Assessing the Relationship Between Mental Health Symptoms and Alcohol Consequences in College Drinkers

ABSTRACT

College drinking is a public health dilemma affecting the nation’s institutions of higher education. This article assesses the relationship between mental health symptoms and alcohol consequences experienced by college drinkers. It is a secondary data analysis of the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA II) Spring 2011 Executive Summary Data Set. The ACHA-NCHA II is a nationally recognized survey that supports colleges and universities in the data collection of their students’ mental, physical, and sexual health habits, behaviors, and perceptions of the campus wellness. A linear regression analysis test was used to test the relationship between the number of mental health symptoms and alcohol consequences. This article assesses whether male college students have more mental health symptoms when they experience alcohol consequences when compared to female college students. This study found female college students experience more mental health problem symptoms associated with alcohol consequences.

KEYWORDS:

• alcohol
• college students
• consequences
• mental health