Sax, L. J. (1997). Health Trends Among College Freshmen. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH, 45 (6): 252-262.

This study describes trends in college student health based on an annual survey of college freshmen administered for thirty consecutive years at colleges and universities nationwide (1966-1995). Specifically, this paper presents survey trends in the following four areas: (1) alcohol and drugs, (2) physical health, (3) psychological health, and (4) sexual attitudes. This study also examines gender and institutional differences in health behaviors and attitudes among the 1995 class of college freshmen. Major trends include the decline in beer drinking and physical and emotional self-confidence, and the increase in stress and cigarette smoking. "Unhealthy" behaviors and attitudes are reported most often by freshmen at public two-year institutions.