T h e N at i o n a l

Co l l e g e H e a lt h
Assessment
S u m m a ry
The University of Iowa
Spring 2017
The American College Health Associations National
College Health Assessment (NCHA) II instrument was
used to survey a sample of undergraduate students in
the spring of 2017. Six hundred twenty-two students
completed surveys, with a response rate exceeding
99%. The survey did not ask for any identifying
Comparisons to National Sample
2
CONTE NTS

information.
Changes
Academic & health Issues
The NCHA survey allows us to compare our results with
Alcohol the national dataset including over 75,000
3 Tobacco
Other Drugs
undergraduate students at institutions of higher
education.
Nutrition
4 Weight
Physical Activity
This report and reports from previous years can be
viewed online at: http://studenthealth.uiowa.edu/
wellness/ui-health-data
5 Sexual Health
Violence & Safety
Questions can be directed to Trisha Welter:
Sleep trisha-welter@uiowa.edu.
6 Stress
Mental Health
 2

Co m pa r i s o n s to N at i o n a l sa m p l e
More likely to report feeling very Less likely to wear a helmet when

Worse
Better

safe in the surrounding community riding a bike or motorcycle

More likely to be sexually active
Less likely to report negative feelings
and have a greater average
associated with mental health
number of sex partners
conditions
More likely to use marijuana
Less likely to report issues with
More likely to use alcohol,
sleep
engage in high risk drinking and
More likely to meet the physical
experience negative
activity recommendations for
consequences from use
health

C h a n g e s i n l a st 5 y e a r s
High risk drinking 50.5%
( l a st 2 w e e k s ) 64.1%

m a r i j ua n a u s e 28.9%
( l a st 3 0 days ) 24.0%

H e a lt h y w e i g h t 62.5%
( B M I 1 8 . 5 - 24 . 9 ) 68.5% 2017
2012
(significant at p<.05)

I m p e d i m e n t s to H e a lt h stat u s
US
87.2% of UI students
learning reported their health as
1 Stress 35.8% UI good, very good or
excellent, compared to
2 Anxiety 30.4%
83.7% at the national
3 Sleep difficulties 20.9% level.
4 Depression 17.7%
5
6
Cold/flu/sore throat
Work
17.4%
14.8%
H e a lt h i s s u e s
7 Alcohol use 10.3% 1 Allergies ......................... 22.3%
8 Extracurricular activities 9.8% 2 Sinus infection ................ 22.2%
3 Strep throat .................... 18.3%
ADHD 9.3%
9 4 Back pain ....................... 15.0%
Concern for friend or family 9.3% 5 Urinary tract infection .... 11.8%
(last 12 months) (last 12 months)
 3

Alcohol & other drugs

Use in Last 30 Days
Alcohol Cigarettes Marijuana
100%
86.9% 87.0% 89.4% 87.3%
86.9% 86.9% 87.2% 85.2%
85.0%
83.2%
79.9%
80% 75.4% 74.1%
72.7%
72.6% 72.5%

60%

38.1% 38.1% 38.1% 41.1% 38.8%

40%
28.3% 29.8% 28.9%
28.8% 24.8% 28.6% 30.3%27.8%
25.9% 25.9% 25.9% 25.3% 26.6% 25.3%24.0% 23.9%
23.9%
27.2% 25.2%
20% 24.1% 23.4% 16.1%
19.5% 20.1%
18.3% 15.8% 15.1%13.1%

0%
91 93 95 97 99 01 02 04 06 09 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Year

O t h e r S t a t s
alcohol tobacco OTHER DRUGS
Used alcohol 10+ days in last Used cigarettes 10+ days in Used marijuana 10+ days in
30 days: 19.0% last 30 days: 6.2% last 30 days: 11.5%
(lowest level in last 25+ years) from 2012 (6.0%) from 2012 (9.6%)
from 2012 (29.8%)
Used cigarettes daily: 2.4% Used marijuana daily: 4.9%
High risk drinking (5+ drinks (lowest level in last 15+ years) from 2012 (3.9%)
on one occasion in last 2 from 2012 (2.6%)
weeks): 50.5% Other use in last 30 days:
(lowest level in last 25+ years) Use of other forms of Cocaine: 2.9%
from 2012 (64.1%) tobacco in last 30 days: Hallucinogens: 1.5%
9.9%
8.9%
MDMA: 1.2%
8.6% 8.6%
Average # of drinks: 5.4 7.9% 7.8%
from 2012 (6.3) Illegal prescription drug use
not asked

in last 12 months:
3.1% Pain killers: 7.6%
Average BAC (of users): 0.10
from 2012 (0.11) Sedatives: 6.0%
Stimulants: 15.0%
1+ negative consequences
from use in last year:
56.6%
2012
from 2012 (58.3%)
2017
Nutrition, Weight & Activity
4

Fruit & Veggie Intake

Fruit & vegetable intake continues to be an issue, with
the vast majority of students not meeting the national
Weight
recommendation (5+ servings/day).

2012 2017
Body Mass
63.2%
60.4% 8.4%
4.3% Index

Underweight
24.8% Healthy weight

28.5% Overweight
26.8%
62.5% Obese

6.5% 6.0%
3.9% 4.5% The average
body mass index (BMI)
0 servings 1-2 servings 3-4 servings 5+ servings
for students is 24.29.

Weight Loss
Physical Activity
The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 51.9% of students are
getting: currently trying to lose weight.
One OR a combination of the following for aerobic
activity: Measures to lose weight
30 mins of moderate intensity activity 5 days/wk in the last 30 days
20 mins of vigorous intensity activity 3 days/wk 59.7% have exercised
Strength training 2 days/wk 42.0% have dieted
The percent of students meeting these guidelines is 4.0% have used diet pills
below. 2.9% have vomited or used laxatives

80%
Aerobic Recommendation Strength Recommendation

58.9%
55.2% 56.5% 55.3%
60% 52.0% 53.6%
50.6% 51.8%

47.9% 47.5% 49.4%

40% 43.3%
46.1% 46.1% 44.3%
41.8%

20%

0%
2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Sexual Health
5

80%
Sexual Activity**

62.1%
Vaginal Sex Oral Sex Anal Sex
Protection
57.8 % 57.4% 58.4%
60% 54.6%
50.9%
55.8% 54.3% 81.0% used birth control
55.9% 55.2 % 55.2%
the last time they had
50.9%
48.0% 49.8%
51.3% 51.1% vaginal sex.
40%
Top choices include:
1. Birth control pills: 69.8%
2. Male condom: 63.5%
20% 3. Withdrawal: 34.2%
5.4% 6.0%
3.6% 4.3 % 3.1%
4.9% 4.8% 4.1%
Barrier use (mostly/always):
0% Vaginal sex: 45.3%
2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Oral sex: 8.6%
Anal sex: 36.5%
Number of Partners* TESTING 1 in 3 students (33.1%) have ever
34.3% been tested for sexually transmitted
23.1%
infections (STIs).
20.4%
13.8%
8.4%
1 in 5 (21.4%) have been tested for
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
None 1 2 3 4+

Violence & Safety

of safety

Violence & abuse* Very On In

Safe Campus Community
Feelings

Physical assault: 5.5% In absence of consent:

Physical fight: 9.6% Sexual touching: 8.1% Day 83.7% 68.4%
Stalking victim: 6.4% Sexual penetration
Verbal threat: 19.6% attempt: 4.7%
Sexual penetration: 4.0% Night 32.2% 25.7%

a b u s i v e r e l at i o n s h i p s
9.8%
8.6%
Safety
Seatbelt use: 96.3%
2.1% 2.3% 1.7%
practices*
1.0% Helmet use:
2012 (mostly/always used; only
includes those who did Bike: 25.4%
2017
Emotionally Physically Sexually activity in last 12 months) Motorcycle: 53.3%
Abusive Abusive Abusive
*in the last 12 months **in the last 30 days
 Sleep, Stress & Mental Health
6

Sleep Mental Health

1 in 3 students (32.5%) report getting enough 19.4% of men and 32.0% of women
sleep to feel rested at least 5 of the last 7 days. reported being diagnosed or treated for
at least one mental health condition in
the last year (highest levels in last 8 years).
Sleepiness during daily activities Anxiety: 19.9%
No problem: 11.8% Depression: 13.2%
A little problem: 50.8%
More than a little problem: 23.2% Feelings in last 30 days
A big problem: 9.6% Overwhelmed: 61.1%
A very big problem: 4.6% Exhausted: 58.3%
Overwhelming anxiety: 38.1%
Very sad: 37.4%
Over half of students (57.9%) feel tired or sleepy Very lonely: 33.8%
during the day at least 3 days a week. Hopeless: 27.2%
Overwhelming anger: 23.4%
So depressed that it was difficult to
function: 17.7%
STRESS Self harm & suicidality in last 12 months
Self harm: 5.7%
Top Stressors in the Last 12 Months Seriously considered suicide: 8.4%
Academics 57.1% Attempted suicide: 1.4%
Intimate relationships 32.5% 76.9% of
Sleep difficulties 31.7% students
Finances 30.0% reported U s e o f m e n ta l
at least
Personal appearance 27.4%
one thing h e a lt h s e rv i c e s
Family problems 26.6% that was
Career-related issue 25.7% difficult to Ever Received Services
Other social relationships 23.7% handle. Counselor/Psychologist 32.4%
Personal health issue 19.3% University Health/Counseling 14.7%
Death of family member or friend 18.3% Psychiatrist 13.2%
Stress Levels in the Last 6 Months Other Medical Provider 16.1%
41.5% Clergy 4.8%
36.6%
73.6% of students said they would consider
13.0% seeking help from a mental health
8.9% professional in the future if they had a
personal problem that was bothering them.
None/Less Average More than Tremendous
than average
Average