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Objective: This cross-sectional study utilized structural equation modeling to examine effects of COVID-19 stress on food insecurity and fruit and vegetable consumption mediated through personal agency and behavioral intention. Participants: Students (n = 749) enrolled at one federally designated Hispanic-serving public university during the fall 2020 semester. Methods: A 34-item survey was developed and administered. Results: COVID-19 stress had a statistically significant impact on food insecurity (B =.341; p <.001) and an inverse impact on personal agency to consume fruit and vegetables (B = −.283; p <.001). Personal agency (B =.389; p <.001) and behavioral intention to consume fruit and vegetables were directly associated while food insecurity inversely impacted behavioral intention (B = −.076; p =.034). Conclusions: Pandemic-related stress impacts nutrition behaviors among the student population already at risk of poor fruit and vegetable intake. During periods of high pandemic-related stress, college students need adequate access to fruits and vegetables and health promotion programs emphasizing stress management and healthy dietary behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to explore the impact of service-learning on graduate physical education teacher education students. Social-Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1986; 1999) served as the framework to examine graduate student's experiences in a service-learning program. Participants were graduate students (N =16) enrolled in a curriculum and instruction in physical education course at a major university in the southwest United States. The course's service-learning component provided graduate students opportunities to teach physical activity to Hispanic-American and African-American children from low-socioeconomic backgrounds. Participant's described their experiences through weekly reflections and discussions. Content analysis of data sources indicated that participation in the service-learning program strengthened graduate student's efficacy for teaching, contributed to their acquisition of varied teaching strategies, and enhanced graduate students understanding of children living in low-income, minority households. Findings suggest service-learning can be a valuable pedagogy to infuse into graduate teacher education programs. (Contains 2 figures and 1 table.)

The purpose of this study was to test a proposed model that examined how COVID-19 stress may have impacted fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption among U.S. college students. The model was tested using five separate scales (Cronbach's α > .70) to measure the relationship between COVID-19 stress, food security, personal agency related to FV, behavioral intention to consume FV, and 7-day intake of FV. Multiple linear regression assessed how COVID-19 stress, food security, personal agency, and intention were associated with FV consumption. The model indicated a moderate correlation (R = .597) and explained 32.8% of the variance in FV consumption scores (F = 12.454, p < .001). However, COVID-19 stress and food security were not statistically significant predictors of FV consumption. This pilot study provided a reliable model to explore the relationship between COVID-19 stress and fruit and vegetable consumption among college students. Results showed that food security may act as a mediator between COVID-19 stress and personal agency and intention to consume fruits and vegetables. Overall, college students who experienced high COVID-19 stress may have also experienced inability to access fruit and vegetables during the pandemic, which is a cause for concern among health education professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual dating violence is associated with several risky health behaviors among adolescents. This study explored the associations between school-based violence, risky health behaviors, and sexual dating violence victimization among U.S. high school students using the 2017 Youth Behavior Risk Survey data. Results indicate a statistically significant correlation (p <.05) between sexual dating violence, sex, sexual identity, and various risky behaviors including bullying, electronic bullying, alcohol use, and physical fighting. These additional behavioral risks experienced by sexual dating violence victims should be further researched to determine impact on overall quality of life and to help guide health education intervention development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to measure particulate matter (PM2.5) in pubs and bars prior to the adoption of a comprehensive, citywide smoke-free ordinance, as well as at multiple time points after adoption. Ten venues in a Southern U.S. city were measured at 1-month preordinance and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month postordinance. Air quality risk was determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index. Data revealed a statistically signifi cant difference (p < .001; Eta² = .889) in PM2.5 levels for the four time points. Air quality measurements showed that PM2.5 was 202.17 ± 97.89 (mean ± SD) at 1-month preordinance, 25.53 ± 14.18 at 1-month postordinance, 18.00 ± 8.43 at 3-month postordinance, and 10.77 ± 2.45 at 6-month postordinance. At the preordinance measurement, no venue was found to be in the "good" (minimal risk) range of the Air Quality Index; however, 100% of venues presented minimal air quality risk by the 3-month postordinance measurement. This study shows that adoption of smoke-free ordinances yields immediate reductions in health risks with continued air quality improvements up to 6-month postordinance (the last time point measured). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine alcohol and tobacco access points among a sample of rural and urban youth. Through collaboration with four regional school districts, a local drug prevention coalition administered a survey to a sample of 445 youth representing 30 different communities in a central U.S. region. The survey items included demographics, 30-day use measures, and questions about points-of-access for alcohol and tobacco. Results showed no differences among points-of-access between urban and rural youth. Ability to obtain alcohol from family, peers, other non-peer youth, and other nonfamily adults (P < 0.05) were each statistically significant predictors of 30-day alcohol use. Ability to obtain tobacco from family, peers, other non-peer youth, other non-family adults, and self-purchase (P < 0.05) were statistically significant predictors of 30-day tobacco use. Access through peers was the strongest predictor for both 30-day alcohol and tobacco use. Determining the primary social points-of-access youth use to obtain alcohol and tobacco can assist in the development of appropriate community-level prevention strategies and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In this study, we examined the role of socio-demographic (race/ethnicity, sex, grade, nativity, literacy, body mass index) and individual-level (normative beliefs, knowledge, perceived barriers, food preference, self-efficacy) factors on US adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption. Methods: We conducted hierarchical multiple regression analysis to determine the influence of factors on adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption in a nationally representative sample of 795 adolescents from the National Cancer Institute's 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health and Eating (FLASHE) study. Results: Socio-demographic variables explained little variance (1.7%) whereas individual-level factors explained approximately 29% of the variance in adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption. Statistically significant (p < .001) predictors of adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption were food preference (β = .253), self-efficacy (β = .184), perceived barriers (β = -.139) and normative beliefs (β = .134). After controlling for sex, food preference and normative beliefs were stronger predictors of male and perceived barriers was a stronger predictor of female, adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption. Conclusions: Understanding the predictive strength and sex-specific differences of intrapersonal variables on male and female adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption informs health promotion efforts to increase intake to recommended amounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article assesses the relationship of energy drink, high-sugar, and low-sugar beverage consumption with body mass indexes (BMI) among teenagers. It states that consumption data was examined by Mann-Whitney U, Cohen's d and effect sizes. It examined the rate of consumption of energy drinks and reported higher BMI among energy drinks consumers.

Objectives:This study aims to examine the relationship between middle-aged and older adults’ depressive symptomology and anti-depressant use and the frequency of falls within the previous 12 months, controlling for sociodemographic variables, health indicators, and health behaviors. Method:From the 2010 National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project, 2338 cases were examined. Falls were categorized into a binary variable, comparing zero falls with one or more falls. An unadjusted model was run to examine the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Potential covariates were added into the model, and backward elimination was used among independent variables with a univariateP< 0.05 to identify the covariates with the strongest association with falls. This final adjusted binary logistic regression model was then used to examine the relationship between falls and the independent variables. Results:In the adjusted model, anti-depressant use was positively associated with falls (P= 0.001), as was being female (P< 0.001), having diabetes (P= 0.018), and having increased limitations in daily activities (P< 0.001). The relationship between depressive symptomology and anti-depressant prescription was also significantly associated with falls (P= 0.006). Conclusion:While findings confirm that a relationship between depressive symptomology and anti-depressant use are associated with falls among middle-aged and older adults, additional studies are needed that simultaneously examine the influence of these two risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: Understanding modifiable risk factors related to cancer among adolescents and their parents may help identify at-risk populations and intervention aims for reducing cancer risk among families. Methods: Participants were 1336 adolescent-parent dyads who participated in the 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) conducted by the National Cancer Institute. Using independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA, we assessed differences in mean behavioral scores by sex and race/ethnicity, respectively. Results: For this nationwide sample, non-Hispanic black adolescents and parents were significantly (p < .05) more likely to participate in multiple dietary and sedentary behaviors than their Hispanic and non-black counterparts. Male adolescents reported significantly higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and processed and red meats than their female peers (p < .02 for all). We also found a strong positive association between adolescents' and their parents' dietary and sedentary behaviors (p < .001 for all). Conclusions: Sex and racial differences in cancer-related health behaviors among adolescents and their parents suggest current guidelines for cancer may benefit from inclusion of younger populations and families. Effective health interventions targeting adolescent-parent dyads may help reduce cancer risk among multiple populations simultaneously.