Treatment engagement, facilitators, and barriers for college students with co-occurring disordered eating and problematic alcohol use: Healthy Minds Study 2022-2024

Abstract

Objective: Disordered eating and problematic drinking frequently co-occur among college students, yet treatment engagement remains low. This study examined treatment engagement and predictors to inform outreach strategies. Participants: Participants were college students aged 18-25 (N = 11,439) from the 2022 and 2023 Healthy Minds Study cohorts. Methods: Treatment engagement was compared for students screening positive for disordered eating, problematic drinking, both, or neither. Predictors of treatment engagement were examined in the comorbid group. Results: Most students (57.4%) screened negative; 25.7% screened positive for disordered eating, 9.4% for problematic drinking, and 7.5% for both concerns. Compared to other groups, the co-occurring group reported greater depression, anxiety, and cannabis use. Treatment engagement did not vary by group. Among comorbid students, key predictors of treatment engagement included knowledge of resources and perceived need. Conclusions: Findings underscore treatment engagement gaps and the importance of campus screening and targeted outreach for students with co-occurring concerns.

Keywords: Alcohol; college; disordered eating; prevention; treatment engagement.