Publications by authors named "Megan Besecker"
Background: The abbreviated version of the World Health Organization (WHO) Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) psychosis screen tends to yield high prevalence in online samples. Psychotic Experiences (PE) may not necessarily indicate current or imminent psychopathology; however, distressing PE appear to be more clinically informative.
Methods: We analyzed data collected from an online survey administered to a Qualtrics panel (N = 2522 adults).
Background: Social norms have been associated with alcohol use in college populations; however, more research is needed to confirm the associations between social norms and a range of substance use behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: We analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Study (September 2020-December 2020), a non-probability sample administered online to college students. We used multivariable logistic regression to test for associations between respondents' perceptions of substance use behaviors in their respective colleges and their own substance use behaviors, adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and international student status.
Background: Psychosis is more prevalent among Black individuals compared with White individuals. However, it is unknown whether this disparity exists among college populations in the United States, and if so, what factors contribute to the disparity.
Methods: We analyzed data from Black and White young adult students using the Health Minds Study (2020-2021), which is a survey administered at 140 colleges in the U.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused tremendous changes in daily living, which may be related to mental health problems, including psychotic experiences, though research has only begun to assess these associations.
Methods: We analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Survey (Fall Semester Cohort 2020), which is a non-probability sample of students attending one of 36 universities in the United States, who completed an online survey during the COVID-19 pandemic (September-December 2020). We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the associations between several COVID-19 dimensions (anxiety, discrimination, financial distress, infection, illness of loved one, death of loved one, caregiving) and 12-month psychotic experiences, adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and international student status.
Aim: Socioeconomic status (SES) is linked to psychosis, and much can be learned by examining how various indicators of SES-specifically economic strain and intergenerational transfer of resources-are related to sub-threshold psychotic experiences among college students.
Methods: Using data from the Healthy Minds Survey (September 2020-December 2020), we used multivariable logistic regression models to examine the associations between five SES indicators and 12-month psychotic experiences, adjusting for age, gender and race/ethnicity. We also examined the count of predictors and psychotic experiences.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about tremendous social and economic turmoil, which has been associated with increased levels of depression and anxiety.
Methods: We analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Study (Fall Semester Cohort 2020), a non-probability sample of students across multiple colleges who completed an online survey between September - December 2020. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined the associations between COVID-19 dimensions (concern, racial/ethnic discrimination, financial distress, infection, illness of loved one, death of loved one, caregiving) and mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety), adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and international student status.