The association between exercise and treatment seeking in college students diagnosed with substance use disorder

Objective

To investigate the relationship between exercise and seeking treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) in college students.

Methods

Data from Fall 2015 through Spring 2019, from the National College Health Assessment, were used in multivariable logistic regression models. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) were used to estimate the effect size of associations. The models controlled for individual and contextual characteristics based on Andersen's “Behavioral Model of Health Services Use”.

Results

Of the sample data of 5,223 college students with SUD, 34.5 % met the American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM) aerobic exercise and muscle strengthening guidelines. Students who met the guidelines had a 30.6 % increase in the odds of seeking SUD treatment compared to students who did not meet the guidelines (aOR = 1.306; 95 % CI 1.142–1.493). Specifically, for every additional session of moderate or vigorous aerobic exercise over the span of 7 days, there was a 3.2 % increase in the odds of seeking SUD treatment (aOR = 1.032; 95 % CI 1.014–1.050).

Conclusion

This study highlights the significant association between exercise and the likelihood of seeking treatment for SUD among college students. However, given the cross-sectional nature of the data, we cannot definitively establish the directionality of this relationship, thus further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm this potential causal relationship. Despite this, the observed association underscores the potential value of considering exercise and physical activity in the development of SUD treatment strategies for college students, suggesting that promoting a physically active lifestyle may be beneficial in encouraging treatment-seeking behavior among this population.