Search Results (3)

Background: Exposure to traumatic experiences has been positively associated with college students’ academic difficulties and psychological distress. However, little is known about the traumatic events experienced by Hispanic college students. This study examined the types of lifetime traumatic events experienced by Hispanic college students, including immigration enforcement-related events, and the association between events and psychological distress. Methods: College students (N = 1112) completed self-reported measures assessing lifetime traumatic experiences, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and depression symptoms. Results: Most participants (81%) were born in the US, and most (84%) reported that at least one parent was foreign born. Hispanic students reported similar types of traumatic events reported by the general population of college students in previous studies. In addition, many students reported immigration-related potentially traumatic events. The following types of traumatic events were most strongly associated with greater levels of psychological distress: sexual assault or molestation, life-threatening illnesses or accidents, verbal abuse, physical or verbal bullying or mistreatment, directly experienced immigration enforcement events, and having witnessed physical or verbal abuse of someone close. Conclusions: It is important that clinicians use a broad definition of potentially traumatic events in the identification and treatment of Hispanic college students who may have experienced PTSD or depression symptoms following major life events, including immigration enforcement events. Full article

COVID-19 created a global crisis, exacerbating disparities in social determinants of health (SDOH) and mental health (MH). Research on pandemic-related MH and help-seeking is scarce, especially among high-risk populations such as college/university students. We examined self-rated MH and psychological distress, the perceived need for MH services/support, and the use of MH services across the SDOH among college/university students during the start of the pandemic. Data from the COVID-19 Texas College Student Experiences Survey (n = 746) include full- and part-time undergraduate/graduate students. Regressions examined self-rated MH, psychological distress, perceived need, and service use across SDOH, controlling for pre-pandemic MH, age, gender, and race/ethnicity. Economic stability was associated with higher risk of poor MH and need for MH services/support. Aspects of the social/community context protected student MH, especially among foreign-born students. Racial discrimination was associated with both greater psychological distress and use of services. Finally, beliefs related to the sufficiency of available institutional MH resources shaped perceived need for and use of services. Although the worst of the pandemic is behind us, the inequitable distribution of the SDOH among students is unwavering. Demand for MH support is high, requiring higher education institutions to better mobilize MH services to meet the needs of students from diverse social contexts. Full article

Objective: to measure the HPV vaccination rate and knowledge about HPV and its vaccine among foreign-born college students; additionally, to measure the effect of acculturation and HBM constructs on the HPV vaccination behavior among foreign-born college students. Methods: a cross-sectional design with a non-probability sample of foreign-born college students was collected via a web-based self-administered survey that measured the HPV vaccination rate, assessed knowledge about HPV and its vaccine, and evaluated the effect of acculturation and HBM constructs on HPV vaccination behavior among foreign-born college students. Results: Foreign-born college students had moderate knowledge about HPV and the HPV vaccine, and about 63% were HPV-vaccinated. Perceived susceptibility, perceived barriers, and cues to action were significantly associated with the HPV vaccination behavior, while knowledge levels about HPV and the HPV vaccine and acculturation levels were not significantly associated with the HPV vaccination behavior of foreign-born college students. Conclusions: The current study shows a moderate vaccination rate and moderate knowledge about HPV and its vaccine among foreign-born college students. Additionally, vaccination campaigns need to increase awareness about the susceptibility to acquiring HPV and minimize the barriers to receiving the vaccine to increase the HPV vaccination rate among foreign-born college students. Full article