In the United States, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and other sexually minoritized and gender expansive (LGBTQ+) young adults are at increased risk for experiencing mental health inequities, including anxiety, depression and psychological distress-related challenges associated with their sexual and gender identities. LGBTQ+ young adults may have unique experiences of sexual and gender minority-related vulnerability because of LGBTQ+-related minority stress and stressors, such as heterosexism, family rejection, identity concealment and internalized homophobia. Identifying and understanding specific LGBTQ+-related minority stress experiences and their complex roles in contributing to mental health burden among LGBTQ+ young adults could inform public health efforts to eliminate mental health inequities experienced by LGBTQ+ young adults. Therefore, this study sought to form empirically based risk profiles (i.e., latent classes) of LGBTQ+ young adults based on their experiences with familial heterosexist experiences, LGBTQ+-related family rejection, internalized LGBTQ+-phobia and LGBTQ+ identity concealment, and then identify associations of derived classes with psychological distress.

We recruited and enrolled participants using nonprobability, cross-sectional online survey data collected between May and August 2020 (N = 482). We used a three-step latent class analysis (LCA) approach to identify unique classes of response patterns to LGBTQ+-related minority stressor subscale items (i.e., familial heterosexist experiences, LGBTQ+-related family rejection, internalized LGBTQ+-phobia and LGBTQ+ identity concealment), and multinomial logistic regression to characterize the associations between the derived classes and psychological distress.

Five distinct latent classes emerged from the LCA: (1) low minority stress, (2) LGBTQ+ identity concealment, (3) family rejection, (4) moderate minority stress and (5) high minority stress. Participants who were classified in the high and moderate minority stress classes were more likely to suffer from moderate and severe psychological distress compared to those classified in the low minority stress class. Additionally, relative to those in the low minority stress class, participants who were classified in the LGBTQ+ identity concealment group were more likely to suffer from severe psychological distress.

Familial heterosexist experiences, LGBTQ+-related family rejection, internalized LGBTQ+-phobia and LGBTQ+ identity concealment are four constructs that have been extensively examined as predictors for mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ persons, and our study is among the first to reveal nuanced gradients of these stressors. Additionally, we found that more severe endorsement of minority stress was associated with greater psychological distress. Given our study results and the previously established negative mental health impacts of minority stressors among LGBTQ+ young adults, findings from our study can inform research, practice, and policy reform and development that could prevent and reduce mental health inequities among LGBTQ+ young adults.

Although some studies have examined the association between eating behaviour and elevated blood pressure (EBP) in adolescents, current data on the association between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and EBP in adolescents in Yunnan Province, China, are lacking.

Cluster sampling was used to survey freshmen at a college in Kunming, Yunnan Province, from November to December. Data on SSB consumption were collected using an FFQ measuring height, weight and blood pressure. A logistic regression model was used to analyse the association between SSB consumption and EBP, encompassing prehypertension and hypertension with sex-specific analyses.

The analysis included 4781 college students.

Elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were detected in 35·10 % (1678/4781) and 39·34 % (1881/4781) of patients, respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables, tea beverage consumption was associated with elevated SBP (OR = 1·24, 95 % CI: 1·03, 1·49, P = 0·024), and carbonated beverage (OR = 1·23, 95 % CI: 1·04, 1·45, P = 0·019) and milk beverage (OR = 0·81, 95 % CI: 0·69, 0·95, P = 0·010) consumption was associated with elevated DBP in college students. Moreover, fruit beverage (OR = 1·32, 95 % CI: 1·00, 1·75, P = 0·048) and milk beverage consumption (OR = 0·69, 95 % CI: 0·52, 0·93, P = 0·014) was associated with elevated DBP in males.

Our findings indicated that fruit and milk beverage consumption was associated with elevated DBP in males, and no association was observed with EBP in females.

This study aimed to develop and evaluate a scenario-based nutrition literacy (NL) online programme for Taiwanese college students.

A randomised pilot trial design was used in this study.

The study was conducted at a university in Taiwan. The intervention consisted of a five-unit web-based NL programme including videos of real-life scenario-based stories, situational analysis teaching and after-unit quizzes. Theme-related website information and smartphone apps (both iOS and Android systems) were offered for reference in every unit. The NL measure consisted of a self-rated scale, a scenario-based test and a healthy eating behaviour survey. Paired sample t-tests and ANCOVA were performed to test the effects on NL and healthy eating behaviour.

Participants were ninety-eight students, with a retention rate of 98 %. The ratio of men to women was 0·2:1. Most students were freshmen (48 %).

Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significant post-intervention improvements in the NL and healthy eating behaviours after controlling for pretest scores.

This pilot study offers preliminary evidence of the potential positive effects of implementing a scenario-based NL online programme for college students. It offers a possibly novel strategy to enhance health-promoting behaviours in Taiwanese universities. Further research with larger sample sizes and more rigorous designs is warranted to confirm and build upon these initial findings.

Prospective studies on the mental health of university students highlighted a major concern. Specifically, young adults in academia are affected by markedly worse mental health status than their peers or adults in other vocations. This situation predisposes to exacerbated disability-adjusted life-years.

We enroled 1,388 students at the baseline, 557 of whom completed follow-up after 6 months, incorporating their demographic information and self-report questionnaires on depressive, anxiety and obsessive–compulsive symptoms. We applied multiple regression modelling to determine associations – at baseline – between demographic factors and self-reported mental health measures and supervised machine learning algorithms to predict the risk of poorer mental health at follow-up, by leveraging the demographic and clinical information collected at baseline.

Approximately one out of five students reported severe depressive symptoms and/or suicidal ideation. An association of economic worry with depression was evidenced both at baseline (when high-frequency worry odds ratio = 3.11 [1.88–5.15]) and during follow-up. The random forest algorithm exhibited high accuracy in predicting the students who maintained well-being (balanced accuracy = 0.85) or absence of suicidal ideation but low accuracy for those whose symptoms worsened (balanced accuracy = 0.49). The most important features used for prediction were the cognitive and somatic symptoms of depression. However, while the negative predictive value of worsened symptoms after 6 months of enrolment was 0.89, the positive predictive value is basically null.

Students’ severe mental health problems reached worrying levels, and demographic factors were poor predictors of mental health outcomes. Further research including people with lived experience will be crucial to better assess students’ mental health needs and improve the predictive outcome for those most at risk of worsening symptoms.

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine factors potentially associated with psychological distress among undergraduate students during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Japan.

We analyzed data of 958 undergraduates (median age 20 y; 56.8% women) from a Web-based, self-administered questionnaire survey conducted from August to September 2020. Prevalence ratios (PRs) for psychological distress defined as 5 points or over of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) were calculated by Poisson regression models.

The proportion of psychological distress was 40.0%. In the mutually-adjusted model, the following were significantly associated with psychological distress: decreases in household income to 50-99% of the prepandemic amount compared with no change (PR = 1.48), newly experiencing unpaid wages compared with no experience (PR = 1.44), insufficient money to buy necessities compared with no shortage (PR = 1.45), receiving a student loan or scholarship compared with none (PR = 1.27), and communication 1 to 3 times a month compared with at least once a week (PR = 1.22). In contrast, school closure during the pandemic compared with no closure was inversely associated with psychological distress (PR = 0.78).

Among undergraduate students in Japan, economic difficulties significantly predicted psychological distress.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have a detrimental impact on short- and long-term mental and physical health. A growing body of research has indicated that the prevalence of suicidal phenomena is significantly higher among individuals with a history of ACEs. However, there is a lack of understanding about processes that result in ACEs leading to suicidal ideation when testing within a theoretical framework.

To develop and test a multidimensional model that would explain the association between ACEs and suicidal ideation in college students.

Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey completed by 321 college students primarily recruited from universities in Ireland. Participants were aged 18–21 (n = 176) and 22–25 years (n = 145). An ACEs questionnaire, the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire, which assessed thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, the CORE-10, which assessed psychological distress, and the Suicide Ideation Scale (SIS) were administered.

After controlling for gender and sexual orientation, results revealed a significant direct effect of ACEs on suicidal ideation such that more accumulated ACEs were associated with higher suicidal ideation (effect size 0.30; 95% CI 0.047–0.538). A significant indirect effect of ACEs on suicidal ideation through perceived burdensomeness and psychological distress, and thwarted belongingness and psychological distress, was observed (effect size 0.90; 95% CI 0.558–1.270).

Findings suggest that ACEs have a detrimental impact on college students’ mental health. Results highlight the potential benefits of ACE-informed interventions that target thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness to countervail suicidal ideation in college students.