Associations between energy drink consumption and alcohol use among college students

Introduction: The aims of our study are to research the general features of energy drink consumption among college students, the association between energy drink consumption and alcohol use while controlling for demographic attributes and general risk taking propensity. Methods: The study was carried out using data collected from 2,632 college students at Trakya University (Edirne, Turkey). The study data were obtained from the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Addiction Profile Index, Energy Drink Consumption Data Form, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale. Results: Of all the students, 59.9% had used energy drinks within the last year and 26.4% had used energy drinks within the last 1 month. Of the subjects who used energy drinks within the last month, 26.1% had high consumption frequency (≥6 days/month). Energy drink consumption within the last year and last month predicted alcohol use within the last year and last month, binge drinking, and hazardous/harmful alcohol use in the logistic regression analysis. In addition, the high energy drink consumption frequency predicted hazardous/harmful alcohol use. Discussion: The association between energy drink consumption and alcohol use, independent from other variables related to alcohol use, highlights the importance of raising awareness among college students.     

Forgiveness and substance use problems among college students: Psychache,depressive symptoms,and hopelessness as mediators

Studies on forgiveness and its relationship to substance abuse have consistently found salutary associations between the two, yet empirical investigation of variables that may serve as mediating factors in this relationship is in need of more attention. With recent models positing psychological distress as a key component of the forgiveness-substance abuse association, constructs such as psychache, depression, and hopelessness may be likely candidates as mediators of this relationship. As such, cross-sectional, self-report data from 577 undergraduate students was used to perform multiple mediation analyses on the relationship of three dimensions of forgiveness (i.e., of self, of others, of uncontrollable situations) with two substance use outcomes (i.e., problematic alcohol use and problematic drug use), as mediated by psychache, depressive symptoms, and hopelessness. Results indicated that forgiveness of self and forgiveness of uncontrollable situations were associated with lower levels of psychological distress and fewer substance use problems, whereas forgiveness of others was associated with greater levels of psychological distress and more substance use problems. Psychache and depressive symptoms, but not hopelessness, played a role in the forgiveness–substance use problems association. Implications of these findings are discussed, particularly in the context of the self-medication hypothesis.     

Pattern and predictors of energy drink consumption in medical students and physicians

Background: The consumption of energy drinks is increasing among students of medicine and recent medical graduates. A cross-sectional study that uses a questionnaire designed to gather information on energy drinks consumption analyzes this problem.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used a questionnaire designed to gather information on energy drinks consumption of medical students and physicians. Four hundred fifty questionnaires were completed. Results: The majority of the questionnaires was completed in Colombia; the rest were completed in North American (n: 8, 1.8%), Central America (n: 17, 3.8%), South America (n: 86, 19.1%), and Europe (n: 2, 0.4%). There is a high frequency of energy drinks consumption among medical students and physicians; for every five physicians or medical students who consume energy drinks, one is not a consumer.

Conclusions: There is a great need to build awareness among physicians and medical students concerning these drinks. This study identifies a risk behavior, and it summons the international medical community, health institutions, universities, and trade associations to conduct health promotion and prevention activities, including the practice of healthy habits in medical students and physicians to deal with this problem.     

Depression and problem drinking among college students in the Republic of Korea: the mediating role of protective behavioral strategies

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the mediating effects of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) on the association between depression and problem drinking among Korean college students.

Methods: For this study, we analyzed secondary survey data collected to enhance the understanding of drinking behavior among Korean college students. The study sample consisted of 447 college students who had consumed alcohol at least one time during the month prior to the survey. To examine the mediating effects of PBS, structural equation modeling analysis was performed; as part of this effort, (a) model fit was examined, (b) the model was modified to improve fit statistics, and (c) standardized indirect, direct, and total effects of depression on problem drinking were estimated.

Results: PBS was a significant mediator explaining the association between depression and problem drinking. We found that college students with greater depression were less likely to use PBS, which resulted in increased risk of problem drinking.

Conclusions: Given the significant mediating effect of PBS on the association between depression and problem drinking, it would be advantageous to implement interventions that motivate depressed college students to use PBS when drinking alcohol in order to prevent or reduce the risk of problem drinking.     

Exploring the associations between substance use and online risk-taking among college students

Background: The rise of the Internet has provided another context in which college students can engage in normative risk-taking behavior. However, little is known about online risk-taking or the extent to which it is associated with substance use.

Methods: Heterogeneity in self-reported online risk-taking was explored among 246 U.S. college students (17–23 year old; 60% male; 65% White) using a finite number of discrete online risk-taking profiles. The relationship between different profiles of online risk-taking and substance use was then assessed using multinomial logistic regression.

Results: Three unique classes of online risk-taking emerged. Individuals in the high online risk-taking class had significantly higher odds of engaging in lifetime alcohol use, lifetime marijuana use, and lifetime illegal drug use compared to individuals in the low risk-taking class. Substance use was not associated with the probability of membership in the sexual online risk-taking class relative to the low risk-taking class.

Conclusions: Results suggest a need for a more nuanced understanding of which students are engaging in online risks and how online risk-taking is associated with substance use.     

Sociodemographic factors associated with recent alcohol use among college students

Alcohol use among college students continues to be a major public health problem in the United States. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine factors associated with recent alcohol use among college students. Participants completed the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment in their classrooms. The university wellness center recruited participants. Findings indicated 76.0% of participants reported using alcohol in the past 30 days. Recent alcohol use was associated with multiple factors including grade level, sorority/fraternity status, been emotionally abused, mental health problems, and other drug use. College health professionals may use study findings to develop and implement harm reduction and alcohol prevention programming for students.     

How a sample of Iranian college students communicates resistance to offers of illegal drugs

Aim Despite efforts made to prevent use of illegal drugs in Iran, such use continues. The aim of the current study is to investigate how a sample of Iranian students communicates resistance to offers of illegal drugs.

Design Describing a personal, specific time when they were offered an illegal drug (alcohol, opium, heroin, hashish) including who offered it (offerer), what drug was offered, where the offer was made, how the offer was made (type of offer) and the dialogue between offerer and respondent.

Participants Two hundred and forty‐eight Shiraz University students were asked to complete a questionnaire.

Finding Most offers were categorized as ‘simple offer’ (without persuasion) and most responses were ‘no problem’, without further pressure from the offerers. The most common resistance strategy was simply saying ‘No’. Resistance was related to internal motivation for turning down or accepting the offer. Type of drug offered was related to the person who offered it.

Conclusions There are some differences between the offer/resistance processes described in this study with similar work in the West, but many similarities. The most important factor in resistance to an offer of a drug for consumption is internal motivation. There was no significant association with age, type of offer, place of offer and type of drug.     

An examination of alcohol and drug use among urban college students

This study examines factors associated with alcohol and recreational drug use among urban college students. Undergraduate students at an urban college (n = 372) in New York City completed questionnaires assessing alcohol and drug use, depression and anxiety symptoms, and delinquent behaviors. Forty-two per cent of the respondents were Hispanic, 25.3% were African-American and 18.8% were Caucasian. Alcohol and drug users were found to have higher levels of delinquency than non-users. There was no relationship between ethnicity, the number of substances used and depression, anxiety, or delinquency. These findings are discussed as they pertain to prevention and intervention programs tailored to address the unique needs of this growing population.     

Alone and at risk: A statistical profile of alcohol-related college student deaths

This study profiles college students who died an alcohol-related death. Estimates of the scope of these mortality rates have received publicity but we know little about the nature of who, when, where, and how they perished. Using data derived from a website and accompanying news stories and obituaries, we constructed details about roughly 500 of these deaths. Being male, Greek, and enrolled in a four year, public institution increased the mortality odds for students. A large majority of these deaths occurred while students were alone following a drinking bout. Most students‘ perished while falling, drowning, being hit by a vehicle, or experiencing alcohol poisoning. Criminal charges were levied in one-third of these cases and families filed lawsuits in fourteen percent of these cases. Details surrounding these deaths suggest that intervention strategies center on ways in which schools and communities can partner to develop a system so that college drinkers are buddied up and can receive help when they need it.     

A cognitive-behavioral investigation of anger among college students

The purpose of the present study was to conduct a multicomponent examination of anger among college students based on Novaco's (1978) model of anger. A total of 204 subjects participated in a study specifically examining whether high-angry students differed from low-angry students in the intensity and frequency with which they experienced aversive college events, in their endorsement of irrational beliefs through which these events might be perceived, and in their manner of expressing anger. It was found that, as hypothesized, high-angry as compared to low-angry students (1) rated typical aversive college events as significantly more frequent and intense elicitors of anger, (2) endorsed irrational beliefs to a significantly greater degree, and (3) were significantly more likely to express and suppress anger. Implications for future research and clinical practice are discussed.The research was supported by North Texas State University Faculty Research Grant No. 35394.     

大学生抑郁影响因素的研究进展

抑郁是大学生一种较常见的情绪,有些学生甚至患抑郁症,严重影响其学业、生活甚至生命。为更好地预防大学生抑郁对个人、家庭及社会带来的危害,本文对其相关影响因素作一综述,旨在为高校工作者的学生心理工作提供良好的启示与建议。本文尤其关注大西北地区大学生的心理特点,旨在处理学生心理问题时能更加有的放矢。     

大学生兼职的研究进展

综述大学生兼职现状,分析兼职对大学生的发展可能存在的影响,总结其在兼职过程中遇到的问题,从而提出一些切实可行的管理策略,为大学生兼职提供理性的参考,同时也为相关机构能更好地对大学生兼职进行引导和管理提供建议。     

实施护理本科生导师制的探讨

实施护理本科生导师制，可弥补护理本科生思想教育工作中的不足．完善学生管理体制，有利于培养学生的综合素质。护理学院应完善本科生导师制，实现师资力量的高素质化，贯彻双向选择的原则，加强导师工作的考核，确保其科学、稳定的运行。     

Correlates of safer sex communication among college students

Correlates of safer sex communication among college students The purpose of this study was to examine factors that are thought to promote communication about safer sex and HIV among college students in the United States of America and to determine the extent to which communication about safer sex is important in the use of condoms. A better understanding of factors associated with safer sex communication can be helpful in developing HIV and STD prevention programmes for college students. Following approval from the institutional review boards of the six participating colleges and universities, researchers collected data from a random sample of students. The study included participant responses if participants were 18-25 years of age, single and sexually active. For the sample of 1349 participants, the mean age was 20.6 years. Sixty-three per cent of the sample was female, 50.5% white, 42.3% African-American, and the remainder of other ethnic groups. Over 50% of respondents reported frequent condom use, with 28% noting that they used a condom every time and 30.6% reporting condom use almost every time they had sex. Only 9.6% indicated that they never used a condom. The results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the perception of quality of general communication with parents, the perception of a partner's attitude towards communication, communication self-efficacy, and communication outcome expectancies, were associated with safer sex communication. However, the association between safer sex communication and condom use was weak, suggesting that other factors excluded from this study are important in determining condom use for this sample of respondents. The findings provide some implications for HIV interventions. Interventions that enhance self-efficacy and positive outcome expectancies related to communication about safer sex are likely to foster discussion with a sexual partner. However, they might not lead to actual condom use.     

我院护理本科生论文答辩存在的问题及对策

[目的]进一步考查护理本科学生对专业知识掌握的深度和广度,以提高护理本科生毕业论文答辩质量.[方法]将300余名毕业生论文答辩情况进行分析,找出存在问题并提出对策.[结果]通过加强论文指导工作,毕业生论文质量逐年提高.[结论]应将毕业论文答辩工作纳入教学计划,作为培养和评价学生学习和科研综合能力的重要内容.     

师范类大学生心理健康调查

目的 了解师范类大学生的心理健康状况,探讨其影响因素。方法采用分层定额抽样法调查浙江师范大学280名本科生,使用症状自测量表(SCL-90)测评师范大学学生的心理健康得分,并与全国常模和大学生常模作比较,logistic回归分析心理健康的影响因素。结果 师范大学学生的总体心理健康状况良好,心理问题发生率为7.12％。学习压力、情感挫折、父母婚姻、家庭经济、同学关系等是影响其心理健康的重要因素。结论 师范类大学生的心理健康状况值得关注,应采取综合性的干预措施,提高其心理健康水平。