Health at SkidmoreJennifer Burden, ScD, CHESDirector of Health Promotion

jburden@skidmore.edu

580-5684

Skidmore Student Data Mental health Physical Activity Sexual Assault and

Relationship Violence – prevalence and perceptions

Body Image Disordered Eating and

Eating Disorders Nutrition

Sex “Hooking up” / The

“hookup culture” Tobacco Use Alcohol and drug

use/abuse Relationships with parents

– associations with drug and alcohol use

Alcohol and Drug Use

Alcohol vs. Other DrugsPercent of students who have

used in past month

Alcohol 84%

Marijuana 32%

Cocaine 6%

Amphetamines (diet pills, speed) 5%

Sedatives 3%

Hallucinogens 2%

Opiates (heroin, smack) 1%

Inhalants Less than 1%

Designer drugs Less than 1%CORE, 2006

Age of First Consumption

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Never Under12

12 to13

14 to15

16 to17

18 to20

21+

Males

Females

At what age did you first use alcohol (beer, wine, liquor)?

CORE, 2006

Alcohol consumption among first year students

94

74

53

31

0102030405060708090

100

Ever hadalcohol?

Ever beendrunk?

Drunk inpast 30 days?

Drunk atSkidmore?*

•No significant differences by participation in athletics, pre-orientation programming, or gender

•This is an increase from 26% of students in 2006 (not statistically significant)

Per

cen

t o

f S

tud

ents

Freshman Orientation Survey, 2008

Drinking Patterns Over Time

43%

22%

14%

9%

26%

27%

25%22%

17%

29%

28%

28%

14%

22%

33%

41%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

First Years Sophomores Juniors Seniors

Non-Drinkers Light Drinkers Moderate Drinkers Heavy Drinkers

Alcohol Survey, Fall 2007

Among students who did not drink on Friday night…

18%

37%

45%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

0 drinkson Sat

1-4drinkson Sat

5+drinkson Sat

Among students who had 5+ drinks on Friday night…

60%

34%

6%0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

0 drinkson Sat

1-4drinkson Sat

5+drinkson Sat

Alcohol Survey, Fall 2007

Alcohol Abuse Prevention Efforts

Services

Research Policy

Culture

Education BASICS

Parental Notification

NIH Recom-

mendations

Annual Surveys

MyStudentBody

Disordered Eating

EAT-26 Scoring

26 questions A total score on the EAT-26 that exceeds 20 is

indicative of a possible eating disorder. The EAT-26 is not a diagnostic tool, but identifies

the presence of symptoms that are consistent with a possible eating disorder

3 2 1 0 0 0

EAT – 26 at Skidmore 452 female Skidmore students completed the EAT-

26 in February of 2008. 15.8% had scores high enough to indicate a probable

eating disorder Our athletes are significantly LESS likely to have high

scores on the EAT 6.6% of female athletes 18.3% of female non-athletes

Our dance majors do not differ significantly from the general female student body

Weight and Self Image

Of those with potential eating disorders, 95.5% believe that they would feel better about who they are as a person if they lost weight

Among those with healthy eating habits, 61.8% believe that they would feel better about who they are as a person if they lost weight.

Weight Category

Percent of females who believe that it would be good for their health if

they lost weight

Percent of females who would feel better about who they are if they lost

weight

Overweight 95% 96%

Normal weight

38% 73%

Underweight 7% 20%

Unhealthy Weight Loss Strategies

13%

5%

14%

2%

12%

3%

7%

0%0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

Diet Pills InducedVomiting

No food24-hrs

Laxativesto lose wt

FemalesMales

Disordered Eating

Services

Research Policy

Culture

EducationHealth Services,

Nutritionist & Counseling

Collaboration

Annual Events

Annual Surveys

Conferences

Sleep

Sleep Less than 25% of students get 8 or more hours of

sleep on average through the week. The average is about 6 hours per night

65.2% of students report that they often have trouble falling asleep The #1 reason cited = Anxiety, worry, stress (86.6%)

82% of students report that it is generally difficult for them to wake up in the morning

During the 2006-2007 academic year 28.9% used over the counter meds to help them sleep 11.2% used prescription sleep medications

Employees and Sleep Only 14% of employees get at least 8 hours of

sleep per night 76.6% sleep between 6 and 7 hours per night 9.5% sleep fewer than 6 hours per night

Mental Health

Depression To assess depressive symptoms, students were asked

if they experienced any of the following for at least a two week period during the 2006-2007 academic year

Feelings of excessive, persistent lack of energy (34%) Diminished ability to think/concentrate (26%) Feelings of excessive, persistent restlessness (25%) Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day (24%) Diminished pleasure in activities all/almost all activities (24%) Difficulty sleeping nearly every day (21%) Feelings of worthlessness (20%) Significant weight changes without attempts to change wt (12%) Recurrent thoughts of suicide or death (7%)

Depression 52.6% of students reported at least one

symptom of depression 45.8% of students reported two or more

symptoms of depression 14.5% reported five or more symptoms of

depression

More on Depression Among students who experienced depressive

symptoms 36% reported that symptoms negatively impacted

their participation in extracurricular activities 45% reported that symptoms negatively impacted

their social relationships 42% reported that symptoms negatively impacted

their academic performance

Linkages… Depressive symptoms are highly correlated

with: Sleeping less than 7 hours per night (p<0.01) Poor academic performance:

Those with GPA’s under 3.0 are twice as likely to experience bouts of depressive symptoms

Stress 54% of students worry that they will not be able to

keep up with work in classes 13% of students worry that they might not graduate

on time 28% of students feel that they do NOT have strong

social connections at Skidmore 55% of students feel that it is difficult for them to get

everything done that they need to accomplish 76% of students find college to be stressful

Employee Stress 40% of employees reported high/above

average stress levels during the academic year This falls to 10% during the non-academic year Those reporting fewer than 8 hours of sleep per

night were significantly more likely to report high levels of stress than those sleeping 8 or more hours per night

Those working over 40 hours per week were also significantly more likely to report high levels of stress

Mental Health

Services

Research Policy

Culture

Education Counseling Center

PHQ-9

Annual Events

PHQ-9 & Annual Surveys

National Depression Screening Day

Sexual Safety

Condom Use Among sexually active students

(approximately 75% of the student body) Only 35.4% reported that they ALWAYS use a

condom when having intercourse 58% reported that they used a condom the last

time they had intercourse

Why No Condom “I'm in a monogamous relationship and on the pill.” “It was the second time in one morning, the first time we

did, the second we did not for no specific reason.” “Didn't have one “ “Put one on towards the end” “I was drunk and forgot to ask and it didn't seem as

though one was readily available.” “It feels better without a condom. I hoped/ doubted she

had anything.” “I was virgin, guess he didn't think it necessary, plus

kinda drunk”

Sexually Transmitted Infections 45.5% of sexually active respondents have NEVER

been tested for STI’s 77% do not feel that they are at risk 8% are frightened of the tests 9% do not know where to get tested 3% are worried that parents or friends might find out

about the testing Among those who have been tested, 9% have

received a positive STI test

Percent of students who haveHad a one night stand 51.9%

Been in a “friends with benefits” relationship

56.4%

Made out with someone who you knew for less than 24 hours

67.4%

Had oral sex with someone who you knew for less than 24 hours

32.5%

Had sexual intercourse with someone who you knew for less than 24 hours

26.2%

Drugs and Alcohol 63.4% of students reported that they have had

sex with someone who they were not in a committed relationship with. Of these: 57% were under the influence of alcohol or drugs

the last time this occurred “I usually hook up with someone for the first

time when I'm drunk and then we have sober encounters afterwards.”

From hook up to monogamy 55.3% of students have had a hook up

become a committed relationship “Most relationships naturally begin as flings or

hookups and develop into more committed relationships.”

“We were first friends, then we hooked up, then we became friends with benefits, and eventually stared going out.”

Physical Activity

Use of Skidmore Services & Facilities

Student participation

37%

61%

75%

38%

53%

19%

24%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

taken PA course

used weight rooms

used cardio equip

used pool

used woods trails

on an athletic team

intramurals

Physical Activity The current recommendations for physical activity:

Moderate physical activity - at least 30 minutes on 5 or more days per week 25% of Skidmore students meet this recommendation

Vigorous physical activity - at least 20 minutes on 3 or more days per week 29% of Skidmore student meet this recommendation

7.5% of Skidmore students meet the recommendation for BOTH moderate and vigorous physical activity

Over 75% of Skidmore employees reported that they engage in physical activity. Of these, 70% report levels of exercise that meet or exceed the

national recommendations.

Reasons for Inactivity Among the students who did not exercise in the

week preceding the survey: 69.6% said they did not have enough time to exercise 46.4% said that exercise is not convenient 46.4% said that they lack will power for exercise 30.4% said that they feel self conscious of how they look when

exercising 30.4% said that they don’t have someone to exercise with Other reasons given for not exercising included lack of interest,

bad weather, lacking energy, not having needed equipment, and not enjoying physical activity.

Health and Academic Success Academic failure, poor attendance rates, poor

grades, and poor concentration are consistently linked to: Health-related factors such as hunger, physical and

emotional abuse, and chronic illness Health-risk behaviors including substance use, violence,

and physical inactivity In addition:

Academic success is an excellent indicator for overall well-being and is predictive of adult health outcomes

Health-related behavioral choices made during young adulthood are predictive of adult health outcomes

In a class of 20 students:

Over 10 engaged in binge drinking at least once in the past 2 weeks

Three are struggling with depression

Six feel that they do not have strong social

connections at Skidmore

In a class of 20 students:

15 slept less than 7 hours

last night

Only 5 got enough physical activity this week

In a class of 20 students:

9 did not use a condom the last time they had sex

Nearly 10, despite being sexually active, have never been tested for STI’s

In a class of 20 students:

Nearly 3 have been victims of sexual assault

One is in an abusive relationship

Two are struggling with eating disorders

Campus Resources Health Promotions Staff:

Jennifer Burden, ScD, CHES, Director jburden@skidmore.edu 580-5684

Kate Rose Bobseine, MPH, Prevention Coordinator kbobsein@skidmore.edu 580-5484

Kate Child, MA, Health Educator kchild@skidmore.edu 580-8256

The Counseling Center 580-5555

Health Services 580-5550

The Center for Sex & Gender Relations Third floor of Case Center Weekend cell # 256 - 1439

Campus Safety Emergencies: 580-5566 Non-emergencies: 580-5567

Skidmore Data Available Mental health Physical Activity Sexual Assault and

Relationship Violence – prevalence and perceptions

Body Image Disordered Eating and

Eating Disorders Nutrition

Sex “Hooking up” / The

“hookup culture” Tobacco Use Alcohol and drug

use/abuse Relationships with parents

– associations with drug and alcohol use