Recent data show rising suicidality among high school girls. We posit this increase may be related to an overlooked factor: more girls identifying as LGBQ. Using four cohorts of national Youth Risk Behavior Survey data (N = 22,562 females, N = 22,130 males), we found that LGBQ identification among females rose from 15% in 2015 to 34% in 2021. LGBQ…

Objective: To explore the patterns and predictors of body mass index (BMI) change among undergraduate students from Ontario (Canada). Participants: 68 undergraduate students were followed longitudinally for 3 years with anthropometric data collected bi-annually. Methods: BMI measurements were plotted to generate individual BMI trajectory curves,…

Objectives: Despite the widespread availability of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States, vaccine hesitancy remains high among certain groups. This study examined the correlates of being unvaccinated among a sample of students attending a single university (N = 2900) during the spring and summer of 2021, when the campus had been closed for over a…

Background: Few studies have attempted to define clusters of chronic disease predictors with additional focus on racial/ethnic differences. The purpose of this study was to highlight differences in predictors of chronic diseases among American high school students by identifying subgroups using latent class analysis (LCA). Methods: The chronic…

African Americans (AAs) have higher prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension than Whites, which leads to reduced life expectancy. Barriers to achieving blood pressure control in AAs include mistrust of healthcare and poor adherence to medication and dietary recommendations. We conducted a pilot study of a church-based community health worker (CHW)…

Objective: To adopt an intersectional approach to examine differences in aerobic and muscle-strengthening participation based on the intersection of gender and race/ethnicity among college students. Methods: Data from the American College Health Association (ACHA) National College Health Assessment collected between 2015 and 2018 were analyzed.…

Objective: This qualitative phenomenological study explored alcohol habits, behaviors, and motivations of Gen Z students (born 1996-2010). Participants: Thirteen participants met selection criteria: aged 18-24 years (thus, part of Gen Z), enrolled as at either the University or community college, and able to share experiences. Maximum variation…

Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) are aging with chronic health issues. However, little is known about the racial disparities in chronic health conditions among adults with IDD. Do racial and ethnic minority adults with IDD experience elevated risk of chronic health conditions like in the general population? How do…

Objectives: To examine differences in compliance to follow-up for STD based on demographic, clinical and academic characteristics. Methods: Cross-sectional study examining associations between clinical, demographic and academic variables and compliance to follow-up for STDs in a college population. Participants: Chart review data collected at…

Objective: To examine whether policies prohibiting smoking on college campuses contribute to greater decreases in smoking. Participants: This study compares smoking prevalence and perceptions of prevalence pre/post a smoking ban enacted in 2015 by using repeated cross-sectional surveys administered at a university in 2011 (n = 1.548), 2013 (n =…

Objective: To determine attitudes, behaviors, and intentions of university students regarding influenza vaccination. Participants: Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students enrolled at a private, midwestern university. Methods: A 24-item electronic survey was designed and distributed after literature review and inputs from experts on…

Objective: Kratom use represents a growing risk for public health. The present study examined demographic and behavioral factors linked with kratom use. Participants: Participants were college students in the United States who participated in the 2019-2020 Healthy Minds Study. Methods: Participants completed survey-based assessment of kratom use…

Objective: College men may be at risk for binge eating (BE) but are underrepresented in research. This study aimed to examine if body weight/shape concerns, perceived stress, and psychological distress significantly contributed to the likelihood of BE over the past 28 days. Participants: A racially/ethnically diverse sample (N = 873) of college…

Objective: To examine the relationship between demographics, other tobacco use, and JUUL dependency on combustible cigarette use among college JUUL users. Participants: Undergraduates (n = 595) at a large southwestern university who used JUUL weekly completed a cross-sectional online survey in March 2019. Methods: Logistic regressions examined…

Objectives: To identify potential associations between student characteristics and mental health symptoms during the early parts of the pandemic. Participants: 3,883 students at a large public university on the West Coast of the United States. Methods: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional survey to assess health-protective behaviors, mental…