The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #39902

Barbara Funke¹, James E. Lidstone, EdD¹, Karen L. Ebey-Tessendorf, MPH¹, Alice B. Loper, RN, MN, FNP-C², and Carolyn J. Boggs¹. (1) Health, Physical Education & Recreation, Georgia College & State University, CBX 65, Milledgeville, GA 31061, 478-445-1780, bfunke@gcsu.edu, (2) School of Health Sciences-Nursing, Georgia College & State University, 231 W. Hancock St., Milledgeville, GA 31061

There are numerous health issues that affect the health and well being of college students including alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, sexual behavior, and dietary choices. Colleges and universities have employed numerous strategies to address the problem of risky health behaviors including social norms and social marketing campaigns. Social norms are people’s beliefs about the behaviors and attitudes of others and these normative beliefs may influence behavior. It is common for students to overestimate alcohol and other drug use among college students. Some prevention experts believe that this misperception contributes to greater alcohol and other drug consumption. A social marketing campaign can attempt to correct misperceptions and is one strategy used to impact AOD use on campus. The National College Health Assessment (NCHA), a survey developed by the American College Health Association, was administered to approximately 20% of undergraduate students at a university in the southeastern U.S. The purpose of the study was to identify health behaviors of college students with a particular interest in alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use. The data will permit the researchers to identify risk factors that impact student safety; prioritize student health care needs; and design prevention programs. Survey results will be provided and the use of this data for the development of prevention programs utilizing normative beliefs and other prevention strategies will be explained.

Learning Objectives: “At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to"

• Describe the process and survey instrument used to collect data on university students’ health risk behaviors.
• Identify the discrepancy between university students’ perceptions of alcohol and other drug use on campus and the reported alcohol and other drug use among university students.
• Describe the potential uses of university students’ health behaviors data such as creating a Normative Beliefs campaign on a university campus.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.