Alcohol Use and Associated Problems among Veterans and Student Service Members

描述（由申请人提供）：尽管在2008年9/11后退伍军人教育援助法案（通常被称为“新GI法案”）通过后，大学校园里的退伍军人学生人数急剧增加，但人们对退伍军人从军队生活转向大学生活时的健康问题，特别是与酒精有关的问题知之甚少。鉴于先前的研究表明，退伍军人有患上与酒精有关的问题和障碍的风险，他们进入另一个危险的环境，即大量饮酒的大学校园，可能会加剧这些风险，并不成比例地影响他们的健康和适应。因此，本研究将调查退伍军人/学生服务人员在（重新）进入大学后的酒精使用和滥用的患病率及其相关因素。它特别探讨了学生退伍军人的酒精相关认知和使用模式是否与他们的非军人同龄人不同，以及他们是否也因饮酒而经历了更大比例的负面结果（心理健康、社会和学术）。样本包括354名学生（195名退伍军人/学生服务人员；68名后备军官训练队学生；91名平民学生）。数据收集将涉及基于互联网的调查，涉及与酒精相关的预期、信念、消费模式以及心理健康（例如，包括抑郁症、心理困扰、创伤后应激障碍）和学术（GPA、专业、学术自我效能感、控制点）相关的相关因素。还将探讨个人（例如，战斗暴露），人际（例如，社会支持）和机构（例如，校园酒精文化）的酒精使用预测因素。关于退伍军人/学生服务人员在大学期间酒精使用和滥用的患病率及其相关因素的假设将主要通过多层次结构方程模型进行检验。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Despite the fact that student veteran populations on college campuses stand to dramatically increase following the passage of the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2008 (commonly referred to as the "new GI Bill"), little is known about the health issues, specifically alcohol-related, of veterans as they shift from military life to college life. Given that previous research suggests that veterans are at risk for developing alcohol-related problems and disorders, their entry into another hazardous environment, the heavy-alcohol consuming college campus, may exacerbate these risks and disproportionately affect their well-being and adjustment. Therefore, this study will examine the prevalence and correlates of military veterans'/student service members' alcohol use and abuse following (re)entry into college. It specifically explores whether student veterans' alcohol-related cognitions and patterns of use differ from those of their non-military peers, as well as whether they also experience a greater proportion of negative outcomes (mental health, social, and academic) as a result of their alcohol use. The sample includes 354 students (195 veterans/student service members; 68 ROTC students; 91 civilian students). Data collection will involve internet-based surveys addressing alcohol-related expectancies, beliefs, consumption patterns, as well as mental health (e.g., including depression, psychological distress, posttraumatic stress disorder) and academic (GPA, major, academic self-efficacy, locus of control) related correlates. Individual (e.g., combat exposure), interpersonal (e.g., social support), and institutional (e.g., campus alcohol culture) predictors of alcohol use will also be explored. Hypotheses regarding the prevalence and correlates of military veterans'/student service members' alcohol use and abuse during college will be primarily tested via multi-level structural equations modeling. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This study examines prevalence and correlates of student service members' alcohol use/abuse following (re)entry into college. We have particular interest in establishing whether veterans' alcohol use patterns are differentially linked to negative health, social, and academic outcomes. Identification of these factors will provide universities with necessary insight for the development of support programming to aid in successful academic and personal functioning of this special sub-group.