Document Type

Report

Publication Date

8-1-1996

Keywords

Students, Health Risk, Behavior, 1996, national, college, students, demographics, intentional, unintentional, alcohol., drug, use, tobacco, sex, sexual, body, weight, nutrition, exercise, exertion

Abstract

In May, 1995, the National College Health Risk Behavior Survey-developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-was mailed to 1,000 randomly selected Western Washington University students. The final tally of completed forms was 482, a 48.2% survey response rate. The National College Health Risk Behavior Survey was established by the CDC to monitor the prevalence of behaviors most influencing the health of college students. In addition to Western students, the survey was administered to over 10,000 representative college students nationwide. (Baseline data from that administration was not available at the time of the publication of this report). The National College Health Risk Behavior Survey gathers data in six behavioral categories contributing to the leading causes of mortality and morbidity among college students: 1) behaviors that result in unintentional or intentional injuries; 2) use of tobacco; 3) use of alcohol and other drugs 4) sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection; 5)body weight/nutrition; and 6) physical activity. The primary purpose of administering the Health Risk Behavior Survey at Western was to produce baseline data on the status of college student health, especially as it relates to the 29 national health objectives described in Healthy People 2000: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services #91-50212, 1991.) To date no such comprehensive assessment of the overall health of Western students exists. While student utilization rates of health services have been rigorously recorded, and though utilization rates are important for assuring adequate delivery of such services, they do not accurately reflect the health profile of the student body as a whole. Data from the Health Risk Behavior Survey completes the picture of student health at Western and is invaluable to strategic planning processes targeting the most compelling student needs.

Identifier

398

Publisher

Digital object produced by Office of Survey Research, Western Washington University, and made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Subjects - Topical (LCSH)

College students--Alcohol use--Washington (State)--Bellingham--Statistics; College students--Drug use--Washington (State)--Bellingham--Statistics; College students--Sexual behavior--Washington (State)--Bellingham--Statistics

Genre/Form

Reports

Type

Text

Rights

This resource is provided for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries.

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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