School connectedness is consistently associated with adolescent mental health and well-being. We investigated whether student perceptions of school connectedness were associated with anxiety and depressive symptoms, even during remote learning due to COVID-19. In June of 2020, after 13 weeks of remote learning, 320 middle and high school students in one Massachusetts school district completed an online survey that included questions about their perceptions of school connectedness, social connectedness, and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Schools are increasingly being called upon to address cyberbullying and its consequences. This study compares cyberbullying and school bullying trends and examines help-seeking among cyberbullying victims.
Methods: We analyzed self-report data over 4 surveys (2006-2012) from more than 16,000 students in 17 MetroWest Boston high schools.
Objective: Raising the tobacco sales age to 21 has gained support as a promising strategy to reduce youth cigarette access, but there is little direct evidence of its impact on adolescent smoking. Using regional youth survey data, we compared youth smoking trends in Needham, Massachusetts--which raised the minimum purchase age in 2005--with those of 16 surrounding communities.
Methods: The MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey is a biennial census survey of high school youth in communities west of Boston; over 16,000 students participated at each of four time points from 2006 to 2012.
Objective: Evaluations of social norms marketing campaigns to reduce college student drinking have produced conflicting results. This study examines whether the effectiveness of such campaigns may be moderated by on-premise alcohol outlet density in the surrounding community.
Method: Multilevel analyses were conducted of student survey responses (N= 19,838) from 32 U.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships among campus violence, student drinking levels, and the physical availability of alcohol at off-campus outlets in a multisite design.
Method: An ecological analysis of on-campus violence was conducted at 32 U.S.
Objectives: This exploratory study examined pre-event drinking, or pregaming, by US college students.
Participants: 112 undergraduates from 10 Pennsylvania colleges participated.
Method: A focus group, including a written questionnaire, was conducted at each institution.
Objective: The authors aimed to replicate previous findings on social capital and harmful alcohol outcomes in the college setting and to ascertain the protective effects of additional indicators of social capital.
Methods: Over 4 years (2000-2004), the authors conducted annual cross-sectional, random-sample student surveys at 32 US institutions of higher education (N = 15,875) and constructed multilevel models to examine the association between individual- and campus-level participation in campus activities and harmful drinking outcomes.
Results: At the individual level, community volunteerism was protective against harmful drinking outcomes.
A 14-site randomized trial tested the effectiveness of social norms marketing (SNM) campaigns, which present accurate student survey data in order to correct misperceptions of subjective drinking norms and thereby drive down alcohol use. Cross-sectional student surveys were conducted by mail at baseline and at posttest 3 years later. Hierarchical linear modeling was applied to examine multiple drinking outcomes, taking into account the nonindependence of students grouped in the same college.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The authors examined the sociodemographics and psychobehavioral characteristics of undergraduate US college students who abstain from alcohol.
Participants: The respondents were 5,210 undergraduates from 32 colleges and universities.
Methods: A survey was mailed to 300 randomly selected students per institution (spring 2000 or 2001).
Objective: The authors examined college student support for policies and enforcement strategies to reduce alcohol problems on campus.
Participants: A random sample of students from each of 32 four-year colleges and universities participated.
Methods: Students completed an anonymous mail survey.
J Stud Alcohol Drugs
January 2008
Objective: The objective of the study is to examine the relationship between the physical availability of off-campus alcohol and drinking outcomes among college students.
Method: A multilevel analysis of students (N = 17,051) nested within college campuses (N = 32) was conducted. Four problem-drinking-related outcomes (i.
This study explored the feasibility of a Composite Drinking Scale (CDS) designed to capture fully the phenomenon of problem drinking among college students while allowing easy public understanding. A survey conducted at 32 four-year U.S.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: An 18-site randomized trial was conducted to determine the effectiveness of social norms marketing (SNM) campaigns in reducing college student drinking. The SNM campaigns are intended to correct misperceptions of subjective drinking norms and thereby drive down alcohol consumption.
Method: Institutions of higher education were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups.