HE31 - Cardiovascular health awareness and risk perception of substances use
SCURS Disciplines
Medicine & Health Sciences
Document Type
General Poster
Invited Presentation Choice
Not Applicable
Abstract
College-aged students may not fully understand the health consequences linked to substance use, which can influence their patterns of use. This project examined how students perceive cardiovascular health and their awareness of the dangers and risks of alcohol and stimulant use, both individually and in combination.
The purpose of this study was to identify any knowledge gaps and misconceptions of the cardiovascular risks associated with substance use. A survey was developed using open ended and Likert-style questions. One hundred participants were recruited through Instagram advertisements targeting college students, as well as through posters placed on Southern Wesleyan and Clemson campuses that included a QR code linking to the survey.
Survey responses were analyzed by quantitative and qualitative methods. Open ended prompts were analyzed by inductive coding, and associations between the survey answers were analyzed with chi-square tests. Findings revealed that participants demonstrated limited understanding of what qualifies as a depressant and its physiological effects on the body. When responding to questions related to the cardiovascular system, students who reported never consuming alcohol answered more questions correctly and exhibited a greater awareness of alcohol-related cardiovascular risks. There was no significant correlation between consuming alcohol and knowledge of how it impacts the cardiovascular system (p > 0.1). In contrast, students who report consuming alcohol did acknowledge potential risks to their heart health in the future (p < 0.025). Participants demonstrated consistent understanding of the impacts of stimulants on the body, regardless of consumption history.
By examining the relationship between awareness, risk perception, and substance use behaviors, this study provides data that may inform future prevention and intervention strategies.
Keywords
Cardiovascular health, stimulants, misconceptions, risk perception, depressants
Start Date
10-4-2026 9:30 AM
Location
University Readiness Center Greatroom
End Date
10-4-2026 11:30 AM
HE31 - Cardiovascular health awareness and risk perception of substances use
University Readiness Center Greatroom
College-aged students may not fully understand the health consequences linked to substance use, which can influence their patterns of use. This project examined how students perceive cardiovascular health and their awareness of the dangers and risks of alcohol and stimulant use, both individually and in combination.
The purpose of this study was to identify any knowledge gaps and misconceptions of the cardiovascular risks associated with substance use. A survey was developed using open ended and Likert-style questions. One hundred participants were recruited through Instagram advertisements targeting college students, as well as through posters placed on Southern Wesleyan and Clemson campuses that included a QR code linking to the survey.
Survey responses were analyzed by quantitative and qualitative methods. Open ended prompts were analyzed by inductive coding, and associations between the survey answers were analyzed with chi-square tests. Findings revealed that participants demonstrated limited understanding of what qualifies as a depressant and its physiological effects on the body. When responding to questions related to the cardiovascular system, students who reported never consuming alcohol answered more questions correctly and exhibited a greater awareness of alcohol-related cardiovascular risks. There was no significant correlation between consuming alcohol and knowledge of how it impacts the cardiovascular system (p > 0.1). In contrast, students who report consuming alcohol did acknowledge potential risks to their heart health in the future (p < 0.025). Participants demonstrated consistent understanding of the impacts of stimulants on the body, regardless of consumption history.
By examining the relationship between awareness, risk perception, and substance use behaviors, this study provides data that may inform future prevention and intervention strategies.