Differences between Academic Distress, Eating and Alcohol Concerns, and Emotional Support in Non-Military and Military College Students

The present study investigated group differences in academic distress, eating concerns, and alcohol use in non-military and military college students. In addition to this, the differences in the mediating and moderating role of emotional support from family and friends on academic distress and eating concerns and alcohol use in non-military and military students was evaluated. Data was obtained from the Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH), a research-practice network that collects information about college students’ mental health treatment, during the 204-2016 academic years. This study included 2,836 non-military and 2,836 military students from the 2014-2016 data set. Participants completed the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms-34 (CCAPS-34) and the Standardized Data Set (SDS) during their time in therapy. Data was analyzed using MANOVA, ANOVA, a path analysis with bootstrapping procedures, and interaction effects via regression analyses. Results suggested that military college students had higher overall means for the Alcohol Use subscale than did non-military students, while non-military college students had higher overall means on the Eating Concerns subscale. There were no group differences on the Academic Distress subscale. Further, emotional support from friends and family did not mediate the relationship between Academic Distress and Alcohol Use in military or non-military college students, while emotional support received from friends is a significant mediator for Academic Distress and Eating Concerns for both groups. In addition to this, emotional support from family only mediated the relationship between Academic Distress and Eating Concerns for non-military college students. Results further indicated that emotional support from friends was a more significant moderator of Academic Distress and Alcohol Use for military college students than non-military college students. Clinical implications and future research directions are presented.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Kansas

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Fox, Troy

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Cole, Brian
• Ghosh, Arpita

• Counseling psychology
• Academic Distress
• Alcohol Concerns
• College Students
• Eating Concerns
• Emotional Support
• Military Students

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright held by the author.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:17275

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/39256