American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment Spring 2008 Reference Group Data Report (abridged): the American College Health Association.
OBJECTIVE
Assessing and understanding the health needs and capacities of college students is paramount to creating healthy campus communities. The American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) is a survey that ACHA developed in 1998 to assist institutions of higher education in achieving this goal. The ACHA-NCHA contains approximately 300 questions assessing student health status and health problems, risk and protective behaviors, and impediments to academic performance.


METHODS
The spring 2008 reference group includes ACHA-NCHA data from 80,121 students at 106 institutions of higher education.


METHODS
Officials at participating institutions administered the ACHA-NCHA to all students, randomly selected students, or students in randomly selected classrooms. ACHA collected data between January and May 2008.


RESULTS
Results from the spring 2008 reference group (N=80,121) are presented.


CONCLUSIONS
These data expand the understanding of the health needs and capacities of college students.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult