National College Health Assessment Survey Research Articles

Suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and self-injury among American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Native Hawaiian college students in the United States from 2015 to 2019.

Suicide is a major driver of mortality among college students and is the leading cause of death among American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AI/AN/NH) young adults. Data on suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and self-injury among AI/AN/NH college students (n = 8103) were analyzed via multivariable logistic regressions employing the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment survey from 2015 to 2019. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were used to assess how opioid misuse may act as a risk or protective factor for suicidality and self-injury. Between 2015 and 2019, suicidal ideation was the most prevalent dimension of suicidality affecting AI/AN/NH college students (ranges from 12.69% to 18.35%), followed by self-injury (7.83%-11.41%) and suicide attempt (2.40%-4.10%). AI/AN/NH college students who reported opioid misuse were significantly more likely to experience suicidal ideation (aOR: 1.417; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.154-1.740) and self-injury (aOR: 1.684; 95% CI: 1.341-2.116) than those who did not engage in such behavior. We identified opioid misuse as a potential risk factor for suicidal ideation and intentional self-injury among populations of AI/AN/NH college students. Programs seeking to reduce suicide prevalence among Indigenous college students may benefit from the inclusion of evidence-based interventions that prevent and treat issues related to opioid use.

COVID-related stress, risk for suicidal behavior, and protective factors in a national sample of college students

Objective: This study’s purpose was to determine if COVID-related stress predicted suicide risk among college students and if this risk was attenuated by higher levels of social and psychological resources. Participants: The sample included 65,142 college students who participated in the National College Health Assessment survey in Spring 2021. Methods: SPSS PROCESS was used to test the association between COVID-related stress and suicide risk while controlling for demographic covariates and to determine the potential stress-buffering roles of social connectedness, resiliency, and psychological well-being. Results: Higher levels of COVID-related stress predicted increased suicide risk yet this risk was attenuated when social connectedness, resiliency, and psychological flourishing were greater. Conclusions: Findings indicate that efforts to increase social connectedness, resiliency, and psychological flourishing could help reduce the risk of college students’ suicidality under conditions of high COVID-related stress.

Eating disorders and substance use: Examining associations among US college students.

To investigate associations between reported eating disorder (ED) diagnosis and substance use disorder (SUD) diagnosis, substance misuse, and illicit drug use among US college students. Data consisting of n= 414,299 students' responses to the National College Health Assessment survey conducted by the American College Health Association between fall 2015 and spring 2019 were utilized for this study. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios were used to determine the association of reported ED diagnosis with reported SUD diagnosis, misuse of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine/methamphetamine, sedatives, hallucinogens, opiates, inhalants, MDMA, and other club drugs, as well as illicit use of prescription pain killers, prescription sedatives, and prescription stimulants. A sensitivity analysis investigating associations between reported anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and each substance use outcome was also conducted. Among all in our analytic cohort, 7.15% reported receiving an ED diagnosis or being treated for an ED in the last 12 months. Students with ED indications were significantly more likely to report each of the substance use outcomes investigated in this study, including SUD diagnosis (aOR: 7.43; 95% CI: 6.98, 7.92; p< .0001), opiate misuse (aOR: 8.35; 95% CI: 7.38, 9.45; p< .0001), and misuse of other club drugs (aOR: 10.37; 95% CI: 9.10, 11.81; p< .0001) than peers without reported EDs. Both AN and BN were associated with an increased likelihood of SUD diagnosis. These findings demonstrate strong associations between EDs and the most extensive list of substance use outcomes explored in the context of college setting ED research to date.

Sexuality and Gender Identity Inequities in Substance Use Disorder and Its Treatment among American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian College Students

Background The aim of this study was to investigate inequities in substance use disorder (SUD) diagnosis, opioid misuse, marijuana misuse, SUD treatment utilization, and utilization of university mental health services among sexual and gender minority (SGM) American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AI/AN/NH) college students. Methods Data consisting of 8,103 AI/AN/NH students’ responses to the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment survey from fall 2015 through spring 2019 were utilized for this study. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to compare the odds of SUD diagnosis, opioid misuse, and marijuana misuse in SGM AI/AN/NH students to cisgender, heterosexual peers. Unadjusted odds of SUD treatment utilization and utilization of university mental health services were also evaluated. Results Compared to cisgender females, transgender (aOR = 4.43, 95% CI = 2.67–7.34) and gender diverse (aOR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.61–5.07) students had significantly higher odds of SUD diagnosis. Similarly, significantly higher odds of SUD diagnosis were observed among sexual minorities, including gay/lesbian (aOR = 2.95, 95% CI = 1.71–5.09) and bisexual (aOR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.30–2.99) students compared to heterosexual peers. Sexual minority students had significantly higher odds of utilizing university mental health services (uOR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.22–4.84) than heterosexual peers. Odds of opioid misuse and marijuana misuse were also significantly increased among sexual minority students. Conclusions AI/AN/NH college students who identify as SGM have higher odds of SUD diagnosis, opioid misuse, and marijuana misuse than their cisgender, heterosexual peers. These findings highlight the need to consider tailored programming for SGM AI/AN/NH students in substance use prevention and intervention efforts in U.S. college settings.

0067 Sleep Disparities and the Academic Achievement Gap in 1.9 Million College Students

Abstract Introduction Adults from under-represented minority groups (URM) disproportionately experience sleep disturbances. Sleep disparities can be prevalent in academic settings, however, it is still unknown whether sleep disparities directly contribute to other disadvantages in URM students, such as the academic achievement gap. Using a national database of college students collected over 20 years, we investigated whether poor sleep quality mediated the relationship between race/ethnicity and grade point average (GPA). Methods We conducted secondary analyses on American College Health Association – National College Health Assessment survey data (ACHA-NCHA). The ACHA-NCHA I, II, IIb, IIc, and III surveys were conducted between 2000 and 2020, and included approximately 1,900,000 participants. We analyzed responses to questions regarding race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, academic achievement (GPA), daytime sleepiness, and sleep health. Non-URM students were those identifying as non-Hispanic White or Asian whereas URM students included all other racial/ethnic identifications. We calculated a sleep-problems composite score by transforming each sleep item response into a z-score and averaging across all items. Results Sleep disparities were evident amongst the college students; relative to non-URM students, URM students reported fewer days per week that they felt rested (95% CIs: 3.884–3.895 vs. 4.155–4.161) and worse sleep-problem composite scores (95% CIs: .0453–.0496 vs. -.0226 – -.0199). In addition, there was significant evidence for an academic achievement gap, such that URM students reported significantly lower GPAs than non-URM students (95% CIs: 3.162–3.166 vs. 3.344–3.346). Feeling rested and sleep problem composite scores partially mediated the relationship between race/ethnicity and academic achievement (ps &amp;lt; .001), explaining 4.1% and 5.1% of the variance, respectively. These results were lower in magnitude than the contribution of socioeconomic status (25.3% of the mediation variance); however, sleep problems and feeling rested continued to explain significant variance even when controlling for socioeconomic status. Conclusion Sleep disparities contribute to academic achievement gaps experienced by URM students. The current findings indicate that university-wide sleep health programs may help to remove an unnecessary barrier to academic achievement, particularly if such programs incorporate behavioral change theory and address system-level financial, sociocultural, and environmental barriers to sleep quality. Support (If Any) National Science Foundation (1920730 and 1943323)

Adverse childhood experiences and college student health promotion outcomes: Another perspective on the trauma‐health relationship

AbstractMost research to date has focused on negative health outcomes associated with adverse childhood experience (ACE) exposure. The goal of the present study was to examine the relationship between ACE exposure and health information seeking, health promoting behaviours and health screening among US college students. Supplemental ACE items were added to the cross‐sectional National College Health Assessment survey administered between 2017 and 2018 with young adult (ages 18–29) college students in California (n = 3862) and Texas (n = 451). Approximately 41.9 per cent of participants reported ACE. ACE‐exposed participants were consistently and significantly less likely to receive health information from their university (p &lt; 0.01). Using multivariable logistic regression models, reporting four or more ACE was associated with significantly lower odds of past year seatbelt use (AOR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.44–0.89) and past 30‐day condom use during oral sex (AOR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.27–0.97). Increases in ACE exposure were significantly associated with an increase in the odds of ever testing for HIV (AORs:1.26–2.49). Longitudinal research is needed to uncover the complex interplay between ACE, mental health, negative health behaviours and health promotion activities among young adults. Interventions to improve health promotion activities in ACE‐exposed populations could improve health and quality of life for this vulnerable population.Key Practitioner Messages ACE exposure has a potentially harmful impact on health education efforts and health promotion outcomes including healthy behaviours and obtaining regular health screenings. Young adults with a history of ACE exposure are more likely to report HIV screenings and more work is needed to uncover the reason for this association. College campus health education and promotion programs should target ACE affected young adults.

Marijuana use trends among college students in states with and without legalization of recreational use: initial and longer-term changes from 2008 to 2018.

Young adult college students in the United States are likely to be affected by marijuana liberalization trends. However, changes in students' marijuana use following recreational marijuana legalization (RML) have not been examined in more than one RML state at a time, or beyond 1-2years post-legalization. Cross-sectional National College Health Assessment survey administered twice yearly from 2008 to 2018. A total of 587 4-year colleges and universities in 48 US states. Undergraduates aged 18-26years attending college in US states that did (n=234 669 in seven states) or did not (n=599 605 in 41 states) enact RML between 2008 and 2018. Self-reported marijuana use (past 30days) and individual and contextual covariates, institution-provided institutional and community covariates and publicly available dates when states enacted RML. Adjusting for covariates, state differences and state-specific linear time trends (accounting for pre-RML trends), prevalence of 30-day marijuana use increased more among students exposed to RML [odds ratio (OR)=1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.19-1.28, P<0.001] than among non-RML state students throughout the same time-period; the results were similar for frequent use (≥ 20days) (OR=1.18, 95% CI=1.10-1.27, P<0.001). Interaction models supported stronger RML effects among students who were female, residing off-campus and aged 21years and older; sexual orientation did not moderate RML effects. In the earliest states to enact RML (2012) there were increases in use prevalence in the second through the sixth year post-RML compared to pre-RML. In the second legalization group (2015) there were increases in the first and second year post-RML, and greater increases in the third year. In the later states (2016-17), increases were observed in both years after RML. In US states that enacted recreational marijuana legislation from 2012 to 2017 there was evidence for a general trend towards greater increases in marijuana use by college students and differential impact by gender, legal using age and campus residence.

Club and Intramural Sports Participation and College Student Academic Success

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relationship between university club and intramural sports participation and student grades via the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment (NCHA) survey, while controlling for confounding variables. Data were obtained from the NCHA for the fall 2008, spring 2009, fall 2009, and fall 2010 time periods. The original sample included 178,091 respondents. After inclusion and exclusion criteria, the final analytic sample included 85,316 respondents. Multinomial logistic regression was used to evaluate the role of participation in club and/or intramural sports on self-reported grade averages. Analyses were adjusted for significant covariates that have been identified as potentially impacting academic success. In general, sport participants were more likely to report higher grade averages than nonparticipants. The strongest relationships were found for participants of club sports. Future research should investigate relationships between club and intramural sports and other indicators of academic success.

P59 - Efficacy, Challenges and Opportunities for Undergraduate Personal Health Courses: A Retrospective Look with Ideas for Future

Background (Background, Rationale, Prior Research, and/or Theory): Health behaviors during the college years may develop into patterns that persist into adulthood. The National College Health Assessment survey estimates that less than 50% of college students meet the recommendations for physical activity each week and less than 6% meet recommendations for daily fruit and vegetable intake. An undergraduate personal health course (PHC) may improve health behaviors and is sometimes included as a graduation requirement. Objective: To assess the efficacy of a required PHC on various health-related endpoints and to describe challenges and opportunities for future courses. Study Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention: A retrospective review of four years of data from 1,049 women taking a required PHC at a small, women-centered, liberal arts university. Outcome Measures and Analysis: Trained professionals measured anthropometrics and health/activity-related parameters at the start (week 1) and end (week 15) of eight semesters. Pre and post data were compared using paired t-tests with SPSS version 24. Results: Significant differences were observed for all anthropometric measurements. From week 1 to week 15, body weight increased slightly (+0.3 kg; P = .023) while waist circumference decreased (-1.0 cm; P < .01). Flexibility, muscular strength, and cardiovascular capacity improved significantly. Nutrition assessments were inconsistent across semesters. Conclusions and Implications: This review is more robust than previously published work. Undergraduate PHCs can be efficacious in the short term. In this study, certain anthropometric measurements and markers of physical fitness improved over a 15-week semester. Meaningful dietary assessments prove challenging to conduct and interpretation of the findings is also difficult. Opportunities exist to better understand meaningful nutrition education components and nutritional assessments for PHCs in college populations. Future work should also consider methods to reliably assess the health impact of PHCs beyond graduation. Funding: St. Catherine University Summer Scholars Program.

Smoking, health and academic outcomes: evidence from a limited smoking campus policy.

Although there is substantial literature on the impact of smoking laws, the number of studies that investigate the impact of such policies on college campuses is sparse. Using a rich data set from various waves of the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment survey for a mid-sized public university in the southern United States, we investigate a possible causal link between a limited smoking policy and smoking behaviours, health and academic outcomes among college students. We employ propensity score matching methods to control for endogeneity of unobservable characteristics. Our results show a significant reduction in the propensity to smoke cigarettes and cigars following the introduction of the policy. Further, we find that the policy has increased academic outcomes; however, it has no significant effect on student health. These findings have important policy implications for schools that are considering instituting comprehensive smoking bans on college.

Examining residence status as a risk factor for health risk behaviors among college students

ABSTRACTObjective: The current study is aimed to evaluate college student residence as a unique risk factor for a range of negative health behaviors. Participants: We examined data from 63,555 students (66% females) from 157 campuses who completed the National College Health Assessment Survey in Spring 2011. Methods: Participants answered questions about the frequency of recent use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drugs, as well as sexual risk behavior in the last 30 days. Sexual risk behaviors were operationalized as having unprotected vaginal sex (yes/no) and the number of sexual partners. Results: Logistic regression analyses revealed that living off-campus is a unique predictor of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and illicit drug use, as well as engaging in unprotected sex and a greater number of sexual partners (all ps <. 01). Conclusions: Students living off-campus exhibit more substance use and sexual risk behaviors than students living on-campus, independent of gender, age, or race.

Patterns of multiple health risk-behaviours in university students and their association with mental health: application of latent class analysis.

University and college campuses may be the last setting where it is possible to comprehensively address the health of a large proportion of the young adult population. It is important that health promoters understand the collective challenges students are facing, and to better understand the broader lifestyle behavioural patterning evident during this life stage. The purpose of this study was to examine the clustering of modifiable health-risk behaviours and to explore the relationship between these identified clusters and mental health outcomes among a large Canadian university sample. Undergraduate students (n = 837; mean age = 21 years) from the University of Toronto completed the National College Health Assessment survey. The survey consists of approximately 300 items, including assessments of student health status, mental health and health-risk behaviours. Latent class analysis was used to identify patterning based on eight salient health-risk behaviours (marijuana use, other illicit drug use, risky sex, smoking, binge drinking, poor diet, physical inactivity, and insufficient sleep). A three-class model based on student behavioural patterns emerged: "typical," "high-risk" and "moderately healthy." Results also found high-risk students reporting significantly higher levels of stress than typical students (χ2(1671) = 7.26, p < .01). Students with the highest likelihood of engaging in multiple health-risk behaviours reported poorer mental health, particularly as it relates to stress. Although these findings should be interpreted with caution due to the 28% response rate, they do suggest that interventions targeting specific student groups with similar patterning of multiple health-risk behaviours may be needed.

Protective behavioural strategies while drinking: do they protect against sexual victimisation and is this protection gendered?

Although alcohol use has been linked to sexual victimisation among college students , the specific ways in which college students may be able to avoid the negative consequences of excessive drinking as they relate to sexual victimisation have not been fully explored. This study examines whether using protective behavioural strategies attenuates the risk of sexual victimisation for both male and female college students and whether this relationship is moderated by alcohol use. Data were obtained from the Fall 2012 National College Health Assessment Survey. This survey is conducted on college campuses across the USA and institutions that self-selected to participate in the survey. The sample used in the study includes 19 881 students (male and female) across 51 schools. Findings indicate that although women are more likely to use protective behavioural strategies, these strategies work to reduce the likelihood of experiencing sexual victimisation for both sexes among those who are high-frequency drinkers. This study suggests that the frequency of alcohol use is important when considering the risk of sexual victimisation among college students, and protective behavioural strategies can help reduce this risk among frequent drinkers. [Daigle LE, Johnson LM, Napper SL, Azimi AM. Protective behavioural strategies while drinking: do they protect against sexual victimisation and is this protection gendered?. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:573-579].

Predictors of Physical Activity on a College Campus with a High Proportion of Non-traditional Students

Background and purpose: Given the problem of obesity, physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles among college students in the US, this study presents demographic, psychosocial, personal and environmental predictors of physical activity (PA) on an individual college campus with a high percentage of non-traditional students. Methods: The National College Health Assessment (NCHA) survey was completed by college students at a large Northwestern university [N = 949; Male = 292 (31.1%); female = 647 (68.9%); mean age = 26.5 (SD = 9.0) years] during Fall 2011. Results: Sixty-eight percent of participants did not meet both moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and strength exercise (SE) recommendations. Good perceived health status and on-campus housing status were associated with a higher probability of meeting the MVPA and SE recommendations (p

The Extent and Risk of Violent Victimization Among International College Students Enrolled in the United States: A Gendered Analysis.

Although the risk of being violently victimized in college has been established for college students in the United States in general, this risk has not been explored for international college students. Using data from the Fall 2012 National College Health Assessment Survey, the extent to which international college students experience violent victimization is assessed. In addition, the risk factors for violent victimization for international students are compared with those for domestic students. Finally, in multivariate analyses, whether being an international student influences risk of violent victimization is examined and whether this relationship is moderated by gender is considered. Findings indicate that international students in general have lower risk profiles, in that they reported lower rates of drug use, binge drinking, being a first-year undergraduate student, and having a disability. Multivariate analyses, however, revealed that being an international student reduces the odds of violent victimization among only females.

Physical Activity Guidelines And Attempted Suicide Trends Amongst College Students

Engaging in physical activity is known to improve overall health as well as reduce suicidal behavior in college students. PURPOSE: This project sought to examine the patterns of physical activity and suicide amongst college students. A secondary purpose was to examine trends over time among students enrolled at a metropolitan university. METHODS: Data were collected from the American College Health Association (ACHA) - National College Health Assessment (NCHA) survey distributed in the spring of 2010 (n = 476), 2012 (n = 695) and 2014 (n = 751) at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, also using Crosstabulation. RESULTS: The overall percentage of students who attempted suicide in the last 12 months increased by 5.4% from 2010 to 2014. The results showed that in 2010, 1.9% (n = 5) of students answered ‘yes’ to attempting suicide in the last 12 months, of these 20% (n = 1) met the physical activity guidelines and 80% (n = 4) did not. In 2012, 6.7% (n = 23) students answered ‘yes’ to attempting suicide in the last 12 months, of these 41% (n = 9) met the physical activity guidelines and 59% (n = 13) did not. In 2014, 7.3% (n = 27) of students answered ‘yes’ to attempting suicide in the last 12 months, of these 51.2% (n = 14) met the physical activity guidelines and 48.8% (n = 13) did not. CONCLUSION: Students that met the physical activity guidelines were not always less likely to have attempted suicide in the last 12 months. UCO reported a higher percentage of attempted suicides within in the last twelve months in 2010, 2012 and 2014 when compared to the 2012 ACHA-NCHA executive summary percentages. Physical activity is related to numerous mental health benefits including positive lifestyle behaviors that can reduce risk for suicide. These findings along with literature on the benefits of physical activity for individuals with mental illness such as depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts highlight the need for targeted physical activity interventions among college students diagnosed with mental illnesses.

Are female college students who are diagnosed with depression at greater risk of experiencing sexual violence on college campus?

We examined the association between depression and sexual violence among 18-24 year-old female college students using National College Health Assessment survey. Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 10,541 female students on 33 college campuses. Results showed that female students who were reportedly ever diagnosed with depression were 1.56 times more likely than those who had never been diagnosed with depression to have experienced sexual violence. Female students who had one or more sexual partners currently were found 3.17 times more likely than those who had no sexual partner to have experienced sexual violence; similarly, female students who engaged in binge drinking in the previous two weeks were found about two times more likely than their counterparts to have experienced sexual violence. Depression is a public health issue and must be addressed sooner rather than later in order to reduce and prevent sexual violence on college campuses.

Sufficiently and Insufficiently Active Lesbian, Bisexual, and Questioning Female College Students: Sociodemographic Factors Among Two Age Cohorts

BackgroundAs rates of inactivity in the United States increase, the proportion of adults who are overweight in the United States continues to grow with concurrent increases in risk of weight-related morbidity and mortality. Sparse data are available on physical activity and weight in college-age sexual minority females, and none examine this relationship by age. To address this gap, we examined two age cohorts of female college students who self-identified as lesbian, bisexual, and questioning (LBQ), to 1) explore the relationship between physical activity, weight, and sociodemographic factors and 2) identify characteristics associated with sufficient physical activity in college females. MethodsData were from the 2010 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment survey. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to describe LBQ college women by age cohort (≤23 years, typical age vs. ≥24 years, mature age) and physical activity level (sufficiently active vs. insufficiently active). Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals from logistic regression were used to estimate the likelihood of meeting the physical activity guidelines. FindingsOnly one out of three LBQ college women report meeting the national physical activity guidelines. Characteristics of typical age and mature age LBQ college women varied by physical activity level. In a logistic regression model of LBQ college women, two characteristics increased the likelihood of being sufficiently activity: Reporting very good/excellent health and self-describing as “about the right weight.” Three characteristics decreased the likelihood: Self-describing as “very overweight,” reporting action taken toward weight as “do nothing,” and current smoking. ConclusionsWith only one out of three LBQ college women meeting the national physical activity guidelines, interventions to increase physical activity, improve fitness, and potentially reduce unhealthy weight gain must start early to prevent the morbidity and mortality associated with inactivity.

Disparate Perceptions of Weight Between Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Female College Students.

To compare body mass index (BMI; calculated from self-reported height and weight) and self-described weight status between heterosexual and lesbian, bisexual, questioning (LBQ) female college students and identify factors associated with overweight/obesity. Participants included females (n=18,440) from the National College Health Assessment survey. Mean BMI, t-tests of weight status, and chi-square tests of characteristics between LBQ and heterosexual females were calculated. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals from logistic regression models were used to estimate the likelihood of self-described "slightly overweight" status, self-described "very overweight" status, BMI 25.0-29.9 lb/in(2) (overweight), and BMI ≥30.0 lb/in(2) (obese) for female college students. LBQ females were significantly heavier than heterosexual females overall and for each additional year in school. Covariates that increased the odds of all four dependent variables (self-described "slightly" and "very" overweight status, overweight BMI, and obese BMI) included good/fair health (vs. excellent/very good health), trying to lose weight (vs. staying the same), and older age. LBQ status (vs. heterosexual) was also associated with the dependent variables "very overweight" status and obese BMI; however, LBQ status was not associated with self-described "slightly overweight" status or overweight BMI. Female college students who had an obese BMI, self-described as "slightly" or "very" overweight, were significantly less likely to meet the physical activity guidelines (vs. meeting the guidelines). With the increasing prevalence in weight gain for female college students and higher overall BMIs for LBQ females, promoting healthy habits during college provides an opportunity to short-circuit this trend, especially in the LBQ college population.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Behaviors of Asian Pacific Islander Community College Students

Analyzed were the sexual and reproductive health behaviors of Asian Pacific Islander (API) California community college students who took the National College Health Assessment (NCHA) survey. This was done to identify characteristics related to sexual behavior and choice of birth control and examine the association between condom use and history of HIV testing. A total of 769 API heterosexual, male and female students between ages 18–24 were included in the analysis. Chi-square analyses were conducted to determine whether there was an association between condom use and history of HIV testing. API students reported few sexual partners (41% with no partner, and 49% with 1 or 2 partners), and preferred condoms (53.0%) for birth control over hormonal methods (29.3%). One-fifth of API students have used emergency contraception, and 21.7% have had an HIV test. API students had more conservative sexual practices and lower HIV testing practices than community college students in general. More culturally tailored education is needed on contraceptive options and to increase HIV testing behaviors among APIs.