American College Health Association National College Health Assessment Spring 2006 Reference Group data report (abridged)

Abstract

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 developed by the ACHA 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.

Participants: The Spring 2006 Reference Group includes ACHA-NCHA data from 94,806 students at 117 institutions of higher education.

Method summary: Officials at participating institutions administered the ACHA-NCHA to all students, to randomly selected students, or to students in randomly selected classrooms. Data were collected between January and May 2006.

Results: Results from the Spring 2006 Reference Group (N = 94,806) are presented.

Conclusions: Data from the ACHA-NCHA Spring 2006 Reference Group expand the understanding of the health needs and capacities of college students.