COVID-19 exposure and diagnosis among college student drinkers: links to alcohol use behavior, motives, and context

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis. College student alcohol use is highly prevalent and primarily occurs in social settings where risk for COVID-19 transmission is heightened. This study explored the associations between alcohol use frequency, quantity, motives, and context with: (i) quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure and (ii) a positive diagnosis for COVID-19. A sample of n = 409 college student drinkers completed an online survey about their health and behaviors during the Fall 2020 semester. Since the start of the semester, 36% of students quarantined and 13% of students received a COVID-19 diagnosis. More frequent alcohol use was associated with increased odds of both quarantine and COVID-19 diagnosis. More frequent drinking for social motives was associated with increased likelihood of quarantine, and more frequent drinking for conformity motives was associated with increased likelihood of COVID-19 diagnosis. Participants who often drank alone or with a small group of friends were about half as likely to have quarantined, while those who often drank with a large group of friends were almost twice as likely to have quarantined. Participants who often drank in a bar or nightclub had almost three times the odds of a COVID-19 diagnosis. Frequent alcohol use and drinking for social and conformity motives and in certain contexts are linked to increased likelihood of COVID-19 exposure and diagnosis. Alcohol use prevention efforts, coupled with messaging to discourage large social gatherings in public places, might help to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 among college students

Health Matters: Student-Developed Research Questions by Project SCORE Students

Corresponding author (Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management): Melissa Presley, [email protected]://egrove.olemiss.edu/pharm_annual_posters_2022/1015/thumbnail.jp

Prevalence of Meeting 24-hour Movement Guidelines and Sociodemographic Correlates among U.S. Adults

Much evidence exists for the health benefits associated with individual movement behaviors, which include light-intensity physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. However, individual movement behaviors are codependent in nature and exist within a finite period of 24-hours, further underlying the importance of examining the integration of movement behaviors. Despite the absence of 24-hour movement guidelines in the U.S., the benefits of adhering to such guidelines outweigh the potential harms, such as with various levels of physical activity intensity. Moreover, many intervention studies focus on one individual movement behavior underscoring the need for studies to examine intervention effects on integrated movement behaviors. Thus, the primary purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of adults meeting 24-hour movement guidelines and potentially correlated sociodemographic factors. The secondary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a Health Action Process Approach (HAPA)-informed text message intervention on movement behaviors. Participants at three large universities in the southeast region of the U.S. completed an online survey about their sociodemographic characteristics and movement behaviors. A subsample of undergraduate students who completed the baseline survey participated in a 6-week HAPA-informed text message study. Based on a final analytic sample of 1,430, 12.2% adhered to overall movement guidelines. Black (AOR = 0.29, 95% CI [0.11, 0.82]) and Hispanic/Latinx adults (AOR = 0.23, 95% CI [0.06, 0.97]) had lower odds of meeting overall guidelines. For the text message study, a significant time effect was found for sedentary behavior, F(4, 438) = 7.79, p \u3c .001, ��2 = 0.08, and LPA, F(4, 438) = 7.27, p \u3c .001, ��2 = 0.08. Relative to baseline, time spent in sedentary behavior decreased, and time spent in LPA increased at all time points, respectively. The proportion of adults adhering to overall movement guidelines in the southeast region of the U.S. is low. Associations between race/ethnicity and adherence to overall guidelines are evident. Messaging strategies to promote 24-hour movement guidelines should be developed and tailored to targeted groups. Future text message studies should include an initial one-on-one session and individualize text message frequency and delivery time

Individual Correlates of COVID-19 Concerns, Prevention Behaviors, and Experiences Among College Students

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a public health crisis, and college campuses and areas in the southern U.S. are high-risk environments for disease spread. Purpose. This study examined variation in COVID-19 concerns, prevention behaviors, and related experiences among college students at a large, public university in the southeast region of the U.S. Methods. A sample of 544 undergraduate students completed an online survey in the final weeks of the Fall 2020 academic semester. Subgroup variation in level of COVID-19 concern by history of COVID-19 diagnosis and associations between individual correlates and COVID-19 outcomes were explored. Results. Students were most concerned about COVID-19 risk for their loved ones. Being young, female, and having a mental health condition were associated with higher levels of concern. Positive associations were found between level of concern and adherence to hygiene, social distancing, and mask wearing guidelines. A COVID-19 diagnosis was associated with taking all online classes, Greek life or athletic involvement, and having quarantined during the semester. Conclusion. Findings highlight student subgroups that may require increased attention when addressing COVID-19 concerns and prevention behavior adherence. Future research should also explore the relationship between COVID-19 concerns and behaviors with vaccination efforts among college students