Initial Results from a New College Substance Use Prevention Program Targeting Externalizing and Internalizing Traits.

Objective: College students engage in high rates of risky substance use. Standard college prevention strategies focus on providing feedback about current substance use behaviors and harm reduction strategies but do not address the underlying genetically-influenced risk factors impacting these behaviors. We created an online Personalized Feedback Program (PFP) for college students that targets genetically-influenced externalizing and internalizing risk pathways and provides personalized recommendations and campus resources. College students received personalized feedback on four risk domains (Sensation Seeking, Impulsivity, Extraversion, and Neuroticism). Methods: An open trial (n = 300) was conducted at a large public university in spring of 2021 to assess initial responses to the PFP and evaluate intentions related to future substance use and campus resource use. Results: 81% of students in the open trial reported they enjoyed the Personalized Feedback Program. Participants reported intending to use significantly more campus resources after completing the PFP. Among participants that drank, 39% reported they intended to decrease their alcohol consumption and 41% reported they intended to decrease the number of times they get drunk after completing the PFP; these intentions to reduce use after completing the PFP are higher than rates found in previous studies. Conclusion: Preliminary data indicate that the Personalized Feedback Program may be a complementary method to enhance current college substance use prevention programs.

Exploring college students' flourishing: The interplay of demographic characteristics, time allocation in daily activities and responsibilities, and sense of belonging.

The purpose of this study is to investigate how college students' flourishing relates to their demographic characteristics, students allocating time in daily activities and responsibilities, and sense of belonging to the university. The total sample for this study includes 553 undergraduate students, of which 69% identified as female, 24% as male, 7% as non-binary, 29% as underrepresented minority (URM) students, and 38% as first-generation students. Method. The study utilized the ACHA-NCHA III survey data from a large public 4-year university. The researchers conducted an exploratory factor analysis to identify prominent components, resulting in seven constructed variables to measure students' level of involvement in managing roles related to their academic, extracurricular, and personal life. The researchers then used multiple regression models to examine the relationship between student flourishing outcomes and students' time allocation in fixed roles (as a student, caretaker, and employee) and other activities, and their sense of belonging to the university. The results showed that college students who assume additional roles besides being a student, who spend more time engaging in prosocial activities while balancing socializing, and have a strong sense of belonging, also have a higher level of flourishing. Conversely, media consumption was negatively associated with students' flourishing.

Bridging the gap between genetic epidemiological research and prevention: A randomized control trial of a novel personalized feedback program for alcohol and cannabis use.

BACKGROUND: Risky substance use among college students is widespread and associated with numerous negative consequences. We created an online Personalized Feedback Program (PFP) for college students that targets genetically influenced risk pathways for substance use and provides feedback on four risk domains (Sensation Seeking, Impulsivity, Extraversion, and Neuroticism) along with individualized recommendations and campus resources. METHODS: A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of the PFP on alcohol and cannabis use. First-year college students were randomized to one of four groups: (1) control, (2) PFP, (3) computer-delivered brief motivational intervention (BMI), and (4) combined group that included both the PFP and BMI (PFP+BMI). Students completed a baseline survey (n=251) that assessed alcohol and cannabis use and program satisfaction. Two follow-up surveys were administered at 30-days and 3-months post-intervention to evaluate longitudinal effects on substance use. RESULTS: Participants reported high satisfaction with the PFP. There were no significant effects of intervention group on alcohol use at the follow-up timepoints, though trends were in the expected direction with participants in the PFP group showing decreased odds of alcohol use. There were significant reductions in cannabis use in the PFP group as compared to other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The PFP was met with high satisfaction and had a positive impact on reducing cannabis use. With cannabis use at a historic high among college-aged adults, further research evaluating the effects of the PFP is warranted.

Genetically influenced externalizing and internalizing risk pathways as novel prevention targets.

Objective: Risky substance use among college students is widespread, and associated with numerous adverse consequences. Current interventions focus primarily on students' current substance use; we hypothesize that shifting focus from current use to underlying risk factors is a complementary approach that may improve effectiveness of prevention/intervention programming. This approach aligns with the personalized medicine movement, which aims to harness knowledge about underlying etiological factors to provide individuals with specific information about their unique risk profiles and personalized recommendations, to motivate and enable individuals to better self-regulate their health. Method: Our group is building and evaluating an online Personalized Feedback Program (PFP) for college students that provides feedback about the individual's underlying genetically influenced externalizing and internalizing risk factors for substance use, along with personalized recommendations/resources. The project capitalizes on work from a university-wide research project (Spit for Science; S4S), in which > 12,000 students (˜70% of 5 years of incoming freshmen) are being followed longitudinally to assess substance use and related factors across the college years. In this article, we describe our foundational work to develop the PFP. Results: From the S4S data, we have identified risk factors across four domains (Sensation Seeking, Impulsivity, Extraversion, and Neuroticism) that are correlated with college students' substance use. We developed an online self-guided PFP, in collaboration with professionals from student affairs, and using feedback from students, with the ultimate goal of conducting a randomized clinical trial. Conclusion: The provision of personalized risk information represents a novel approach to complement and extend existing college substance use programming. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Trends in mental health service utilization among LGB+ college students.

OBJECTIVES: 1) Compare service utilization among LGB+ and straight-identified students. 2) Assess rates of mental health concerns among LGB+ students only. Participants: Undergraduates (N = 675) reported on their sexual orientation, mental health conditions, and past service providers. Methods: Logistic regression was used for aim 1 and descriptive statistics for aim 2. Results: LGB+ students were more likely than straight-identified students to seek services for anxiety (odds ratio [OR] = 2.051; p < .01) or depression (OR = 3.058; p < .001) and from a counselor/therapist/psychologist (OR = 2.937; p < .001) or their university's counseling/health services (OR = 1.933; p < .01). Bisexual students utilized the most services. Conclusions: Colleges must ensure that programing, outreach, and overall support for the mental health needs of their LGB+ students are being met so that this vulnerable population continues to seek services.

Prospective Predictors of Sexual Revictimization Among College Students.

This study examined the prevalence rates of sexual violence revictimization during each year of college. In addition, the impact of key mental health concerns on these rates was investigated. Incoming first-year students at a large, urban university completed a survey about their exposure to incidences of sexual assault before college and about their mental health symptoms. During each subsequent spring semester, experiences of sexual assault and mental health symptoms were reassessed. The sample was limited to individuals who reported sexual assault for at least one time period (N = 3,294). More than 60% of individuals who endorsed an initial incident of sexual assault reported no subsequent incidences, leading to an overall revictimization rate of 39.5%. Rates of revictimization were higher for those identifying as women, as compared to men, and those identifying as White, as compared to those identifying as Asian or "other." Trauma-related distress and increased symptoms of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and depression were all related to a greater risk of experiencing revictimization. Given that experiencing an initial sexual assault greatly increases the risk of experiencing revictimization, and considering the notable prevalence rates of sexual assault on college campuses, it is imperative to examine trends in revictimization throughout the course of college. Examining factors that increase risk for experiencing revictimization is crucial to developing university-wide effective prevention and intervention efforts. In addition to the efforts to increase the reporting of incidences of sexual assault, universal programming efforts should also focus on factors that promote resilience in the face of sexual assault, such as reducing risky drinking behavior, increasing social support, and reducing stigma around the reporting of mental health symptoms.

Acknowledgement and support matter: A brief report on gender identity and sexual orientation at a large, urban university.

OBJECTIVE: To examine reporting trends of students identifying as LGBTQIA+ following changes made to the ACHA-NCHA-II survey about gender identity and sexual orientation. METHODS: Data were analyzed from two sources for the purpose of triangulation: the ACHA-NCHA-II 2016 survey specific to our university and an electronic audience response survey. PARTICIPANTS: Primary analyses included first-year students from the ACHA-NCHA-II data (N = 158; spring 2016) and the audience response survey (N = 1,452; August 2016). RESULTS: Five percent of students did not identify as cis-gender and 21% did not identify as straight/heterosexual. The sexual orientation trend was confirmed by the audience response survey. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of students identifying as LGBTQIA+ increased nationally between the ACHA-NCHA-II 2014 and 2016 survey samples, a trend which was confirmed using an independent audience response survey. This information has implications for university programming and inclusivity efforts nationwide.