Objective: We considered the utility of National College Health Assessment (NCHA) data relative to other national data for studying college students' cannabis use and binge drinking, and drug policy effects. Participants: Survey data on 18-22-year old college students were drawn from the 2008-2018 NCHA, National Survey on Drug Use and Health…

This study investigated differences in alcohol protective behavioral strategy (PBSA) use and negative consequences (ARNC) experienced among heavy alcohol users and non-heavy alcohol users, and risky and non-risky drinkers. Participants were from 12 universities in the United States (n = 2,163 college students, M[subscript age] = 19.47),…

Purpose: Examine tobacco use on college campuses by assessing: (1) types of tobacco products used, (2) where they are most commonly used, and (3) the sociodemographic characteristics of students most likely to use on campus. Method: Participants were a convenience sample of 3,575 18- to 25-year-old enrolled in 14 Texas colleges during Spring 2021…

Health literacy (HL) is an essential health determinant that could encourage the adoption of individual and community protective behaviours that contribute to public health. This study aims to analyse the associations between HL and medication HL (MHL) in 4015 adolescents from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC/WHO). Data were…

Recent data show rising suicidality among high school girls. We posit this increase may be related to an overlooked factor: more girls identifying as LGBQ. Using four cohorts of national Youth Risk Behavior Survey data (N = 22,562 females, N = 22,130 males), we found that LGBQ identification among females rose from 15% in 2015 to 34% in 2021. LGBQ…

Although vaccine behaviors differ greatly by gender and age, few studies have examined vaccination at the intersection of gender and age within the Black community. We examined COVID-19 vaccination by gender and age using a survey of over 500 Black adults in Chicago, Illinois, fielded from September 2021 to March 2022. Although 54% had received at…

Objectives: Food and Alcohol Disturbance (FAD) is the phenomenon in which individuals exhibit co-occurring hazardous alcohol and eating behaviors to either negate caloric intake associated with alcohol and/or maximize intoxication. While the Compensatory Eating and Behaviors in Response to Alcohol Scale (CEBRACS) is the most widely used measure to…

Objective: To characterize the context, patterns, and correlates of sedentary behavior (SB) in university students. Participants: A total of 95 adults (41% men) enrolled in 34 different undergraduate majors. Methods: SB was assessed by questionnaire and accelerometer. Results: Objective SB and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)…

One of the most problematic habits of college students, binge drinking, has been of particular interest among researchers as a result of the increased risk of harm experienced by students engaging in this high-risk behavior. Fraternity and sorority students have also come under scrutiny for habitually engaging in binge drinking and experiencing…

Objectives: Sexual Strategies Theory suggests people fall on a continuum between having short-term mating orientation (STMO) and long-term mating orientation. One way STMO individuals signal mating goals is via risky drinking. The current study therefore aims to investigate drinks per week (DPW) as a mediator between STMO and risky sexual behavior…

Objective: To explore the patterns and predictors of body mass index (BMI) change among undergraduate students from Ontario (Canada). Participants: 68 undergraduate students were followed longitudinally for 3 years with anthropometric data collected bi-annually. Methods: BMI measurements were plotted to generate individual BMI trajectory curves,…

Objective: The present study identified common motives for nonmedical use of prescription stimulants (NMUS) among community college (CC) students and examined behavioral and demographic correlates of certain motives. Participants: The survey was completed by 3,113 CC students (72.4% female; 81.7% White). Methods: Survey results from 10 CCs were…

Background: Developmentally, social relationships are critical in the lives of emerging adults; however, little research has been focused on the types of protective behaviors that individuals on college campuses engaged in during the pandemic. Purpose: This study examines predictors of emerging adults' self-protective behaviors with a focus on…

Objective: Health literacy is important while attending a residential college where daily decisions can impact one's physical and mental health and knowing who or what to trust for information is of the utmost importance in claiming more decision-making autonomy. Participants: A total of 189 students at a University in the Northeastern United…

Each year excessive alcohol use costs the United States (US) economy $250 billion and results in 95,000 deaths. Binge drinking is a form of excessive alcohol use and accounts for over 70% of these statistics. High-intensity drinking (HID), an extreme measure of binge drinking, is operationally defined as drinking twice the gender-specific binge…