National Sample Of College Students Research Articles

How Attitudes about Guns Develop over Time

Existing scholarship usually presents people’s attitudes about guns as fixed and fully formed. Rarely are such attitudes examined as the outcome of social processes. As a result, while we know a great deal about what people think about guns, we know very little about the development of these beliefs. In this paper, we use a combination of surveys and life history interviews with a national sample of college students between the ages of 18 and 24 to examine how attitudes about guns develop in childhood and young adulthood. We find that while family gun ownership matters, positive attitudes about guns develop through active socialization that continues beyond childhood and is not reducible to family background. Relationships play a key role in this process, with changes in relationships often driving changes in attitudes about guns. Changes in attitudes about guns can take place in terms of both the content (what young adults think about guns) and the form (how young adults think about guns). In the transition to young adulthood, attitudes about guns develop from being articulated primarily as personal experiences connected to the activity of shooting guns or experiencing gun violence, to being articulated as political beliefs, connected to issues of regulation. These findings contribute to our understanding of gun attitudes by offering insights on not only what people think about guns but also how people come to think about guns in the ways that they do.

Characterizing eating disorder diagnosis and related outcomes by sexual orientation and gender identity in a national sample of college students

ObjectiveIn a national sample of college students, the current study aimed to: 1) examine differences in probable diagnoses of EDs (i.e., anorexia nervosa (AN), clinical/subthreshold bulimia nervosa (BN), or binge eating disorder (BED)) and weight and shape concerns by sexual orientation and gender identity, and 2) examine differences in ED chronicity and probable comorbid psychiatric diagnoses by sexual orientation and gender identity. MethodStudents across nine U.S. universities completed an online screener for DSM-5 clinical or subthreshold ED diagnoses, comorbid depression and anxiety disorders, and self-reported ED chronicity. Self-reported sexual orientation and gender identity were also collected. Tukey-corrected logistic and linear regressions examined differences in outcomes separately by sexual orientation and gender identity, adjusting for age, race, and ethnicity. ResultsA total of 8,531 students (24% sexually diverse (SD); 2.7% gender diverse (GD)) were studied. Students who identified as bisexual or other sexual orientation reported significantly greater odds of a probable ED diagnosis and greater elevations in weight and shape concerns compared to heterosexual students. Cisgender female students and GD students reported significantly greater odds of a probable ED diagnosis and greater elevations in weight and shape concerns compared to cisgender male students. Some SD students and GD students who met criteria for probable EDs were also more likely to report chronic ED symptoms and probable comorbid psychiatric diagnoses compared to heterosexual students and cisgender males, respectively. DiscussionSome SGD students may be at heightened risk for EDs, highlighting the need to identify mechanisms that contribute to disparities.

Double jeopardy?: Exploring the intersectionality of sexual/gender group membership, racial/ethnic group membership, and victimization risk

Little research has been conducted to explore the impact of intersectionality among racial/ethnic minority groups and sexual/gender minority groups as it relates to violent, sexual, and stalking victimization risk. Using minority stress theory and routine activities-lifestyle exposure theory as a guide, the current study seeks to add to the literature by identifying risk factors for violent, sexual, and stalking victimization among a national sample of college students, while also exploring the intersections of race/ethnicity and sexual/gender minority status and how they may influence risk. Findings show that being a LGBTQ + student increases victimization risk similarly for White students and racial/ethnic minority students. There are differences and similarities across victimization risk factors among these groups.

The Protective Effects of Religious Group Membership, Service Attendance, and Scripture Reading on Binge Drinking among College Students

Using a national sample of college students drawn from Wave 3 of the National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR), the current study investigates the protective effects of religious group membership, service attendance, and scripture reading on binge drinking. Specifically, the study examines whether or not any effects exist independent of overall religiousness and the extent to which peers mediate these associations. Findings reveal that religious group membership and scripture reading are associated with significant reductions in binge drinking and that service attendance has a marginally significant association, after controlling for religiousness. The association involving service attendance is mediated by the number of friends who use drugs or drink heavily. Implications of the findings are discussed and include potential policy applications such as devoting more resources to campus ministry offices as allies in promoting healthy behavior, as well as creating programs geared toward students across the religiousness spectrum, including those designed for “seekers” or “skeptics.”

Medicaid expansion and the mental health of college students.

Reported mental health problems have risen dramatically among US college students over time, as has treatment for these problems. We examine the effect of state-level Medicaid expansion following the 2014 implementation of the Affordable Care Act on the diagnosis of mental health conditions, psychotropic prescription drug use, and the mental health status of a national sample of college students. We find that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to report being on public insurance after 2014 in expansion states relative to non-expansion states, while more advantaged students do not see this increase. Both diagnosis of common mental health conditions and psychotropic drug use increase following expansion for disadvantaged students relative to advantaged ones, which translates into an elimination of the pre-expansion gap in these outcomes by family background in expansion states. However, in contrast to some recent work on Medicaid expansion and mental health, we do not find that these changes are associated with improvements in self-reported mental health status. We also do not find that Medicaid expansion has affected risky health behaviors or academic outcomes.

Navigating Risky Higher Education Investments: Implications for Practitioners and Consumers

This exploratory study examines academic and labor market risks associated with investments in higher education by synthesizing the literature regarding risky higher education choices and extending the research using the 2014 National Student Financial Wellness Study, a national sample of college students. Three phenomena are analyzed to support the notion that individuals may be making suboptimal human capital investment decisions: (a) cost–benefit errors; (b) unclear educational goals; and (c) increasing time-to-degree. The study examines which students are more likely to report that the cost of college did not influence their choice, that tuition is not a good investment, or that they expect to take additional time to complete their degree. Opportunities for practitioners to help clients navigate higher education investment decisions and opportunities for future research are discussed.

Gender Identity and Health-related Outcomes in a National Sample of College Students

ABSTRACT Background: College health education professionals need a comprehensive understanding of student health outcomes to promote health for all students. Purpose: To examine health-related outcomes by gender identity in a national sample of college students. Methods: Participants (n = 85,912) completed the National College Health Assessment IIc during the 2017–18 academic year. Forty-seven outcomes were compared between cisgender (CG; n = 83,425), transgender (TG; n = 1,439), and non-binary, non-transgender (NBNT; n = 1,048) students using separate logistic regression models and adjusting for age, race and relationship status. Results: There was a significant difference between groups for most outcomes, with TG and NBNT being more likely than CG to experience unhealthy outcomes. A similar pattern emerged for 31 of the variables, with TG and NBNT being significantly different from CG but not significantly different from each other. The greatest differences were found in the areas of drug use and mental/emotional health. Discussion: The results of this study indicate important differences in health outcomes by gender identity among college students. Translation to Health Education Practice: It is critical that health education professionals consider the unique experiences of TG and NBNT students when developing comprehensive interventions to improve their overall health status.

Motivations to combine alcohol and nicotine in college students: A validation of the Alcohol and Nicotine Motives Scale

IntroductionResearch on combining alcohol and nicotine (ALCNIC) has shown this risky behavior results in significantly more consequences than using either alcohol or nicotine alone. No measures currently exist to assess ALCNIC motives limiting intervention and prevention efforts. The present study developed a psychometrically sound and multidimensional measure of ALCNIC motives (the ANMS). MethodsAn initial item pool of ALCNIC items was developed from literature on college student drinking, focus groups, and individual interviews. Study 1 involved students from a northeastern university who completed an online survey on the ALCNIC items (N = 55; 57.1% female; Mage = 20.3). Analysis focused on reliability (exploratory factor analysis). Study 2 involved a cross-validation national sample of college students (N = 336; 49.7% female; Mage = 21.2) completing the same survey items. Confirmatory factor analysis, criterion-related validity (ALCNIC/weekend drinking), and discriminant validity (social desirability) were assessed using structural equation modeling. ResultsResults across two studies revealed three factors to engage in ALCNIC: antagonistic (party longer), synergistic (enhanced effects), and social (peer pressure); and one factor to avoid ALCNIC: negative effects (feeling anxious) (all alphas > 0.7). In study 2, criterion-related validity revealed that synergistic motives were significantly positively associated with ALCNIC use; and negative effects motives were significantly negatively associated with ALCNIC use. Discriminant validity showed ALCNIC subscales were not significantly associated with social desirability (except social). ConclusionsThe study developed a reliable and valid measure of motives for ALCNIC use. Results were robust to cross-validation across two samples of college students. These measures provide targets for intervention and prevention efforts.

Examining vegetarianism, weight motivations, and eating disorder psychopathology among college students.

Previous research has suggested a link between vegetarianism, broadly defined, and symptoms of eating disorders (ED). However, the literature supporting this link is mixed and limited by possible measurement artifacts. Using data from a national sample of college students, the present study examines ED symptomatology among three groups: (a) vegetarians whose meat avoidance is motivated by weight concerns; (b) non-weight motivated vegetarians; and (c) nonvegetarians. Participants include 9,910 students from 12 colleges and universities across the United States who participated in the web-based Healthy Bodies Study. ED symptomatology was measured using the Short-Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (S-EDE-Q). First, multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test measurement invariance (MI) of the S-EDE-Q across weight-motivated vegetarians, non-weight-motivated vegetarians, and nonvegetarians. Gender- and BMI-adjusted ANCOVA was used to compare S-EDE-Q scores across groups. 9.3% of participants were vegetarian. Cis-women and gender minority students were more likely to be vegetarian; those who became vegetarians after entering college were more likely to report weight-related motivations. Strict MI was supported for the S-EDE-Q global and subscale scores. Weight-motivated vegetarians reported higher levels of restraint, shape/weight overvaluation, body dissatisfaction, and global ED psychopathology relative to other participants. To our knowledge, this is the first to explicitly link weight motivations for vegetarianism to ED psychopathology in a large, representative sample of young adults. Results suggest that students presenting with ED symptoms should be assessed for their motivations for adopting a vegetarian diet, and this information should be considered in treatment decisions.

A Descriptive Study of COVID-19–Related Experiences and Perspectives of a National Sample of College Students in Spring 2020

PurposeThis is one of the first surveys of a USA-wide sample of full-time college students about their COVID-19–related experiences in spring 2020. MethodsWe surveyed 725 full-time college students aged 18–22 years recruited via Instagram promotions on April 25–30, 2020. We inquired about their COVID-19–related experiences and perspectives, documented opportunities for transmission, and assessed COVID-19's perceived impacts to date. ResultsThirty-five percent of participants experienced any COVID-19–related symptoms from February to April 2020, but less than 5% of them got tested, and only 46% stayed home exclusively while experiencing symptoms. Almost all (95%) had sheltered in place/stayed primarily at home by late April 2020; 53% started sheltering in place before any state had an official stay-at-home order, and more than one-third started sheltering before any metropolitan area had an order. Participants were more stressed about COVID-19's health implications for their family and for American society than for themselves. Participants were open to continuing the restrictions in place in late April 2020 for an extended period of time to reduce pandemic spread. ConclusionsThere is substantial opportunity for improved public health responses to COVID-19 among college students, including for testing and contact tracing. In addition, because most participants restricted their behaviors before official stay-at-home orders went into effect, they may continue to restrict movement after stay-at-home orders are lifted, including when colleges reopen for in-person activities, if they decide it is not yet prudent to circulate freely. The public health, economic, and educational implications of COVID-19 are continuing to unfold; future studies must continue to monitor college student experiences and perspectives.

Disparities in eating disorder risk and diagnosis among sexual minority college students: Findings from the national Healthy Minds Study.

To examine differences in eating disorder (ED) risk and diagnosis by sexual orientation in a national sample of college students. Data from 178 U.S. colleges and universities participating in the Healthy Minds Study between 2016 and 2019 were analyzed (36,691 cisgender men, 81,730 cisgender women; 15.7% self-identifying as sexual minorities). Outcomes were ED risk (≥2 on the SCOFF) and self-reported lifetime ED diagnosis. Prevalence estimates adjusted for demographics and weight status were computed via logistic regression. Higher proportions of questioning (29.1%), bisexual (26.3%), and gay men (30.9%) exhibited elevated risk than heterosexual men (14.3%), and a higher proportion of gay men exhibited elevated risk than bisexual men. Higher proportions of questioning (34.5%) and bisexual women (34.6%) exhibited elevated risk than heterosexual women (27.6%); proportions of lesbian (28.1%) and heterosexual women were similar. Among those with elevated risk, higher proportions of bisexual (5.0%) and gay men (7.1%) and of questioning (14.7%), bisexual (18.1%), and lesbian women (19.6%) had been diagnosed relative to heterosexual men (2.0%) and heterosexual women (10.3%), respectively. Questioning and bisexual individuals appear to be particularly vulnerable; they may experience elevated ED risk relative to their heterosexual peers yet underdiagnosis relative to their gay or lesbian peers.

Electronic Health Literacy and Dietary Behaviors in Taiwanese College Students: Cross-Sectional Study.

BackgroundGiven the recognized importance of preventing poor dietary behaviors during adolescence, we need a better understanding of college students’ dietary behaviors. Studies have found that individual factors and electronic health (eHealth) literacy may affect one’s dietary behaviors. However, few studies have fully investigated the effect of the three levels of eHealth literacy (functional, interactive, and critical) and the interactive effect of individual factors (eg, gender, monthly expenses, and frequency of cooking) and the three levels of eHealth literacy on the four aspects of dietary behaviors (consumer health, balanced diet, regular eating habits, and unhealthy food intake).ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate whether individual differences and higher eHealth literacy are associated with more positive dietary behaviors and less unhealthy dietary intake.MethodsThe eHealth Literacy Scale is a 12-item instrument designed to measure college students’ functional, interactive, and critical eHealth literacy. The Dietary Behaviors Scale is a 14-item instrument developed to measure four aspects of dietary behaviors of college students. A questionnaire was administered to collect background information about participants’ gender, monthly expenses, and frequency of cooking. A national sample of college students was surveyed, and 813 responses were obtained. We conducted a multiple regression analysis to examine the association among individual factors, eHealth literacy, and dietary behaviors.ResultsThis study found that functional eHealth literacy was negatively related to unhealthy food intake (beta=−.11; P=.01), and interactive eHealth literacy was positively related to balanced diet (beta=.25; P<.001) and consumer health (beta=.15; P=.02). Moreover, critical eHealth literacy was positively related to consumer health (beta=.30; P<.001) and regular eating habits (beta=.20; P=.002). Finally, the interactive effect between gender and interactive eHealth literacy was negatively related to balanced diet (beta=−.22; P<.001). The interactive effect between monthly expenses and functional eHealth literacy was positively related to balanced diet (beta=.07; P=.03), although the interactive effect between monthly expenses and critical eHealth literacy was negatively related to balanced diet (beta=−.10; P=.047).ConclusionsThis study showed that Taiwanese college students with higher functional eHealth literacy were more likely to engage in fewer unhealthy food consumption practices. Those who had higher interactive and critical eHealth literacy were more likely to engage in positive dietary behaviors than those with functional eHealth literacy. Surprisingly, females with high interactive eHealth literacy were more likely to have a poor balanced diet. In contrast, students with higher monthly expenses and higher functional eHealth literacy were more likely to have a balanced diet. However, students with higher monthly expenses and higher critical eHealth literacy were less likely to maintain a balanced diet.

Optimizing college health promotion in the digital age: Comparing perceived well-being, and health behaviors, health education needs and preferences between college students enrolled in fully online versus campus-based programss.

Background: There is little published about non-traditional and online college students’ health and well-being. College health services must evolve to address the needs of this growing population. The purpose of this study was to explore risk factors, perceived well-being, health behaviors, and health education preferences of US college students enrolled in a fully online academic programs compared to a national sample of college students enrolled in campus based programs. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a volunteer sample of 961 college students enrolled in two large, U.S. accredited online universities. Participants completed an online survey that included questions and sub scales from the National College Health Assessment (NCHA, IIb). Responses on survey items from student learning online were compared to an equal sample of college students enrolled in non-online programs, randomly drawn from the NCHA IIb national data set (n = 961). Frequencies on survey items were calculated and mean scores of subset measures for online students were compared against those from the NCHA data set using two tailed z-test scores and independent sample t-tests with alpha at 0.05. Results: Online students reported significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher percentages of chronic illnesses, psychiatric conditions, mobility disabilities, deafness/hearing loss, speech/language disorders,cigarette use, obesity, sedentary activity, and depression than the NCHA national sample. Implication for Practice: Health professionals and leaders who work in higher education must consider the shifting landscape and demographics in higher education in order to develop more tailored, innovative digital health promotion approaches that effectively reach the growing population of online, commuter, and older learners.

Mental health symptoms and treatment utilization among trauma-exposed college students.

Universities have demonstrated growing awareness of students impacted by interpersonal violence (e.g., sexual and physical assault) and veterans/service-members with combat-related trauma because of their sizable presence on campuses and unique vulnerabilities. This study sought to describe impacts of these two forms of trauma exposure on students' mental health and academic functioning and to compare mental health service utilization among students based on their experiences of trauma exposure. To acquire a large, national sample of college students, we examined archival data from the Fall 2015 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment, a yearly, web-based survey which represented a sample of 19,861 students from 40 institutions. Twenty percent of the students had experienced interpersonal victimization in the last 12 months, combat exposure, or both. Compared with other groups, interpersonal violence survivors reported the most negative impacts on mental health and interference with academic performance. Service utilization rates among trauma-exposed students ranged from 52% to 84%, and students who had experienced recent interpersonal violence were the most likely to have received services. With a national sample, this study confirms that trauma-exposed students report poor mental health. Service utilization is high among this population, but campus-based mental health services appear to remain underutilized. Outreach efforts by student life professionals and campus clinicians targeting demographic subgroups could enhance utilization and accessibility of campus resources. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

180. Principle Component Analysis of A National Sample of Undergraduate Post-Secondary Students With Adhd Reveals Significant Well-Being And Quality of Life Concerns Unaddressed By Current Treatment

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is estimated to impact approximately ∼5% of college students and can profoundly affect this population due to increasing independence and self-responsibility. Historically, studies of this population have been limited in both sample size and scope, with research primarily focusing on the cognitive dimensions and drug use comorbidities of the disorder. Here, we use responses from a national dataset of college students in order to integrate multiple epidemiological and health behavior psychological factors to create a more comprehensive understanding of the health and well-being dimensions of the disorder. This study, the first to examine ADHD in a national sample of college students, is also unique in that it addresses the statistical problem of multicollinearity. The results of this study will allow clinicians to pinpoint modifiable risk factors like sleep hygiene and emotional regulation that can be employed to improve treatment outcomes in college students with ADHD. Analyses were conducted on data from the 2017 Spring American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment-II, which included 47,281 undergraduate students from 92 United States institutions. First, chi-squared and independent samples t-tests were conducted on multiple dimensions of health and wellness factors to determine if students with ADHD had lowered well-being. Next, a principal component analysis (PCA) was used within a subset ADHD population (2,673 individuals, 65% female, 23% students of color, 3% international) on 59 health-related variables. This PCA reduced collinearity by creating clusters from highly correlated input variables. An ordinal logistic regression was used to estimate the strength and significance of different factors on general health. All analyses were conducted using SPSS Version 25 and Program R for Mac Version 3.5.0. Overall, individuals with ADHD were significantly more likely to show lower levels of well-being for multiple measures of general health, including stress, sleep quality, sadness, anxiety, loneliness, alcohol use, other drug use, exercise, and suicidal thoughts (p<0.001 for all). Within the ADHD population, only 57% reported receiving treatment within the last 12 months, and of those, 80% received medication only. Treatment was not associated with improved GPA or overall wellbeing. The PCA analyses within the ADHD subset demonstrated high collinearity among the 59 predictor variables and yielded four significant clusters, which were broadly conceptualized as “psychological well-being”; “abusive relationships and substance abuse”; “physical activity”, and “co-morbid diagnoses”. When run in an ordinal logistic regression, each of these four components significantly predicted overall health (p<0.001 for all). These findings confirm that college students diagnosed with ADHD have significantly lower levels of overall well-being. Treatment guidelines by the American Academy of Pediatrics establish that whereas pharmacological treatment can improve some of the cognitive aspects of ADHD, it does not necessarily address important behavioral and psychological dimensions of the disorder. This research supports incorporating inclusion of modifiable risk factors including sleep hygiene, relationship skills, emotional regulation, and substance use harm reduction into treatment strategies.

Depression, anxiety, and tobacco use: Overlapping impediments to sleep in a national sample of college students

ABSTRACTObjectives: To examine how tobacco use and depression/anxiety disorders are related to disturbed sleep in college students. Participants: 85,138 undergraduate respondents (66.3% female, 74.5% white, non-Hispanic, ages 18–25) from the Spring 2011 American College Health Association–National College Health Assessment II database. Methods: Multivariate analyses of tobacco use (none, intermediate, daily) and mental health (diagnosed and/or symptomatic depression or anxiety) were used to predict sleep disturbance. Results: Daily tobacco use was associated with more sleep problems than binge drinking, illegal drug use, obesity, gender, and working >20 hours/week. Students with depression or anxiety reported more sleep disturbances than individuals without either disorder, and tobacco use in this population was associated with the most sleep problems. Conclusions: Tobacco use and depression/anxiety disorders are both independently associated with more sleep problems in college students. Students with depression and/or anxiety are more likely to be daily tobacco users, which likely exacerbates their sleep problems.

Religion and Social Capital: Examining the Roles of Religious Affiliation and Salience on Parental Network Closure

ABSTRACTSocial capital consists of relational ties and networks that can foster social norms, provide support, and be leveraged for gain. Numerous studies indicate that social capital can positively influence educational achievement. Prominent scholar Robert Putnam has noted that religion is a top source of social capital, yet few studies examine variation in levels of social capital for students of different religious backgrounds, leaving unanswered questions about the role of religion in shaping social capital. This study seeks to extend the research on religion and social capital by examining how religious salience and affiliation are related to social capital among a national sample of college students. It specifically examines parental network closure (a measure of social capital that reflects the closeness of one’s social relationships), which has been linked to academic achievement, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. Results indicate that Hindu students have higher levels of parental network closure, while students with no religious affiliation have significantly lower levels. Students with higher religiosity also have higher parental network closure regardless of affiliation. Implications are discussed.

Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Eating-Related Pathology in a National Sample of College Students

PurposeThis study examined associations of gender identity and sexual orientation with self-reported eating disorder (SR-ED) diagnosis and compensatory behaviors in transgender and cisgender college students. MethodsData came from 289,024 students from 223 U.S. universities participating in the American College Health Association–National College Health Assessment II (median age, 20 years). Rates of past-year SR-ED diagnosis and past-month use of diet pills and vomiting or laxatives were compared among transgender students (n = 479) and cisgender sexual minority (SM) male (n = 5,977) and female (n = 9,445), unsure male (n = 1,662) and female (n = 3,395), and heterosexual male (n = 91,599) and female (n = 176,467) students using chi-square tests. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of eating-related pathology outcomes after adjusting for covariates. ResultsRates of past-year SR-ED diagnosis and past-month use of diet pills and vomiting or laxatives were highest among transgender students and lowest among cisgender heterosexual men. Compared to cisgender heterosexual women, transgender students had greater odds of past-year SR-ED diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 4.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.41–6.26) and past-month use of diet pills (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.48–2.83) and vomiting or laxatives (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.83–3.30). Although cisgender SM men and unsure men and women also had elevated rates of SR-ED diagnosis than heterosexual women, the magnitudes of these associations were lower than those for transgender individuals (ORs; 1.40–1.54). ConclusionsTransgender and cisgender SM young adults have elevated rates of compensatory behavior and SR-ED diagnosis. Appropriate interventions for these populations are urgently needed.

An Examination of Health Inequities among College Students by Sexual Orientation Identity and Sex.

BackgroundLesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) college students may have an increased number of health inequities compared to their heterosexual counterparts. However, to date, no research has provided a comprehensive examination of health-related factors by sexual orientation identity and sex among a national sample of college students. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine physical, sexual, interpersonal relations/safety, and mental health inequities by sexual orientation identity and sex among a national sample of college students.Design and methodsParticipants (n=39,767) completed the National College Health Assessment II during the fall 2008/spring 2009 academic year. Hierarchical binary logistic regression analyses were used to examine health inequities by sexual orientation identity and sex.ResultsLGB students compared to heterosexual students, experienced multiple health inequities including higher rates of being verbally threatened and lower rates of physical activity and condom use.ConclusionsAn understanding of health inequities experienced by LGB college students is critical as during these years of transition, students engage in protective (e.g., physical activity) and risky (e.g., lack of condom use) health behaviours, establishing habits that could last a lifetime. Future research should be used to design and implement targeted public health strategies and policies to reduce health inequities and improve health-related quality of life among LGB college students.Significance for public healthHealth inequities based on sexual orientation identity and sex among college students is a critical public health concern. Based on the results of the current study, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) college students experienced multiple physical, sexual, interpersonal relations and safety, and mental health inequities. This understanding of health inequities experienced by LGB college students is critical as during these years of transition, students engage in protective (e.g., physical activity) and risky (e.g., lack of condom use) health behaviours, establishing habits that could last a lifetime. By intervening during the college years, targeted public health strategies and policies can be designed and implemented to reduce health inequities and improve health-related quality of life among LGB individuals during mid-to-later adulthood.

Military Service and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in a National Sample of College Students.

Background: As a result of the post-9/11 GI Bill, increasing numbers of veterans are enrolling in college. However, little is known regarding suicidal outcomes among this group. In prior research, college student veterans reported high rates of suicidal ideation and attempt. Nonetheless, no research has examined whether military service is associated with increased suicide risk among college students. Aims: Our primary aims were to examine whether a history of military service was related to past-year suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt among college students. On the basis of previous research with college students, we hypothesized that students with a history of military service (i.e., current or prior) would report a higher percentage of past-year suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt. Our secondary aims were to examine the associations between military service and major depression and nonsuicidal self-injury. Method: Our sample included 3,290 college students with and without a history of military service who participated in the Healthy Minds Study in 2011 and 2012. Results: Military service was not significantly associated with past-year suicidal ideation, plan, or attempt. Students without a history of military service were more likely to report nonsuicidal self-injury. There was no significant difference in screening positive for major depression. Conclusions: These findings conflict with previous research that identified student veterans as being at elevated risk.