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AbstractThe increase in college enrollment for Hispanic college students warrants increased attention to their health and wellness. Given that a common threat to health and well-being in college students is alcohol use and that Hispanic college students are at elevated risk for alcohol-related problems, it is essential to investigate factors that might lead to heightened alcohol-related problems among this population. The present study is a secondary data analysis of an NIAAA-funded study investigating brief interventions for alcohol use among 583 heavy-drinking college students. Specifically, we examined the relationship between Hispanic student status and alcohol-related problems measured one month later. Additionally, we examined the indirect effects of Hispanic status on alcohol-related problems through drinking motives. Analyses revealed a significant association between Hispanic status and alcohol-related problems at baseline but no association between Hispanic status and problems at 1-month, controlling for baseline problems. An indirect effect of the prospective association between Hispanic student status and alcohol-related problems was evident for only one of the four drinking motives (coping). Our findings suggest that reducing coping motives for drinking among Hispanic college students may reduce alcohol-related problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective: An association exists between perceived belonging and depression among college students. Because a student’s sense of belongingness may vary as a function of their social identity, three identities – ethnicity, first-generation college student status, and sex – were investigated as potential moderators of this relationship. Participants: One hundred eighty-seven heavy-drinking college students (63% female; 52% non-Latinx White; M = 20 years of age) were assessed. Methods: Three hierarchical linear regressions were conducted to test whether belonging at baseline predicted depression at six months and whether each identity variable moderated this association. Results: Analyses yielded significant main effects between belonging and depression. Hispanic nor first-generation status interacted with belonging in predicting depression. Sex interacted with belonging where higher belongingness was associated with lower levels of depression only among female students. Conclusion: Mental health providers should consider asking female students about their perceptions of belonging on college campuses to understand their vulnerability to depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates social anxiety and drinking behaviors among 815 Hispanic students across Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs). Results highlight a significant relationship between social anxiety and increased drinking behaviors but were less for those in HSIs. Students at HSIs with more social anxiety also reported lower drinking consequences when compared to those at PWIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]