National College Health Assessment III 2020

The ACHA-National College Health Assessment III is a nationally recognized survey that assists college health service providers, educators, counselors, wellness programmers, and administrators in collecting data about their students’ health habits. The survey provides a comprehensive picture on student health behaviors, perceptions of health, and identifies prevalent health issues on campus. The topic area of this survey consists of issues on campus concerning alcohol, tobacco, drug use, sexual health, weight management, exercise, nutrition, mental health, personal safety and violence. Different campus communities vary in need, and these data collected provides invaluable feedback on how we can better provide relevant resources, services, and programs for our campus community.

To support the recommendations and the requirements of the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act (DFSCA) and Drug Abuse and Alcohol Prevention Program (DAAPP), this biennial survey influences campus policies that address the possession, use and distribution of alcohol and illicit drugs, as well as drug and alcohol prevention programming on campus. More information on DFSCA and DAAPP can be found HERE.

Below are the key findings and action items based off the National College Health Assessment III 2020 survey results. A full executive summary can be found HERE.

Survey Respondent Demographics

• 16% of UNTHSC students participated in this survey (372 survey responses).
  • 71.8% Female
  • 26.3% Male
  • 0.8% Non-binary

General Health and Campus Climate

• 59.6% of students surveyed described their health to be very good or excellent.
  • 67.3% M
  • 57.4% F
• 92.9% of respondents described their health as good, very good or excellent.
• 72.9% of respondents felt that they belonged at HSC.
• 71.2% of respondents felt that student health and well-being is a priority at HSC.
• 74.2% of respondents felt that the campus climate encourages free and open discussion of students’ health and well-being.
• 73.1% of respondents felt that the campus community looked out for each other.

Nutrition, BMI, Physical Activity, and Food Security

• Nutrition
  • 46.4% of respondents reported drinking 0 sugar-sweetened beverages within 7 days of taking the survey.
  • 79.3% of respondents reported drinking 0 energy drinks within 30 days of taking the survey.
  • Within 7 days of taking the survey, 17.1% respondents reported eating 3 or more servings of fruit per day and 35.4% reported eating 3 or more servings of vegetables.
• BMI
  • 53.8% of respondents had a BMI within the healthy weight range (18.5 – 24.9), 23.6% fell within the overweight range (25 – 29.9), and 8.9% fell within the obese range (30 – 34.9).
• Physical Activity
  • 38% of respondents reported engaging in the recommended amount of exercise set by the American College of Sports Medicine, whereas 32% of students met recommendation in 2018.
  • 26.6% of respondents reported engaging in vigorous-intensity exercise meeting the guidelines for highly active adults.
• Food Security
  • In the 30 days leading up to the survey, 14.6% of respondents reported experiencing low food security, and 7.5% reported very low food security.
  • In the 30 days leading up to the survey, 22.1% of respondents reported experiencing some kind of food insecurity.

• Status Update:
  • In 2019 and 2020 the Office of Care and Civility:
    • Regularly promoted the on-campus food pantry.
    • Regularly promoted Tarrant Area Food Bank during campus closures.
    • Offered Thanksgiving and holiday food drives.
    • Opened second food pantry location on campus.
    • Programming on healthy eating habits, eating disorders, and healthy holiday eating.
    • Waived the Fitness Center fee for students.
    • Offered regular group exercise classes (in person and virtually) and self-defense classes.
    • Regularly posted the workout of the day (3 days a week) in the daily news and Facebook.

• Nutrition, BMI, Physical Activity, and Food Security Action Items:
  • Utilize alternative ways to market and distribute student food pantry items, including fruits and vegetables.
  • The fitness center will offer regular group exercise classes (in person and virtually), as well as offer free online services and resources.
  • Explore opportunities to collaborate with community and campus partners to address food insecurity on campus.

Health Care Utilization

• Within the last 12 months, respondents reported experiencing the following:
  • 24.4% receiving psychological or mental health services.
    • 16.3% M
    • 27.7% F
  • Of the respondents who received psychological or mental health services, 45.2% of students used a resource on campus.
    • 35.7%M
    • 47.1%F
  • 73.2% (58.2%M vs 78.7%F) visited a medical provider w/in the last 12M.
    • 47.6% (58.2%M vs 78.7%F) used campus health center.
    • 60.3% (52.7%M vs 62.4%F) used medical service provider in their home town.
  • 11.4% (8.2%M vs 12.7%F) have been tested for HIV w/in the last 12M.
  • 19.3% (20.4%M vs 19.1%F) have been tested for HIV more than 12 months ago, whereas 35.2% or respondents reported being tested in 2018.
  • 63.2% respondents reported ever having a GYN visit or exam.
  • Of the respondents that reported receiving the HPV vaccine, 51.8% completed the series.
  • 59.6% of respondents reported having a dental exam in the last 12 months, compared to 68.1% of respondents in 2018.

• Status Update:
  • In 2019 and 2020 the Office of Care and Civility:
    • Marketed services offered at the Student Health Clinic on campus, STI testing, routine health check-ups, and community resources.
    • Raised awareness around routine preventive health services offered on campus and in the community, and addressed stigma surrounding issues related sexual and reproductive health.
    • Offered free condoms in the student food pantries and fitness center bathrooms.

• Health Care Utilization Action Items:
  • Increase marketing for medical and health related prevention services.
  • Offer awareness programming related to sexual and reproductive health.
  • Regular promotion of MYSSP and in person campus mental health resources.

Impediments to Academic Performance

• Within the last 12 months, students reported the following factors negatively impacting their individual academic performance:
  • 33.3% Procrastination
  • 31.5% Stress
  • 22% Anxiety
  • 15.6% Sleep difficulties
  • 14.8% Depression

• Status Update:
  • In 2019 and 2020 the Office of Care and Civility offered:
    • “Go Relax” events twice a semester. After campus closure, a virtual relaxation room was created to provide students with a virtual space to practice stress management and relax.
    • Events and educational materials addressing stress management, sleep health, communication, and how to foster healthy relationships with others were included in the regular programming.

• Impediments to Academic Performance Action Items:
  • Increase marketing for medical and health related prevention services.
  • Regular promotion of MYSSP and in person campus mental health resources.
  • Education and programming addressing sleep health, stress management, and time management.
  • “Go Relax” stress reduction program will continue to be offered twice a semester.

Violence, Abusive Relationships, and Personal Safety

• Within 12 months of taking the survey, students reported the following experiences with violence, abusive relationships, and personal safety:
  • 3.6% Verbal threat, compared to 9.9% 2018.
  • 1.6% Sexual touching without their consent, compared to 3.4% in 2018.
  • 1.1% Sexual penetration without their consent, compared to 1.5% in 2018.
  • 1.6% Being the victim of stalking, compared to 2.7% in 2018.
  • 6.9% A partner called me names, insulted me, or put me down to make me feel bad.
• 34.4% of college students felt very safe on campus at night, whereas 51.1% felt safe in 2018.
• 23.3% felt very safe in the community surrounding campus at night, whereas 26.8% felt safe in 2018.

• Status Update:
  • In 2019 and 2020, the Office of Care and Civility offered:
    • Several free self-defense classes intermittently through 2019. These classes were free to all students, faculty, and staff members.
    • Educational materials surrounding healthy relationships, communication, and consent.
    • Events and video lectures addressing situational awareness, trauma informed responses to survivors, stalking education, and how to create protective factors to prevent sexual violence. These events were in collaboration with the HSC PD, Women’s Center of Tarrant County, and SafeHaven of Tarrant County.

• Violence, Abusive Relationships, and Personal Safety Action Items:
  • Lunch and learn presentations, in collaboration with HSC PD, on personal safety and violence risk reduction.
  • Infographics and educational materials related to consent, stalking, sexual assault and abuse, and campus and community resources will be distributed across campus several times a year.
  • Frequent promotion of the Student of Concern Reporting Form
  • Educational material related to bystander intervention and unhealthily relationships.

Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Drug Use

• Within 3 months of taking the survey, students reported the following concerning tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use:
  • 5.6% Tobacco products.
    • Cigarettes and E-cigarettes were most reported.
  • 68.3% Alcoholic beverages.
  • 8.9% Cannabis.
  • 1.9% Prescription stimulants for nonmedical use.
  • 1.6% Hallucinogens.
  • 1.1% Prescription opioids for nonmedical use.
• 3% of students surveyed indicated they were in recovery from alcohol or other drug use.
• Within 30 days of taking the survey, of the respondents who reported drinking or using cannabis:
  • 19.5% reported driving after having any alcohol.
  • 38.5% reported driving within 6 hours of using cannabis.
• Of the students who reported drinking, within the 2-week period leading up to the survey, 31.8% reported having 5 or more drinks in one sitting.
• Among all students surveyed, within the 2-week period leading up to the survey, 17.4% reported having 5 or more drinks in one sitting.
• Of survey respondents who drank alcohol reported experiencing the following in the last 12 months when drinking:
  • 8.5% Did something they later regretted, compared to 22.5% in 2018.
  • 6.1% Blackout (forgot where they were for large periods of time and could not remember).
  • 11.7% Brownout (forgot where they were for short periods of time and could not remember).
  • 6.4% Had unprotected sex, compared to 16.3% in 2018.
  • 1.8% Physically injured themselves.
  • 1.1% Seriously considered suicide, compared to 2.7% in 2018.
  • 9.1% Reported one or more of the above.

• Status Update:
  • In 2019 and 2020 the Office of Care and Civility offered the following:
    • Infographics and educational materials addressing:
      • Safe social drinking strategies.
      • How alcohol and illicit drugs impact consent, sexual health, and behavior.
      • National educational resources for drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
      • How alcohol impacts sleep, cognitive functioning, and memory (blackout and brownout).
      • Positive stress management strategies as alternatives to drugs and alcohol.

• Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Drug Use Action Items:
  • Continue to promote and provide opportunities to practice positive stress management.
  • Continue to provide educational materials outlining the harms of drugs and alcohol.
  • Continue to promote campus and community recovery resources.

Sexual Behavior

• 44.6% of respondents had vaginal intercourse within two weeks of taking the survey.
• 36.7% or respondents had oral sex and 1.4% had anal sex within two weeks of taking the survey.
• Of the respondents who were sexually active within 12 months of taking the survey reported the following number of sexual partners:
  • 1 Partner: 88.8%
  • 2 Partners: 6.8%
  • 3 Partners: 2.4%
  • 4 Or more partners: 2.0%
• Of the respondents who were sexually active within 30 days of taking the survey used a condom “most of the time” or “always” when engaged in:
  • 30.9% Vaginal Intercourse
  • 3.7% Oral sex
  • 0% Anal intercourse
• Of the respondents who had vaginal intercourse within the last 12 months, 85.3% used some form of contraception.
• Of those who used contraceptives reported the following methods:
  • 47% Birth control pills
  • 35.4% External condom
  • 21.2% Withdrawal
  • 19.7% Intrauterine device
  • 5.6% Birth control implants
  • 4% The ring

• Sexual Behavior Status Update:
  • In 2019 and 2020 the Office of Care and Civility offered the following:
    • Healthy relationship presentations and campaigns.
    • Free condoms year-round to promote safer sex practices.
    • Educational materials related to STI testing, and campus and community resources.
    • Recognized and programmed for National HIV Testing Awareness Day, World HIV Testing Day, and National Condom Week.

• Sexual Behavior Action Items:
  • Continue to offer free condoms to encourage safer sex practices.
  • Continue to consistently offer educational materials addressing the importance of consent, campus and community STI testing resources, how to grow and maintain healthy relationships, and preventive sexual health services.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

• Regarding psychological distress and loneliness:
  • 70% of respondents had no or low psychological distress.
  • 39.8% of respondents experienced loneliness.
  • 16.9% of respondents had moderate psychological distress.
  • 13.1% of respondents had serious psychological distress.
• Within the last 12 months, survey respondents reported having challenges with the following:
  • 67.8% Procrastination
  • 42.8% Academics
  • 35.1% Finances
  • 35% Health of someone close to them
  • 32.6% Personal appearance
  • 28.2% Intimate relationships
  • 20% Death of a family member, friend, or someone close to them
  • 17.1% Microaggression
  • 14.9% Peers
  • 12% Faculty
  • 8.7% Discrimination
• 1.6% of respondents indicated they had attempted suicide within the 12 months leading up to the survey, and 16.6% had a positive suicidal screening.
• Within the 12 months leading up to the survey, respondents’ overall level of stress was the following:
  • 1.1% No stress
  • 17.1% Low stress
  • 53% Moderate stress
  • 28.8% High stress

• Mental Health and Well-being Status Update:
  • In 2019 and 2020 the Office of Care and Civility offered:
    • Multiple Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) suicide prevention trainings throughout the academic year.
    • “Go Relax” events twice a semester (including virtually), providing students with opportunities to participate in healthy evidence-based methods of positive stress management and produce an environment conducive to building relationships with other students.
    • Non-clinical case management support from the Care Team for academic, emotional, and physical concerns.
    • Infographics and educational materials concerning self-care, mental wellness, social connectedness and campus and community resources.
    • 24/7 in the moment counseling available through the Student Support Program.

• Mental Health and Well-being Action Items:
  • Offer Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) suicide prevention trainings twice a semester.
  • Continue to host the “Go Relax” event twice a semester.
  • Regularly promote Care Team services for academic, emotional, and physical concerns.
  • Frequently promote My Student Support Program (My SSP) with 24/7 in the moment counseling services.
  • Continue to recognize and program for “Go Relax,” Wellness Week, Mental Health Month, Suicide Prevention Week and Mental Illness Awareness Week.

Acute Conditions

• Survey respondents were diagnosed by a healthcare professional for the following conditions within the 12 months leading up to the survey:
  • 17.7% Cold/virus or other respiratory illness
  • 8.4% Orthopedic injury
  • 7.7% Urinary tract infection
  • 6% Stomach or GI virus or bug, food poisoning or gastritis
  • 5.5% Influenza or flu-like illness
  • 2.2% Bronchitis
  • 1.6% Chlamydia

Ongoing or Chronic Conditions

• Survey respondents were diagnosed with the following chronic conditions at some point in their lives:
  • 24.6% Anxiety
  • 16.9% Depression
  • 8.7% ADD/ADHD
  • 3.5% Obsessive-compulsive and related conditions
  • 3% PTSD
  • 2.7% Eating disorders
• Of the respondents who have been previously diagnosed, the following reported contacting a healthcare or mental health professional within 12 months leading up to the survey:
  • 84.4% ADD/ADHD
  • 69.7% Anxiety
  • 67.7% Depression
  • 54.5% PTSD
  • 38.5% Eating disorders
  • 38.5% Obsessive-compulsive and related conditions
  • 10% Eating disorders

Sleep

• Reported amount of time to usually fall asleep at night (sleep onset latency):
  • 49.9% Less than 15 minutes
  • 24.9% Between 16 and 30 minutes
  • 25.2% Over 30 minutes
• In the two weeks leading up to the survey, respondents reported the following average amount of sleep (excluding naps):
  • 43.4% Less than 7 hours
  • 55.6% Between 7 and 9 hours
  • 1.1% Over 10 hours
• In the 7 days leading up to the survey, respondents reported the following about how many days they experienced daytime sleepiness:
  • 5.2% 0 days
  • 22.8% 1-2 days
  • 41% 3-5 days
  • 31% 6-7 days
• In the 7 days leading up to the survey, respondents reported the follow about how many days a week they felt well rested:
  • 17.1% 0 days
  • 36.7% 1-2 days
  • 35.1% 3-5 days
  • 11.1% 6-7 days

• Sleep Status Update:
  • In 2019 and 2020 the Office of Care and Civility offered:
    • Programming for National Sleep Awareness Week.
    • Lunch and learn presentations on general sleep health.
    • A campus wide sleep challenge.
    • Virtual Sleep Health Q&A presentation.
    • Stress management workshops to indirectly help with sleep quality.
    • Infographics addressing healthy sleep habits.

• Sleep Action Items:
  • Continue to recognize National Sleep Awareness Week.
  • Regularly provide educational materials addressing general sleep health.
  • Increase the number of stress and time management programs each year.