First Semester College Experiences: Associations with Substance Use and Mental Health

Overview

Journal Addict Behav Rep

Date 2024 May 31

PMID 38817339

Authors

Brooke J Arterberry

Sarah J Peterson

Megan E Patrick

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Substance use (SU) and mental health (MH) concerns often occur as students transition from high school to college and may be associated with first semester experiences.

Methods: Incoming first-year college students at a U.S., predominantly white, midwestern university were recruited for an intervention study. Participants reported on substance use, mental health, and college experiences at the end of their first semester of college (n = 781; 62.9 % female, mean age = 18.06 [ = 0.24]; 77.2 % non-Hispanic white; 84.6 % heterosexual). Data for these current analyses were cross-sectional.

Results: Identifying as Black, Indigenous, or another Person of Color, as a sexual minority, or as female was associated with more challenging first semester experiences. Social experiences that represent more social engagement were associated with greater substance use. College experiences reflecting an easier transition were associated with fewer mental health concerns. Alcohol use moderated the relation between academic challenges and mental health with stronger associations found at greater levels of alcohol use.

Conclusions: First semester experiences were related to student mental health and substance use, suggesting the importance of early, targeted support for students to adjust to campus life.

Citing Articles

Mediating effects of artificial intelligence on the relationship between academic engagement and mental health among Chinese college students.

Wang Y, Wang H Front Psychol. 2024; 15:1477470.

PMID: 39575341 PMC: 11578736. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1477470.

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