Facebook Use between College Resident Advisors’ and Their Residents: A Mixed Methods Approach

Facebook use is nearly ubiquitous among college students. Studies have shown links between Facebook displays of depression or problem drinking and risk of these problems. This project aimed to determine whether Facebook could be used to help Resident Advisors (RAs) identify college students at risk for depression or problem drinking. Interviews were conducted with college freshmen to investigate whether they were Facebook "friends" with their RA. Focus groups were conducted with RAs to determine their views on Facebook friending their dormitory residents and using Facebook to help identify at-risk students. 72 freshmen were interviewed and 25 RAs participated in focus groups; both agreed it is common for RAs and residents to be Facebook friends. RAs commonly noted references to depression and problem drinking on residents' Facebook pages, which often led to in-person discussions with the resident. This study provides support that RAs use Facebook to identify issues that may impact their student residents. RAs emphasized benefits of in-person interactions in order to provide support and obtain additional details about the situation. Universities could consider whether providing RA education about Facebook interactions with residents merits encouragement within their existing RA training programs. Introduction The transition to college is a challenging time for freshmen and may increase risks for negative health concerns such as depression or problem alcohol use. (1) Previous research has shown that almost half of college students from multiple universities indicated that they had "felt so depressed it was difficult to function" at least once within the previous school year. (2) The consequences of depression are significant as they include academic impairment, withdrawal from college, increased risk of self-injury, suicide attempts, and other risky behaviors. (3) Several factors contribute to the prevalence of depression among college students including the increased time demands, the need to master new skills and being away from their established social support systems. (3) Despite the high prevalence of depression in the college student population, only 10% of college students report having sought care for depression. (2) Several barriers to help-seeking in student populations have been identified; these include a lack of time, privacy concerns, lack of emotional openness, and financial constraints. (4) Another major health concern among college students is alcohol use. Recent data has shown that 45% of U.S. college students report engaging in heavy episodic drinking, defined as 5 or more drinks in one sitting for men and 4 or more drinks in one sitting for women, at least once in a two week period. (5) Problem drinking can lead to negative impacts on the college student's life, including academic impairment, addiction, and injuries; it also poses a risk to other students and to the community. (6) This heavy drinking among college students has often been attributed to their newfound freedom from parental supervision and the prevalence of a social culture that accepts underage drinking. (6) Similar to low help-seeking among college students with depression, it is estimated that only 15% of individuals who suffer from alcohol-related difficulties seek professional help, despite the availability of effective treatments for alcohol problems. (1) It is possible that risks related to both depression and problem drinking could be mitigated for freshmen students who live in a residence hall and have a Resident Advisor (RA). College students who live in a residence hall are typically assigned an RA who is a peer leader in charge of maintaining a positive environment and dealing with any problems that may arise on his or her floor. One of the RA's roles is that of a counselor, as students undergo many adjustments and stresses throughout the academic year. (7) The RA has an opportunity to provide education and support to students who are experiencing minor problems and to identify students who are experiencing major problems. …