Personality and substance use correlates of e-cigarette use in college students

In the United States, regular cigarette use has steadily declined over the years; however, it has been met with an increase in vaping and e-cigarette use. In Tampa, Florida, this trend has been found especially prevalent among school-aged youth. To combat issues of substance use among youth and prevent criminalization for nonviolent crimes, school-age youth cited for use and possession of tobacco products in Hillsborough County were mandated to attend the Youth Tobacco Awareness Course (YTAC). The aim of this study was to investigate YTAC for its perceived effectiveness and usefulness in mitigating adolescent e-cigarette use. Classroom observations, parent focus groups, and program stakeholder interviews were conducted to comprehensively evaluate this program. Findings from this evaluation led to a deeper understanding of the barriers and facilitators to an effective course, the needs and perceptions of program stakeholders, as well as recommendations for improved future interventions.

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Perfectionism, substance use, and mental health in college students: A longitudinal analysis

Journal of American College Health ◽

10.1080/07448481.2021.1891076 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Sarah K. Nelsen ◽

Alper Kayaalp ◽

Kyle J. Page

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

College Students ◽

Substance Use ◽

Longitudinal Analysis

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Substance Use Behaviors in the Daily Lives of U.S. College Students Reporting Recent Use: The Varying Roles of Romantic Relationships

Social Science & Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114021 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 114021

Author(s):

Shari M. Blumenstock ◽

Lauren M. Papp

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Substance Use ◽

Romantic Relationships ◽

Daily Lives

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Substance Use and Peers During Adolescence and the Transition to Adulthood

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199381678.013.004 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Megan E. Patrick ◽

John E. Schulenberg ◽

Jennifer Maggs ◽

Julie Maslowsky

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Peer Relationships ◽

Social Relationships ◽

Transition To Adulthood ◽

Peer Relations ◽

Peer Groups ◽

Social Contexts ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Developmental Transitions ◽

Wide Range

This chapter summarizes recent literature concerning the connection between peers and substance use (i.e., alcohol use, cigarette use, and illicit drug use) during adolescence and the transition to adulthood. The broad category of peers consists of a wide range of social relationships including best friends, peer groups, and crowds; important aspects include peer activities, relationships, and influence. Young people both select their friends (e.g., based on shared interests) and are influenced, or socialized, by their selected peers. When examining the dynamic periods of life that cover the transitions into, through, and out of adolescence and into the post-high school years, selection and socialization are especially important, given that many transitions involve changes in social contexts and peer relationships. The authors take a developmental perspective by focusing on the developmental transitions that occur during adolescence and the transition to adulthood and how they influence peer relations and substance use.

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Prevalence and demographic, substance use, and mental health correlates of fasting among U.S. college students

Journal of Eating Disorders ◽

10.1186/s40337-021-00443-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kyle T. Ganson ◽

Rachel F. Rodgers ◽

Stuart B. Murray ◽

Jason M. Nagata

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

College Students ◽

Substance Use ◽

Eating Disorder ◽

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Drug Use ◽

Illicit Drug ◽

Men And Women ◽

The Past ◽

Self Injury

Abstract Background Fasting is an unhealthy behavior that has been frequently used as part of weight loss attempts. To date, little research has been conducted to determine the prevalence and substance use and mental health correlates of fasting among college students. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and associations between any (≥ 1 time) and regular (≥ 13 times) occurrences of fasting in the past 4 weeks and substance use and mental health correlates among a large sample of college students from 2016 to 2020. Methods Data from four academic survey years (2016–2020; N = 8255) of the national (USA) Healthy Minds Study were analyzed. Unadjusted prevalence of any and regular fasting by survey year and gender was estimated. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations between any and regular fasting and the demographic (age, body mass index, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, highest parental education), substance use (cigarette use, marijuana use, other illicit drug use, alcohol use), and mental health (depression, anxiety, eating disorder symptoms, suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury) correlates. Results Any fasting in the past 4 weeks was common among both men (14.77%) and women (18.12%) and significantly increased from 2016 (10.30%) to 2020 (19.81%) only among men. Regular fasting significantly increased among both men and women from 2016 (men: 1.46%; women: 1.79%) to 2020 (men: 3.53%; women: 6.19%). Among men and women, both any and regular fasting in the past 4 weeks were associated with higher odds of all mental health symptoms, including a positive depression, anxiety, and eating disorder screen, suicidal ideation, and non-suicidal self-injury. Among women, but not men, any and regular fasting in the past 4 weeks were associated with higher odds of marijuana use and other illicit drug use (e.g., cocaine, ecstasy). Conclusions The results from this study underscore both the high and increasing prevalence of fasting among a national sample of college students, as well as the substance use and mental health symptoms associated with this behavior. Healthcare professionals both on and off campus should consider screening for fasting behaviors among college students and provide appropriate intervention when needed.

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