The University of Vermont Wellness Environment: Feasibility and Initial Results of a College Undergraduate Health-Promoting Program

Yang Bai; William E Copeland; Zoe Adams; Matthew Lerner; Jessica A King; Steve Szopinski; Vinay Devadanam; Jeff Rettew; Jim Hudziak

doi:10.1016/j.chc.2018.11.011

The University of Vermont Wellness Environment: Feasibility and Initial Results of a College Undergraduate Health-Promoting Program

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2019 Apr;28(2):247-265. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2018.11.011. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Authors

Yang Bai¹, William E Copeland², Zoe Adams³, Matthew Lerner³, Jessica A King³, Steve Szopinski⁴, Vinay Devadanam⁴, Jeff Rettew⁴, Jim Hudziak⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science, University of Vermont, Rowell 305, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
² Division of Child Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, University of Vermont, UHC St Joseph 3210A, 1 South Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
³ Division of Child Psychiatry, Department Psychiatry, Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, University of Vermont, 1 South Prospect Street, Room 3213, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
⁴ Division of Student Affairs, University of Vermont, 1 South Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
⁵ Division of Child Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Vermont Center for Children, Youth, and Families, University of Vermont, 1 South Prospect Street, Burlington, VT 05401, USA. Electronic address: James.Hudziak@uvm.edu.

PMID: 30832956
DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2018.11.011

Abstract

The University of Vermont Wellness Environment program is a neuroscience-inspired, incentive-based behavioral change program designed to improve health and academic outcomes in college-age students. The program uses health promotion and illness prevention delivered in classrooms, residential halls, and via a customized App that incentivizes healthy behaviors and monitors the use of health-promoting activities. This article presents feasibility data on participation of college students in ongoing data collection about key outcomes related to health and well-being. The data collection component were easily implemented in college students and yielded high-quality data.

Keywords: Audit; Behavior change; College students; DAST-10; PHQ-9; Substance use; Wellness.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Academic Success
Adult
Feasibility Studies
Female
Health Behavior*
Health Promotion*
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Program Evaluation*
Students
Substance-Related Disorders / prevention & control
Surveys and Questionnaires
Universities*
Young Adult