Smart Choices How to Prepare Your Student for Personal Health Responsibility
By Jean McAulay
With one daughter heading back to college for her sophomore year and the other just setting off as a freshman, Tammi Lowe of Bettendorf is getting used to loosening the reins.
“At this point, you hope the lessons you’ve taught through the years have stuck,” she said.
Going away to college is the first time most teens are faced with primary responsibility for decisions about their health and welfare and parents hope those lessons about alcohol safety, safe sex, nutrition, exercise and handling stress get packed in for the move.
“Going away to college is a huge jump in independence,” said Steve Kopp, Ph.D., a psychologist with Genesis Psychology Associates. “Kids living with their parents are in a structured environment where we provide a certain sense of safety and security. But they need autonomy to learn.” Reminding parents of those earlier, innocent years of childhood, he advises, “You can’t teach a child to ride a bike by holding on the whole time. You have to let go so they can gain their balance and independence.”
Yes, but letting go is so much harder when facing the possible consequences of excessive drinking, unsafe sex practices, poor diet or emotional isolation rather than scraped knees and elbows.
“Once they were gone, I figured all I could do was hope and know I had given it my best shot,” said Dale Fick, Davenport, mother of four grown children with the youngest now a college junior. She was strict with her kids in high school – about grades, partying, drinking and driving, and even eating a good breakfast. “I talked with them a lot about getting a good night’s sleep and eating well, even once they went away to school. I’m not saying they always did it, but I preached it.”
When mom and dad aren’t around, the campus infirmary is one place students turn to for help. On a busy fall day, Eileen Castro, M.D. and her colleagues at Trinity Express Care might treat some 20 students from nearby Augustana College. The busy practice is open to the public and serves as Augie’s infirmary. “Sometimes students come to us who are struggling with being on their own and they are crying and lost and don’t know what to do. It’s a difficult emotional adjustment of being far from home and also getting used to a new situation.” Castro and her peers talk with the teens to offer helpful advice and refer them for counseling if necessary.
“The biggest health issues we see with college kids are related to drinking, safe sex, eating disorders, lack of sleep, stress, and gynecological issues,” Castro said. “We see a lot of students in the office during the early part of the school year when they are exposed to a lot of new kids and haven’t built up their immunities yet. They also get run down during pledge season, from stress during exams and from sharing a lot of things and spreading germs.”
She frequently observes students who don’t complete the recommended course of a medication and those who self-medicate with leftover medicines. “We see a lot of patients with viral infections, mono and strep,” Castro said. “We strongly recommend that they get checked right away when they develop symptoms such as sore throat, fever, body aches and fatigue.”
She reminds parents that before students enter college, immunizations should be up to date, including a tetanus booster and the MMR vaccine. She also strongly recommends the meningococcal vaccine that protects against bacterial meningitis. And she suggests a yearly influenza vaccine, especially for those who have asthma or diabetes, and a hepatitis B vaccine if it wasn’t given in childhood.
“When students are leaving home for the first time, I suggest parents take an empowerment approach,” Kopp said. “Sometimes they want to give them a crash course in everything they might ever have missed but that raises anxiety and makes them feel deficient. Talk instead about the lessons they’ve already learned and the strong character traits they’ve shown and empower them to make those good choices when they’re on their own.”
Also, be realistic about the kinds of situations your student might encounter and offer pragmatic suggestions. Lowe, for example, urges her kids not to drink but advises that if they do plan to drink at a party that they bring their own beverages and never let them out of their sight so they don’t fall victim to date rape drugs. “I warn them that if you get something to drink, get it yourself and don’t put it down.”
As a personal trainer, Lowe also worries about her girls eating well and getting enough exercise. She points out that alcohol provides a lot of empty calories and encourages her daughters to find friends with whom to exercise.
Once you’ve shared your last tidbit of advice, just keep your ears open for changes in your child’s behavior and routines that could indicate they are not adjusting well. Being socially isolated is a key warning sign a teen needs help.
“Students come to college with varying degrees of responsibility, but through trial and error most will acquire a big variety of skills in a short time,” said Kopp. “Look for opportunities to teach your kids problem solving. Don’t give them the answers.”
