Transitions in risk-behavior profiles among first-year college students

• Published in: Journal of American college health Vol. 70; no. 7; pp. 2210 - 2219
• Main Authors: Romm, Katelyn F., Metzger, Aaron, Gentzler, Amy L., Turiano, Nicholas A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis 03.10.2022; Taylor & Francis Inc
• Subjects: Behavior change; College Freshmen; College students; Drinking; Exercise; First year; First-year college students; Health Behavior; Health risks; latent transition analysis; physical activity; Physical Activity Level; Risk; Risk behavior; risky sexual behaviors; Sexuality; Smoking; Student Behavior; substance use; Transitional Programs; substance use; latent transition analysis; First-year college students; risky sexual behaviors; physical activity
• ISSN: 0744-8481; 1940-3208; 1940-3208
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1846048

Objective The current study utilized a longitudinal person-centered approach (latent transition analysis [LTA]) to assess transitions into and out of risk-behavior profiles during the transition into and throughout the first year of college. Participants: Participants included 579 first-year college students (Mage = 18.13, SD = .94) from a large mid-Atlantic university. Methods: Participants completed surveys at five points throughout their freshman year. Results: LTA suggested that most individuals either abstained from engaging in risk behaviors or transitioned toward profiles of less risk over time. A smaller portion of individuals either began and ended the year in the same risk profile or transitioned into profiles of greater risk. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of utilizing person-centered analyses to examine change in multiple health-risk behaviors.