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Objective : Examine predictors of alcohol misuse among university students amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants : University students who completed the National College Health Assessment III before, during, and after the pandemic lockdown. Methods : Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined associations between psychological functioning, time spent with family and friends, and problematic alcohol use. Results : Alcohol use decreased, and psychological functioning was poorest one year after COVID-19-related university closures. While indicators of psychological functioning started to improve in the second year after the school closures, alcohol use started to increase. Overall stress, spending more time with friends, and fraternity/sorority residence significantly predicted moderate to high risk for alcohol dependence and binge drinking two years post-pandemic. Severe psychological distress (OR= 1.36, CI = 1.22, 1.52, p  < 0.001) predicted moderate to high risk for alcohol dependence but not binge drinking. Conclusion : Innovative mental health interventions are needed to reduce alcohol misuse among university students.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic led to major disruptions in the lives of university students, which is a population that is already at a greater risk of mental health concerns. Little is known about how the pandemic impacted distress and mental health services utilization among university students across the United States., Methods: Using survey data from the National College Health Assessment, both before the COVID-19 pandemic (pre-March 2020, n  = 88,986) and during the pandemic (Spring 2021, n  = 96,489), the present study examined mental health symptoms and utilization of mental health services among undergraduate students attending four-year universities in the United States., Results: There were notable increases in measures of psychological distress and reductions in well-being from before the pandemic to during the pandemic. However, overall utilization rates of mental health services slightly decreased from pre-pandemic to during the pandemic. Predictors of severe psychological distress included those who experienced loneliness, COVID-19 related stressors, and loss of a loved one from COVID-19. COVID-related stressors and loneliness were associated with higher utilization rates of mental health services, while well-being and resilience were associated with lower utilization rates., Discussion: Analyses revealed that several demographic groups were at an elevated risk for severe psychological distress, including non-binary, female, and sexual minority students, and especially those who identify as both non-binary and non-heterosexual. Results indicated that students of color, especially female students of color, were less likely to receive mental health services. Future research is needed to increase our understanding of the barriers to mental health service use among high-risk university students., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Russell, Abidogun, Lindley and Griffin.)

Objectives: New prevention approaches that use engaging and innovative technologies are needed to reduce high rates of substance use and violence among university students. The present study developed and pilot-tested virtual reality (VR) technology that presented university students with immersive environments where they practiced skills with virtual peers. Methods: After viewing e-learning modules with prevention content, students engaged with immersive VR module prototypes to practice cognitive-behavioral skills for preventing risk behaviors, including assertive communication, negotiation, compromise, conflict resolution, and bystander intervention strategies. Results: Paired t-tests showed increases in life skills knowledge and anti-violence attitudes among students from the pretest to posttest assessments. Students and educators were enthusiastic about the VR prototypes, rating them as feasible, relevant, appealing, engaging, and innovative for prevention. Participants provided feedback on ways to improve the VR experience by including a greater variety of conflict situations, more nuanced branched scenarios and response options, and a more complete representation of all scenario outcomes. Conclusions: Findings suggest that VR scenarios are a promising strategy for enhancing life skills to help prevent health risk behaviors among university students., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Authors G.J.B., C.W., and S.M.S. are employees at National Health Promotion Associates (NHPA), which markets the Life Skills Training prevention program. K.W.G is a former employee of NHPA and currently serves as a consultant to NHPA.