Journal of American College Health最新文献

Objective: The current study tested whether proposed sport-related risk factors for disordered eating behaviors were associated with increases in disordered eating over first-year college athletes' first four months of collegiate sport participation.

Participants: Participants included a sample of first-year college athletes (N = 59, 45% female) from a Division I National Collegiate Athletics Association (DI) university.

Method: This follow-up study tested whether 1) wearing a uniform that emphasizes body concerns, 2) participating in a lean sport, and 3) perceived pressure for thinness from coaches and teammates would lead to increases in weight/shape concerns and disordered eating behaviors over the first four months of collegiate sport participation.

Results: Wearing a uniform that emphasizes body concerns and perceived coach pressure for thinness predicted increases in weight/shape concern. Both teammate and coach pressure for thinness predicted increases in restrained eating behaviors.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that there are identifiable, athlete-specific risk factors for the development of disordered eating behaviors among first-year college athletes.

Objective: We describe and analyze case investigation and contact tracing (CICT) efforts across Ohio's public universities in response to COVID-19 to distill challenges and lessons learned and suggest future opportunities for universities to mobilize in the face of emergent public health crises. Participants: Faculty, staff, and graduate students from Ohio's fourteen public universities. Methods: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives from nine of the 14 universities; representatives from the remaining five universities completed a brief questionnaire. Interviews were transcribed in their entirety and thematically analyzed. Results: Emergent themes include the significance of local relationships for implementing locally tailored solutions; the presence of discrete challenges in doing CICT work with university and local communities, and the importance of university students in pandemic response. Conclusions: There are unique challenges associated with disease control across university populations and surrounding communities, but students from diverse academic background are a potential source of assistance.

Objective: The present study examines sociopolitical stress, coping, and well-being among college students. Participants: Young adult college students (N = 588; ages 18-29; 72% cisgender women) from 10 universities in the USA participated in this study. Methods: Participants completed a 45-minute online survey with closed-ended and open-ended questions, administered via Qualtrics. Results: Election-related sociopolitical stress was high with notable differences across students' demographic backgrounds (e.g., Hispanic/Latinx students, women, and sexual minority students reported high sociopolitical stress). Among those who reported being stressed by the election (N = 448), closed-ended and open-ended data reveal coping strategies including self-care, drugs and alcohol, and further civic action/political participation. Higher sociopolitical stress predicted more depression and many coping strategies were related with flourishing. Conclusions: Young adult college students are experiencing election-related sociopolitical stress and are coping in different ways. More work is needed to understand what coping strategies support well-being. Implications for colleges are discussed.

Objective: Young adults of age 18-29 years old account for the most COVID-19 cases in the US, and ethnic groups were affected disproportionately. Correctly wearing a face mask remains a critical intervention for COVID-19 mitigation. The study aimed to examine how well Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) residents adhered to mask wearing during the pandemic. Methods: We conducted an observational study on an urban HBCU campus and the neighborhoods in Maryland for 13 weeks in spring 2021. Results: Of 1926 (1126 on campus; 800 off campus) persons observed, 89.8% wore masks, with 83.5% covering their mouths and noses. The HBCU campus showed better mask adherence than neighborhoods (92.0% vs. 86.7%). The most common improper mask wearing was nose out, followed by only-on-chin. Cloth and surgical masks were worn the most. Conclusion: The HBCU campus and neighborhood settings presented a high rate of facemask use during the pandemic.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a peer-led single-session intervention targeting the sociocultural pressures of body image. Participants: New members of 13 sororities at one university. Methods: Participants were randomized by sorority into the intervention (n = 207) or wait list control (n = 264). Online surveys were administered at baseline and one month to assess social determinants of body image, body image dissatisfaction (BID), and body appreciation. Multiple logistic and linear regression analyses compared changes over time between groups. Results: We observed significant improvements in overall sociocultural pressures of body image (p = .001) and the subscales of Norms (p < .001) and Perceived Norms (p = .009) of eating and exercise behaviors. Change in BID and body appreciation did not differ between groups. Conclusion: A one-hour peer-led community-level intervention can lead to positive changes in sociocultural pressures in new initiates to a sorority.

Objective: Low emotional intelligence and symptoms of disordered eating are connected, however, whether daily fluctuations in emotional intelligence predict daily changes in disordered eating symptoms has not been examined, nor has stress been explored as a potential moderator of this relationship. Participants: Participants were undergraduate students (n = 100). Methods: Participants completed baseline questionnaires, then responded to random ecological momentary assessment prompts 3 times daily for 2 weeks. Results: Results indicated that when individuals had higher momentary emotional intelligence, they had lower disordered eating at the same time point (within subjects estimate = -0.30, p < .001) and following time point (within subjects estimate = -0.08, p = 0.03). Momentary stress moderated the relationship between baseline emotional intelligence and momentary disordered eating (b = -0.02, p < .01). Conclusions: Changes in emotional intelligence predict day-to-day changes in disordered eating, and stress moderates the connection between emotional intelligence and disordered eating.

Objective: Western diet is associated with chronic disease risk, and degree of dietary acculturation can impact susceptibility. This study sought to understand the factors associated with changes in food consumption habits among international students at a large public university in the southern US.

Participants: A convenience sample of 173 international students representing 41 countries at The University of Georgia participated in the survey.

Methods: This cross-sectional online survey assessed dietary habits, perception of healthy eating, and level of acculturation using previously validated measures.

Results: Highest number of participants were from China (19.2%), 89.0% were graduate students with an average age of 27.5 ± 4.83 years. The majority (62.0%) of participants were dietary acculturated with affordability and accessibility determining types of food consumption, as fewer whole foods and more processed foods were consumed in the U.S.

Conclusions: Findings suggest dietary acculturation may be driven by economic factors, making the transition to Westernized food items a convenient and cost-effective choice among international students.

Objective: We examined students' perceptions and opinions regarding others' COVID-19 mitigation behaviors and how these behaviors impacted feelings of safety and desire for on-campus engagement. Participants: Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at a midsize regional state university during the Spring 2021 semester (n = 893). Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was utilized with an online and anonymous questionnaire. Scale means were calculated followed by ANOVAs to determine significance. Results: Two independent variables impacted students' feelings of safety for on-ground courses and activities: living situation (on campus, with roommates) and school year (freshman/sophomores). Underclassmen were more likely to desire in-person campus engagement. Conclusions: Students showed a willingness to return to campus, but also concern over peer behaviors and remaining safe. Returning to a pre-pandemic social environment is critical for students' mental health, and making students feel safe on campus is an important first step to return campuses to vibrant educational and social communities.

Objective: To understand how competence, self-efficacy, enjoyment and motivation relates to physical activity behavior during transition from school to university. Participants: Health science students (n = 558) studying first year biology at an Australian university. Methods: Cross-sectional correlational survey design using five self-report questionnaires to establish relationships between a physical activity index and motivational variables. Results: Self-reported physical activity index scores of satisfactory or above were achieved by 80% of students with scores significantly higher for males than females. Enjoyment, self-efficacy and competence were predictive of physical activity index scores across genders. Conclusions: The physical activity index is a useful measure of activity dimensions across a variety of physical activities. Health science students need to underpin health messages with personal practice in modeling a healthy lifestyle. Universities have a special responsibility for building and supporting physical activity for all students, but especially for future health professionals.

Objective: Determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student-athletes. Participants: Participants (n = 238) were Division III student-athletes (18-24yrs) enrolled at a Pennsylvania State University campus during the Fall 2020 semester. Methods: Student-athletes were emailed a link of a 43-question survey which was deployed using Qualtrics®. The survey asked questions about collegiate experience, health, well-being, sport related training, and physical fitness before and during the pandemic. Results: Approximately 94% of student-athletes reported that COVID-19 worsened their college experience. About 52 and 59% of student-athletes believed that COVID-19 had a negative impact on their health and well-being, respectively. Nearly 79% of student-athletes reported that their sport-related training decreased during the pandemic. Over half of participants believed that their physical fitness, endurance, and strength decreased during the pandemic. Conclusion: The implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on Division III collegiate student-athletes include a worsened college experience as well as worsened health and well-being.