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Biomedical subjects

N D Brener

Publications and source records attributed to N D Brener.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Binge drinking among undergraduate college students in the United States: implications for other substance use.

The authors examined the relationship between binge drinking and other substance use among US college students, using nationally representative data from the 1995 National College Health Risk Behavior Survey implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Compared with nonbinge drinkers, current binge drinkers were significantly more likely to report "ever" using and current use of cigarettes, marijuana, cocaine, and other illegal drugs. The researchers also found that the more often students binge drank, the more likely they were to have ever used cigarettes, marijuana, cocaine, and other drugs, and the more likely they were to report current use of cigarettes and marijuana. Those who design programs to prevent binge drinking and use of other substances should take into account the reality that many students use more than one substance and that the more frequently students report binge drinking, the more likely they are to be using other substances as well.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

US college students' reports of receiving health information on college campuses.

Institutions of higher education are in a unique position to promote healthy behaviors by providing health education to students, but little information exists about the proportion of students reached by such efforts. The authors used data from a nationally representative sample of college students to describe the extent to which students reported receiving health information from their colleges and universities, to examine the characteristics of students who received such information, and to determine specific sources of health information. Approximately three quarters of college students reported they received information on at least one health topic, and 6% received information on all of the topics examined. Those who reported receiving health information from their colleges or universities were likely to be "traditional" college students. To achieve relevant national health objectives, health educators must increase the proportion of students they reach and the number of health topics they cover.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Substance use on school property among students attending alternative high schools in the United States.

We analyzed nationally representative data from the 1998 National Alternative High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to determine the prevalence of substance use on school property among alternative high school students in the United States, to describe the characteristics of students who use substances on school property, and to examine the interrelationships of substance-use behaviors. During the 30 days preceding the survey, nearly 48 percent of students used at least one substance on school property and 17 percent used more than one substance on school property. Males were more likely than females and white students were more likely than black or Hispanic students to have used substances on school property. The results of this and other studies suggest that school administrators, public health practitioners, and policy makers should work to improve strategies for reducing substance use in this heterogeneous, hard-to-reach population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Contextual influences on school provision of health services.

PURPOSE: To examine contextual factors that may facilitate or impede the provision of school health services. METHODS: Using a composite database derived primarily from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we used logistic regression to examine how selected characteristics of communities, schools, and state-level policies are related to the provision of specific health services by high schools. RESULTS: Schools whose students experienced more health risks were generally more likely to provide related services than schools whose students experienced fewer risks. State policies and requirements for health-related programs and services were associated with greater school-based provision of services. Availability of health care services within the community was associated with a reduced likelihood that schools provided similar services on-site; however, for some health services, the reverse was true. In general, more affluent communities were more likely to provide school health services than less affluent communities. Public schools were more likely to offer health services than private schools. CONCLUSIONS: Certain characteristics of communities, schools, and state-level policies are associated with the provision of school health services. These contextual factors appear to operate by creating a demand for services and by creating the opportunity for schools to provide health services.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Suicide ideation among US college students. Associations with other injury risk behaviors.

Suicide, the endpoint of a continuum that begins with suicide ideation, is the third leading cause of death among the US college-aged population. The first and second leading causes of death among this age group, unintentional injury and homicide, may also be linked to suicide ideation. We used data from the National College Health Risk Behavior Survey to examine the association between suicide ideation and injury-related behaviors among 18- to 24-year-old college students. Students who reported suicide ideation were significantly more likely than students who did not report considering suicide to carry a weapon, engage in a physical fight, boat or swim after drinking alcohol, ride with a driver who had been drinking alcohol, drive after drinking alcohol, and rarely or never used seat belts. Given this clustering of injury-related risk behaviors, college prevention programs should aim to reduce risks for injuries comprehensively, rather than addressing each risk behavior separately.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The association of sexual behaviors with socioeconomic status, family structure, and race/ethnicity among US adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the relation of socioeconomic status (SES), family structure, and race/ethnicity to adolescent sexual behaviors that are key determinants of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). METHODS: The 1992 Youth Risk Behavior Survey/Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey provided family data from household adults and behavioral data from adolescents. RESULTS: Among male and female adolescents, greater parental education, living in a 2-parent family, and White race were independently associated with never having had sexual intercourse. Parental education did not show a linear association with other behaviors. Household income was not linearly related to any sexual behavior. Adjustment for SES and family structure had a limited effect on the association between race/ethnicity and sexual behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in adolescent sexual behavior by race and SES were not large enough to fully explain differences in rates of pregnancy and STD infection. This suggests that other factors, including access to health services and community prevalence of STDs, may be important mediating variables between SES and STD transmission and pregnancy among adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Trends in suicide ideation and suicidal behavior among high school students in the United States, 1991-1997.

To examine trends in suicide ideation and behavior over time, the authors analyze data from nationally representative samples of between 10,904 and 16,296 students participating in the 1991, 1993, 1995, and 1997 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. These data describe the proportion of United States students in grades 9 through 12 that reported having (1) seriously considered attempting suicide, (2) made a plan to attempt suicide, (3) attempted suicide, and (4) made an injurious suicide attempt. From 1991 to 1997, the percentage of students seriously considering suicide and the percentage that made a suicide plan showed significant linear decreases. However, the percentage of students that made an injurious suicide attempt showed a significant linear increase. These trends make it unlikely that relevant national health objectives for the year 2000 will be met. Additional efforts are needed to identify and disseminate strategies that effectively reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors among adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Recent trends in violence-related behaviors among high school students in the United States.

CONTEXT: Violence-related behaviors such as fighting and weapon carrying are associated with serious physical and psychosocial consequences for adolescents. OBJECTIVE: To measure trends in nonfatal violent behaviors among adolescents in the United States between 1991 and 1997. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Nationally representative data from the 1991, 1993, 1995, and 1997 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys were analyzed to describe the percentage of students in grades 9 through 12 who engaged in behaviors related to violence. Overall response rates for each of these years were 68%, 70%, 60%, and 69%, respectively. To assess the statistical significance of time trends for these variables, logistic regression analyses were conducted that controlled for sex, grade, and race or ethnicity and simultaneously assessed linear and higher-order effects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported weapon carrying, physical fighting, fighting-related injuries, feeling unsafe, and damaged or stolen property. RESULTS: Between 1991 and 1997, the percentage of students in a physical fight decreased 14%, from 42.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 40.1%-44.9%) to 36.6% (95% CI, 34.6%-38.6%); the percentage of students injured in a physical fight decreased 20%, from 4.4% (95% CI, 3.6%-5.2%) to 3.5% (95% CI, 2.9%-4.1%); and the percentage of students who carried a weapon decreased 30%, from 26.1% (95% CI, 23.8%-28.4%) to 18.3% (95% CI, 16.5%-20.1%). Between 1993 and 1997, the percentage of students who carried a gun decreased 25%, from 7.9% (95% CI, 6.6%-9.2%) to 5.9% (95% CI, 5.1%-6.7%); the percentage of students in a physical fight on school property decreased 9%, from 16.2% (95% CI, 15.0%-17.4%) to 14.8% (95% CI, 13.5%-16.1 %); and the percentage of students who carried a weapon on school property decreased 28%, from 11.8% (95% CI, 10.4%-13.2%) to 8.5% (95% CI, 7.0%-10.0%). All of these changes represent significant linear decreases. CONCLUSIONS: Declines in fighting and weapon carrying among US adolescents between 1991 and 1997 are encouraging and consistent with declines in homicide, nonfatal victimization, and school crime rates. Further research should explore why behaviors related to interpersonal violence are decreasing and what types of interventions are most effective.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Forced sexual intercourse and associated health-risk behaviors among female college students in the United States.

This study analyzed data from the 1995 National College Health Risk Behavior Survey (NCHRBS) to assess the prevalence of lifetime rape among female college students and to examine the association between rape and health-risk behaviors. The NCHRBS used a mail questionnaire to assess health-risk behaviors among a nationally representative sample of undergraduate students. Twenty percent of female students reported ever having been forced to have sexual intercourse, most often during adolescence. When analyses controlled for demographic characteristics, female students who had ever been raped were significantly more likely than those who had not to report a wide range of health-risk behaviors. These results highlight a need to improve rape prevention and treatment programs for female adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Suicidal ideation among college students in the United States.

This study analyzed data from the 1995 National College Health Risk Behavior Survey (NCHRBS) to assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation among college students in the United States and to examine the association between suicidal ideation and substance use in this population. The NCHRBS used a mail questionnaire to assess health-risk behaviors in a nationally representative sample of undergraduate students. During the 12 months preceding the survey, 10% of the students had seriously considered attempting suicide. When controlling for demographic characteristics, the analysis showed that students who had considered suicide were at increased odds of using tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs. These results suggest that colleges and universities should establish suicide prevention programs that also address the related problem of substance use.

Adolescent↗