Does the Andersen Behavioral Model for Health Services Use Predict How Health Impacts College Students’ Academic Performance?

Authors

Emily Vernet, University of Central FloridaFollow

Mentor

Dr. Melanie Hinojosa

Abstract

College is a critical time in a person’s life. Young adults experience transitional changes in their independence, physical and mental health, and utilization of health care. The purpose of this research study is to examine the use of the Andersen Behavioral Model of Health Services Use in predicting how health impacts the academic performance of college students through predisposing, enabling, and need factors. Data was collected from 438 college students attending a large university in the Southeast. Students answered questions about their demographic characteristics, health, healthcare use, and academics using a survey adapted from the 2018 National College Health Assessment (NCHA) II conducted by the American College Health Association (ACHA). Bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses were run on the data and summarized. Results indicate that the Andersen Model is a useful model for framing the relationship between health and academic performance among college students. Enabling factors were more likely to predict health impact on academic performance while predisposing factors were least likely to predict these impacts. University administrators and government personnel can use these findings to explore the health- related needs of college students and implement services to accommodate these needs.

About the Author

Emily Vernet graduated from the University of Central Florida with an honors bachelor's degree in Health Sciences Pre-Clinical. She has worked under the mentorship of Dr. Melanie Hinojosa for 8 semesters and her research has been recognized at conferences locally, regionally, and nationally and she recently co-authored a paper on her research. As an undergraduate student, Emily was a recipient of the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship and a student at the Burnett Honors College. Currently, Emily is working on her Master’s in Medical Sciences. Post-graduation, she aspires to attend medical school to become a physician for underserved communities. Outside of her studies, Emily enjoys volunteering in the community and mentoring students.

Recommended Citation

Vernet, Emily (2021) "Does the Andersen Behavioral Model for Health Services Use Predict How Health Impacts College Students’ Academic Performance?," The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal: Vol. 13: Iss. 1, Article 5.
Available at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/urj/vol13/iss1/5