18.4% in men and 3.4% in women, which constituted a significant difference. Education, marital status, smoking, perceived stress, and depressive feeling were associated with harmful drinking in both genders. However, household income, occupation, and perceived health status were associated with harmful drinking only in men.

Conclusion

Since there are gender differences in harmful drinking and alcohol dependence, gender tailored prevention and intervention strategies for alcohol dependence are necessary including consideration of smoking, stress, and depressive feeling.

Lifetime and 12-month treatment for mental disorders and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among first year college students

OBJECTIVES

Mental disorders and suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) are common and burdensome among college students. Although available evidence suggests that only a small proportion of the students with these conditions receive treatment, broad-based data on patterns of treatment are lacking. The aim of this study is to examine the receipt of mental health treatment among college students cross-nationally.

METHODS

Web-based self-report surveys were obtained from 13,984 first year students from 19 colleges in eight countries across the world as part of the World Health Organization's World Mental Health-International College Student Initiative. The survey assessed lifetime and 12-month common mental disorders/STB and treatment of these conditions.

RESULTS

Lifetime and 12-month treatment rates were very low, with estimates of 25.3-36.3% for mental disorders and 29.5-36.1% for STB. Treatment was positively associated with STB severity. However, even among severe cases, lifetime and 12-month treatment rates were never higher than 60.0% and 45.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

High unmet need for treatment of mental disorders and STB exists among college students. In order to resolve the problem of high unmet need, a reallocation of resources may focus on innovative, low-threshold, inexpensive, and scalable interventions.