Search

Higher education can be a key leader in sustainability efforts, with issues cutting across all areas of functioning and extending into the community. This article examines educational change, which is particularly important because of its far-reaching effects. In particular, this article describes student-led sustainability research at the University of Louisville, demonstrating involvement and the ways that student work can make a real difference.

This article describes a consulting project with an advocacy organization to raise cigarette excise taxes in Kentucky and to improve public health in the state. We describe the theoretical underpinnings of the project, the client, and our consultation process, objectives, products, and results.

This article presents an activity that demonstrates the usefulness of using novels to teach communication concepts. The authors have developed this activity for use in Communication Ethics; however, it could be employed in several courses like family, health, and interpersonal communication. The objectives of this activity are: (1) to identify ethical dilemmas in communication presented in "My Sister's Keeper," a novel by Jodi Picoult; (2) to examine how one's position/perspective shapes how one interprets and evaluates situations; and (3) to analyze ethical decision making. A list of references and suggested readings is included.

Honors practitioners from across the country help students confront pressing social problems and develop innovative solutions to issues related to food security. Authors present a cross-institutional hackathon as a flexible framework for teaching multidisciplinary teamwork, innovative and critical thinking, and an appreciation for diverse perspectives. Providing an engaging, relaxed atmosphere and concentrated time for the application and integration of knowledge, hackathons offer honors educators a pedagogical approach that is both transdisciplinary and transformative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honors practitioners from fourteen colleges and programs across the country at land-grant, public, and minority-serving institutions partner with agricultural experts to secure a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Higher Education Challenge grant focused on the themes of food justice, climate justice, and sustainable agriculture. Authors describe the program's origin, objectives, and curricular outgrowths, highlighting its efficacy for empowering students in areas of systems thinking, career readiness, leadership in the service of addressing social needs, and learning through civic engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Associations between exposure to nature and positive mental health outcomes have been established. Although the Internet is a popular source of accessing mental health information, little is known about the readability of such online information. Thus, the goal of this study was to assess the readability of online information regarding the association between exposure to nature and mental health. METHODS A search of webpages was conducted using the following search terms: 'mental health and urban greening', 'stress and urban greening', 'mental health and nature', 'stress and nature', 'mental health and outdoors', and 'stress and outdoors'. Readability of the 255 webpages identified was determined by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level measure. RESULTS On average, webpage content was written at an 11th grade reading level (Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level mean=11.95, SD=2.68), and fewer than 2% of webpages met readability guidelines (i.e. =6th grade reading level). CONCLUSIONS Most online content related to nature and mental health should be written at a more appropriate level for general audiences. Web content developers should prioritize adherence to readability guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on Tracey Scott Wilson's (2004) play, The Story, this article examines assumptions, perspectives, and voices in our narratives. Like Wilson's play, this special issue and its articles may provoke mixed reactions. In the spirit of Hendrix's (2005, this issue) 'communication chorus,' this article calls for reflection on others' perspectives and openness in dialogue. DOI: 10.1080/10417941003613289

The aim of this study was to examine perceptions including knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about e-cigarettes among ethno-culturally diverse Latino adults living in the US, a rapidly growing minority group for which we know little about their e-cigarette perceptions. A total of 25 focus groups with Latinos (n = 180; ages 18–64 years) were conducted in 2014. E-cigarettes users and non-users were recruited via purposive sampling techniques. Participants completed brief questionnaires on sociodemographic factors and tobacco use. Focus group discussions were conducted in English and Spanish, audio-recorded, and transcribed. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis procedures. Participants were of diverse Latino backgrounds. Over one-third (35%) reported current cigarette smoking and 8% reported current e-cigarette or hookah use. Nonsmokers reported experimenting with e-cigarettes and hookah during social occasions. Participants' perceptions towards e-cigarettes were generally formed in comparison to conventional cigarettes. Perceived benefits of using e-cigarettes included their utility as a smoking cessation aid, higher social acceptability, and lower harm compared to conventional cigarettes. Negative perceptions of e-cigarettes included lower overall satisfaction compared to conventional cigarettes and high content of toxins. Socio-cultural factors (e.g. gender roles, familismo, and simpatía) also influenced perceptions of e-cigarette of study participants. Overall, Latino adults knew relatively little about the potential health risks associated with e-cigarette use. The limited knowledge about and misinformation of e-cigarettes among this rapidly growing minority group have important public health implications. Findings may inform culturally tailored health communication campaigns, which are much needed among underserved US Latino populations in light of low effectiveness of tobacco control and regulatory efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Given the growing awareness of the health risks associated with e-cigarettes, many users will access information about how to effectively quit using e-cigarettes, and the internet likely will be a popular source of information. However, little is known about the readability of online e-cigarette cessation information. Therefore, the goal of the current study was to assess the readability of webpage information about e-cigarette cessation. METHODS A search of webpages was conducted using the following search terms: vaping addiction, quit vaping, quit Juul, stop vaping, stop Juul, and vaping cessation. The 464 webpages identified were coded for target audience, message valence, and source, and then assessed for reading level with the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level assessment. RESULTS On average, webpage content was written at a 7th grade reading level (Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Mean=7.34, SD=2.22) and less than 25% of webpages met readability guidelines (i.e. ≤6th grade reading level). There were no differences in readability by target audience, message valence, or webpage source. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that most online content related to e-cigarette cessation is not written at a level that is easily understood by general audiences. Thus, tobacco control advocates should assess the reading level of their messaging to ensure wide accessibility of information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zach P. Messitte and Suzette R. Grillot (eds.) Norman, OR University of Oklahoma Press, 2013 296 pages, paper, $26.95 With this eight-chapter volume, editors Messitte and Grillot seek to spur [...]

A photovoice project provides students the opportunity to convey observations and experiences via photographs, share perspectives on these photographs, and critically reflect across photographs from the class. Additionally, students have opportunities to share the work with others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a critical public health issue, with tobacco smoking the leading preventable cause. Perceptions of CVD risk in specific populations may differ by tobacco use status, potentially necessitating customized tobacco prevention measures. METHODS Using data from the Youth Appalachian Tobacco Study (n=1104), CVD risk perceptions were defined by responses to three statements: 'smoking causes heart disease', 'smoking causes strokes' and 'smoking causes high blood pressure'. Tobacco use status was characterized as never users, ever cigarette users, and ever non-cigarette users. Sociodemographic differences in CVD risk perceptions and tobacco use status were evaluated. Logistic regression analyses, adjusted for gender, race/ethnicity, and household tobacco use, were conducted. and 10.1% were ever non-cigarette users. Compared to never users, ever cigarette users had higher odds of disagreeing that smoking causes heart disease (AOR=1.83; 95% CI: 1.23-2.73), stroke (AOR=1.54; 95% CI: 1.08-2.18) and hypertension (AOR=1.41; 95% CI: 1.00-1.99). White youth (vs racial/ethnic minorities) had fewer odds of disagreeing that smoking causes hypertension (AOR=0.44; 95% CI: 0.29-0.68), and females (vs males) had fewer odds of disagreeing that smoking causes heart disease (AOR=0.69; 95% CI: 0.48-0.99). CONCLUSIONS Among Appalachian youth, CVD risk perceptions differed by tobacco use status and sociodemographic groups, such as race/ethnicity and gender. Findings from this study may be helpful in development of tobacco prevention efforts, such as health messaging for Appalachian youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Design Methods Results Conclusions Sexual minority young adults report higher rates of anxiety and depression, and affective vulnerability factors (i.e. anxiety sensitivity, distress tolerance, emotion dysregulation) may help explain these mental health disparities.The current cross‐sectional study examined differences between sexual minority and heterosexual college students (n = 465; Mage = 19.84, SD = 3.51; 76.3% female) in anxiety, depression and affective vulnerability and whether affective vulnerability served as an explanatory mechanism in these associations.Participants completed self‐report measures for course credit.Sexual minority young adults reported greater anxiety, depression, anxiety sensitivity, emotion regulation difficulties and lower distress tolerance. There were also significant indirect effects for all three affective vulnerability variables for anxiety symptoms and for emotion regulation difficulties for depression symptoms.Affective vulnerability, particularly emotion regulation difficulties, appears to serve as a mechanism through which sexual minority status is associated with anxiety and depression. Improving emotion regulation skills may help to reduce mental health disparities in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Exposure to green spaces is beneficial to mental health in a variety of ways, ranging from stress reduction to increased attentiveness and elevated selfesteem. The impact of views of greenness, as opposed to direct exposure, has been examined, but the association between self-reported views and depressive symptoms is not known. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between views of greenness and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score. METHODS Questionnaire responses from 191 participants in the Health, Environment, and Action in Louisville (HEAL) study were examined. Univariate statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman rank tests. Inferential statistical analysis was linear regression. RESULTS Participant satisfaction with residential greenness was significantly associated with reduced PHQ-9 score (partially adjusted: linear coefficient = -0.42; 95% CI: -0.70 - -0.14; fully adjusted: linear coefficient = -0.21; 95% CI: -0.44 - 0.02). Additionally, being satisfied with local greenness was significantly associated with having views of greenness from home (linear coefficient = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.23-2.68). CONCLUSIONS Though views of greenness were not directly associated with depression, satisfaction with local greenness was associated with reduced PHQ-9 score, and having views of greenness from home was crudely associated with increased greenness satisfaction. The findings suggest urban greening interventions that focus on greenness satisfaction may be a strategy to reduce depression. Further research is necessary to better understand these relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Sleep deficiency is associated with health risks, and time outdoors is related to health benefits. This study assessed time outdoors and its association with sleep normality. METHODS As part of a health study in Louisville, Kentucky, 735 participants completed questionnaires on their health status, behaviors, neighborhoods, and demographics in 2018-2019. The measures included information on sleep, time outdoors, and mental and physical health. Participant characteristics were assessed by dichotomized sleep normality (N=728), and logistic regression (N=709) examined potential associations between time outdoors and sleep. RESULTS As time spent outdoors increased from ≤4 hours to >4 - ≤8 hours (OR=1.04; 95% CI: 0.65-1.64) and >8 - ≤12 hours (OR=1.17; 95% CI: 0.63-2.17), odds of normal sleep increased; however, those who spent >12 - ≤16 hours (OR=0.63; 95% CI: 0.31-1.27) or >16 hours (OR=0.83; 95% CI: 0.45-1.53) outdoors had a lower likelihood of normal sleep. No associations between time outdoors and sleep were significant. There was a significant trend of less bodily pain associated with normal sleep (p<0.001) and in the association of depression and sleep, where odds of normal sleep decreased as depression severity increased (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Consistent with extant literature, findings indicate associations between less pain and increased odds of normal sleep and between higher severity of depression and lower odds of normal sleep. Findings for an overall association between time outdoors and sleep normality were not significant. Future work should seek to better explicate the predictor variables to assess how greenness and activity type shape associations with sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Youth are at risk for tobacco use, and previous research has pointed to increased vulnerabilities associated with sexual minority identity. For example, LGB youth have increased odds for using tobacco than their heterosexual peers, and bisexual youth have higher odds of smoking than other sexual identity groups. As new tobacco products proliferate and health risks from dual/poly use grow, increased understanding of tobacco use patterns by sexual minority youth is needed. METHODS For 3117 youth, aged 13-18 years, who completed an online questionnaire in 2017 and identified their sexual orientation [minority (e.g. lesbian/gay, bisexual, or pansexual) vs majority (heterosexual)] and gender, we classified current tobacco use into four categories: e-cigarette only, other product only (such as cigarette, cigar, or smokeless tobacco; not an e-cigarette), dual/poly use, and no use. Analyses were conducted separately for male and female participants. Multinomial logistic regression was employed. RESULTS Female sexual minority youth had nearly twofold odds of dual/poly tobacco use (OR=1.95; 95% CI: 1.12-3.40), compared to their heterosexual counterparts. For male youth, sexual minority identification was not significantly associated with dual/poly use. No significant differences were found in sexual minority and heterosexual youth e-cigarette only or other tobacco only use groups. Tobacco use patterns also significantly differed by age, race, place of residence, and parental education level. CONCLUSIONS Study findings reveal greater odds of dual/poly tobacco use for female sexual minority youth. Tailored tobacco prevention and cessation programs or interventions are needed for sexual minority youth most at risk of tobacco use, especially multiple product use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Despite decreases in the overall US smoking rate, tobacco use remains more common in some areas and by some groups. Deeper understanding of group differences is needed in order to tailor public health campaigns to the interests, perceptions and experiences of targeted audiences. Although some differences have been identified across African American and Caucasian smokers in the United States, additional insight is needed regarding factors that differentiate these groups. This study examined tobaccorelated perceptions and practices, with an emphasis on identifying differences across African American and Caucasian smokers. Toward this goal, we examined key demographic variables of race and age, and tobacco use characteristics. METHODS The sample consisted of 284 people from the Jackson, Mississippi area who participated in focus groups and completed surveys addressing a variety of tobaccorelated topics, including knowledge and perceptions of products as well as use and health information seeking behavior. The selection criteria and recruitment approach ensured a balance across race (black, white), age (18-34, >35 years), sex, and cigarette smoking status (current, former, never). Statistical analyses were performed using SAS (v.9.4). RESULTS Differences were observed across demographic subgroups regarding type and pattern of tobacco products used (e.g. mentholated, markers of nicotine dependence, hookah). Differences in preferred sources of health information based on age as well as perceptions of risk as a function of age, smoking status and race were also noted. Exposure to secondhand smoke and perceptions of its risks, quitting efforts and cessation methods differed by race. CONCLUSIONS Study findings suggest key differences across important subgroups. Knowledge of such differences has the potential to improve strategic public health messaging, allowing health campaigns to more effectively prevent tobacco product uptake as well as promote interest in quitting tobacco. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Given that Appalachian youth tobacco use rates are higher than the US national average, it is important to understand whether sex differences shape associations between receiving and sharing product information and using tobacco. METHODS: Middle and high school students in rural Appalachia (n=1038) were surveyed about tobacco-related perceptions and behaviors, including ways youth receive and share conventional tobacco-related and e-cigarette-related information. Youth were characterized as tobacco users (i.e. ever or current users of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, or e-cigarettes) or never users. Descriptive characteristics were compared by tobacco use and sex. Adjusted logistic regression models evaluated associations between communication channels and tobacco use. Models were stratified by sex to examine effect modification. RESULTS: Approximately one-third of Appalachian youth (33.8%) were tobacco users and use varied by sex (males: 54.4%; females: 45.6%). Male (OR=1.75; 95% CI: 1.18- 2.60) and female (OR=2.30; 95% CI: 1.53-3.47) youth who received e-cigarette-related information through friends and family (FF) had higher odds of tobacco use. Additionally, females who received e-cigarette-related information through public displays and digital media had nearly two-fold increased odds of tobacco use. Although sharing conventional tobacco-related and e-cigarette-related information through FF was associated with increased odds of tobacco use among both sexes, these relationships were stronger among females. CONCLUSIONS: Although specific communication channels were associated with tobacco use, associations involving receiving and sharing e-cigarette information were more pronounced in female tobacco users. Consideration of sex differences in how youth receive and share tobacco-related information may benefit tobacco prevention interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION As e-cigarette use increases, questions about individual and public health effects remain unanswered (e.g. cessation tool, addiction path). Despite increasing use, few studies have focused on vape shop patrons. This study examined whether vape shop patrons believe their health is affected by the use of e-cigs; more specifically, the aim was to evaluate the association between e-cig use, change in tobacco use, and perception of health. METHODS A survey of e-cig users (N=78) was conducted in vape shops. Questions included e-cig and traditional tobacco use, health perceptions, and demographics. Descriptive techniques were used to characterize participants as either those who perceived e-cig use improved their health or those who perceived their health unaffected. Logistic regression assessed the association between change in tobacco use, e-cig use, and perception of health effects. RESULTS Most reported daily e-cig (91%) and current (11.5%) or former (78.2%) combustible cigarette use. Approximately, three-fourths (76.9%) perceived better health; the remainder (23.1%) perceived unaffected health. Change in cigarette use was significantly associated with perceptions that health is better with e-cig use. Participants who decreased cigarette use by 2-3 cartons/month and more than 3 cartons/month were significantly more likely to indicate that e-cig use has improved their health compared to those who decreased tobacco use by 1.5 cartons or fewer per month (OR=4.35, 95% CI: 1.13-16.9; OR=25.67, 95% CI: 2.97-221.7, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The majority of e-cig users perceived better health. Our findings suggest that health campaign designers should carefully assess the scientific uncertainty surrounding the use of these devices and consider means to clearly convey this information. Given the lack of scientific agreement on the health effects of e-cigs and the important role that perceptions play in behavior, health campaign designers, health education practitioners, policy makers, and health care providers should err on the side of caution when advising individuals about e-cig use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]