Objective: This study examines endorsement of male rape myths among U.S. undergraduates, varying perpetrator gender, and assessing differences by respondent gender, race, and partisanship. Participants: Roughly 945 U.S. undergraduates. Materials and methods: Using survey data, we assess attitudes toward victim blame, the need for counseling, and the perceived impossibility of male sexual victimization. Results: Respondents generally reject male rape myths, but endorsement increases when the perpetrator is a woman, especially those implying the victim could have prevented the assault or does not require counseling. Women are more likely than men to reject myths, with gender gaps widening when the perpetrator is a woman. Racial differences are modest but consistent, with Black respondents showing somewhat higher myth acceptance, particularly those related to blame and legitimacy of male sexual victimization. Republicans were significantly more likely than Democrats to endorse male rape myths across perpetrator scenarios. Discussion: Results suggest that gendered, racialized, and partisan worldviews shape male rape myths.

Objectives Stepped care models (SCM) for mental health support use standardized measures to assess post-secondary students’ mental health and assign care. Understanding students’ perceptions of these measures and data use is essential for effective outcomes. This study explored students’ views regarding utility of standardized measures and their recommendations for data use by providers. Participants Eighteen Canadian undergraduates who completed a survey with standardized measures and a diagnostic interview. Methods Semi-structured Zoom interviews. Codebook thematic analysis identified key themes. Results Most participants self-identified as female and South/East Asian or Canadian. Three themes emerged: Enhanced Engagement and Empowerment, Greater Responsiveness to Diversity and Context, and Data-Driven Improvement. Students reported that completing measures increased self-awareness and engagement. Students wanted their data to inform improvements to campus-based services. Conclusions Standardized measures can enhance student self-awareness and empowerment. The ability to contextualize experiences and using student data to inform care may inform more effective support.

Objective This study estimated the prevalence of psychological disabilities among university students, characterized associations between symptom severity and functional limitations, explored self-identification and service registration across mental health diagnoses, and examined mental health stigma’s effect on service access. Participants 104,729 post-secondary students from the 2023–2024 Healthy Minds Study. Methods Descriptive statistics addressed the first three aims; multivariable logistic regression addressed the fourth. Results Self-reported psychological disabilities comprised 13.1% of all disabilities. Self-reported functional limitations increased sigmoidally with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores. Students with anxiety and depression were least likely to self-identify as having a psychological disability despite reporting functional limitations. Personal and perceived stigma were not associated with DSO registration, but were negatively associated with mental health treatment access; help-seeking stigma was negatively associated with both. Discussion Novel self-identification, self-disclosure and stigma data are provided to support improved reporting and service access for students with psychological disabilities.

Objective: To assess PrEP awareness, HIV risk perception, uptake, and factors influencing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among college students in South Carolina. Participants: A total of 174 students attending sexual health and HIV testing events at 20 college campuses, including all eight HBCUs in South Carolina. Methods: A 17-item electronic survey was administered (September–October 2024). Descriptive analyses examined demographics, PrEP awareness, HIV risk, preferences, and use. Results: Half of the respondents had heard of PrEP, and 2% reported current use. Most considered themselves at no or low HIV risk, including 80% of those with a recent sexually transmitted infection (STI) and 85.6% with inconsistent condom use. Barriers included low perceived risk, lack of knowledge, and cost concerns. Nonheterosexual men had higher PrEP awareness and risk perception but low uptake. Conclusions: Findings highlight the need for focused education, improved risk perception, and expanded PrEP access through trusted providers, including college health centers and primary care clinics.

Objective: Sleep hygiene may contribute to the frequent co-occurrence of major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which is linked to more severe impairment than either disorder alone. MDD and GAD share sleep dysfunction, which may involve poor sleep hygiene. This study tested whether poor sleep hygiene strengthens the relationship between GAD and MDD symptoms. Participants: 180 undergraduate students from a large Southern university participated. Methods: In this cross-sectional design, participants completed measures of anxiety, depression, and sleep hygiene. Moderation analyses were conducted to examine whether sleep hygiene altered the association between GAD and MDD symptoms. Results: Analyses revealed that the positive relationship between GAD and MDD symptoms was stronger among individuals reporting poorer sleep hygiene, particularly in environmental and behavioral domains. Conclusions: These findings support the role of sleep hygiene in the co-occurrence of GAD and MDD symptoms. Poor sleep hygiene may intensify symptom co-occurrence, highlighting the importance of targeting sleep-related behaviors in interventions for young adults experiencing GAD and MDD symptoms.

Objective This study compared NCAA suicide rates by gender, sport, contact type, participation type, and division over 12 academic years. Participants NCAA student-athletes. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort review of NCAA student-athlete deaths. We calculated suicide incidence rates per 100,000 student-athletes and associated 95% confidence intervals by gender, sport, contact type, participation type, and division. Results Suicide accounted for 12.79% of all deaths. Men died at a higher suicide rate than women (1.96 vs. 0.57/100,000 student-athletes). Men’s lacrosse student-athletes demonstrated the highest suicide rate (3.47/100,000). Contact/collision student-athletes died by suicide more than noncontact and limited contact, as did team compared to individual sport student-athletes (2.10, 1.20, and 1.12/100,000, respectively; 1.67 and 1.25/100,000, respectively). Division I student-athletes experienced the highest suicide rate compared to Divisions II and III (1.57, 1.48, and 1.07/100,000, respectively). Conclusions Knowing which NCAA student-athletes are most susceptible to suicide is critical for specific and effective suicide prevention programming.

Background: Cultural background may influence how college women access and communicate about sexual and reproductive health (SRH). This study examined how cultural contexts shape SRH information-seeking behaviors and healthcare engagement among college women. Methods: Forty female undergraduates (20 Asian American, 20 White) at a Southern U.S. university participated in four culturally homogeneous focus groups exploring SRH information-seeking, family communication, healthcare access, and provider relationships. Using the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) framework and constant comparative analysis, qualitative themes were identified. A post-session survey assessed healthcare utilization patterns. Results: Five themes emerged: health information-seeking behaviors, cultural implications, familial support networks, SDOH influences, and patient–physician dynamics. Many Asian American participants relied on online research due to limited family communication about sexuality, while White participants reported greater engagement with family and healthcare providers. Survey results revealed notable disparities in healthcare utilization, with 75% of White participants reporting prior OB/GYN visits compared with fewer than 10% of Asian American participants. Conclusions: Cultural and familial contexts appear to shape SRH information-seeking behaviors and healthcare engagement among college women. These findings highlight the importance of culturally responsive approaches that address structural barriers and communication norms in college health settings.

Objectives This study examines the mediating roles of outcome expectancies in the relationship between perceived norms and e-cigarette use among college-aged young adults. Participants The sample of the study includes 616 college students (Mage = 20.49, SD = 1.48; women = 82.0%; White = 83.4%). Methods A confidential online survey on young adults’ e-cigarette network was administered to college students at a large Hispanic-serving public university in the southwestern United States Results Positive reinforcement expectancies partially mediated the association between descriptive norms and daily e-cigarette use frequency. Thus, descriptive norms had a positive indirect effect on daily e-cigarette use frequency through positive reinforcement expectancies. Conclusions The findings highlight that positive reinforcement outcome expectancies, such as enjoying the flavor of e-cigarettes, may be critical in explaining the association between descriptive norms and e-cigarette use among college students. College-based e-cigarette prevention campaigns should challenge positive beliefs about e-cigarettes and target students with negative reinforcement expectancies, who are at higher risk for dependence.

First Aid Kits (FAK) are stocked with medical supplies for minor injuries. At Tufts University, FAKs were installed as a student-led project to provide easily accessible medical supplies. After working with a multidisciplinary team at Tufts, FAKs were installed and usage data obtained. It was hypothesized that maintenance expenses would fall within the project’s projected costs, kits would be used regularly, and EMS calls and Health Service walk-ins for minor injuries would decrease. Results showed kits were well-used and initially experienced heightened use before dropping to roughly 60% of initial levels. The monthly cost to refill the kits was $11.23 per kit. Data on trends in the use of Health Services/EMS were insufficient to draw conclusions. This case study provides a blueprint for successful FAK installation on a college campus, and after a one-year pilot program, Tufts institutionalized the project within the Department of Public Safety.

Objective: Individuals with an evening chronotype face greater risk for adverse health outcomes. We examined whether social support, stress, and discrimination moderate the associations between chronotype, alcohol use, and depression/anxiety symptoms among college students. Participants: At a southeastern university in Fall 2017, 704 participants (mean age = 19.44 years; 71% female) completed measures on chronotype, alcohol use, depression/anxiety symptoms, social support, stress, and discrimination. Methods: Moderation analyses assessed stress and social support as joint moderators of alcohol use and depressive/anxiety symptoms, and discrimination as an independent moderator, controlling for covariates. Results: No significant interactions were found. However, main effects indicated that chronotype and psychosocial factors were independently linked to alcohol use and depressive/anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: Although moderation effects were not observed, these findings provide insight into how psychosocial factors may be related to chronotype and health outcomes among college students, highlighting future directions for chronotype research.