Large and in Charge
The researchers asked college students at 14 different Minnesota campuses to complete surveys. The surveys covered topics on mental health, obesity, financial health, physical activity, alcohol abuse, smoking, personal safety, sexual health, and whether or not the students had health insurance.
The study was led by Dr. Ed Ehlinger, the director and chief health officer of the Boynton Health Service at the University of Minnesota. Ehlinger argues that healthy college students are essential to institutions, because good health helps a student to remain in school. Plus, statistically speaking, individuals who hold a college degree or certificate have higher economic statuses and generally better health than the rest of their peers.
Ehlinger also argues that the health of college students needs to be made a priority because “College students are a large and growing population and are establishing lifestyles and behavior patterns.” College students are “trendsetters” and role models for younger generations and they are “the future leaders of our society.” Their lifestyles and behavior patterns will influence other generations.
Ehlinger also argues that at the moment, researchers do not have very much information about college student’s health except for college student’s use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs. Ehlinger’s survey is the beginning of more comprehensive research into even more college student health issues and the research Ehlinger has so far collected will help school administrators begin new programs to improve the health of their students.
Ehlinger and his colleagues randomly selected 24,000 college students from 14 different Minnesota colleges and universities and 9,931 completed and returned the reports.
The reports showed that technology has a negative impact on student’s health. About 28.7 percent of students reported that they use computers, Internet, and television excessively and 41.8 percent reported that it affects their levels of academic performance.
Also, 21.7 percent of students reported that they had been diagnosed with a mental health illness within their lifetime. What’s more, 15.7 percent stated that they had been diagnosed within the last 12 months. The two most frequently reported mental health problems are anxiety and depression. 18.5 percent of students stated that they had been diagnosed with depression and 13.3 percent reported being diagnosed with anxiety.
Obesity levels are also proving to be a reported problem. Nearly two-fifths of the college students who returned surveys reported that they were overweight.
Also, very few college students have health insurance. About 9.4 students reported that they do not have health insurance. The highest rates of students without health insurance were found at the non-University of Minnesota campuses. Only 5.6 percent of students at the University of Minnesota campuses reported as being uninsured, while 13.7 percent of students reported being uninsured that were at non-State University campuses. The students who have health insurance are more likely to use the campus health services and community services to prevent problems and illness. They also report fewer sick days than students without health insurance. These statistics tell the researchers that it is very important for colleges to invest in campus health support services.
Ehlinger’s research also showed that students have financial difficulties. About 33.4 of the students who returned surveys reported that they have credit card debt and 57.8 percent of those students reported that the total amount of their credit card debt was $1,000 per month or more. The surveys also showed that students who have credit card debt had higher rates of depression and lower grade point averages.
The results of the surveys also elicited concern for the students about their alcohol use. The student’s reports showed that 70.5 percent of the students used alcohol in the last 30 days and 37.1 percent of those students engaged in binge drinking, or otherwise high-risk drinking. The good news is that only 6.8 percent reported using illicit drugs.
The reports show that college students use tobacco less than they do alcohol. About 25 percent of all of the students total at all 14 colleges reported having used tobacco within the past 30 days, which includes both smoking and chewing tobacco. The tobacco use rates are the lowest they have been since other researchers first collected data on tobacco use in 1992.
Sexual violence also appears to be a problem on college campuses. 22.4 percent of the women students reported being sexually assaulted in their lifetimes, while 6.8 percent of those women were assaulted in the past 12 months. Also, 4.9 percent of men reported being sexually assaulted and for 1.9 percent of the men the assaults occurred within the past 12 months.
As far as sex is concerned in general, the reports contradicted the commonly held notion that students are promiscuous. The statistics the college students reported show that they are generally monogamous. About 77.6 of the students reported being sexually active and 72.1 percent of those students reported having been sexually active within in the past 12 months. Also, 78.5 of those students, or in other words, 4 out of 5 students reported having had either zero or one sexual partner within the past 12 months.
In general, Ehlinger is convinced that the data shows that colleges need to activate new programs to promote the health of their students.
Patty Mattern, “University of Minnesota releases first ever comprehensive report of the health of college students,” University of Minnesota Boynton Health Service.
Posted on Friday December 18th
