Describes an initiative that offered smokers nicotine replacement along with smoking cessation and overall wellness interventions. The intervention included weekly smoking education sessions and round table discussions, dietary fat restriction, and nicotine replacement. Participant questionnaires indicated the program helped, but the decision to…

Reviews articles on stress and exercise. After defining stress, the paper analyzes competition as either eustress or distress, provides evidence for Berger's taxonomy of stress and exercise, examines Type A behavior, discusses multidimensional anxiety and stress management, describes the inverted-U hypothesis and task characteristics, and explains…

This literature review discusses gender differences in psychosocial determinants of adolescent smoking. Studies show that external pressures (e.g., peer and parental smoking) are important for boys and girls, although their influence may be moderated differently by age and type of smoking behavior assessed. Gender-specific components of…

Describes a study of weight control techniques and bulimic tendencies among elite female participants in an Olympic Swimming Selection Meet. Results showed concern with thinness, body dissatisfaction, and unhealthy eating, dieting, and weight loss patterns among participants. Discusses the explanatory power of the PRECEDE model. (SM)

In 1990, researchers collected data on risky sexual behavior and other risky behaviors to examine factors associated with secondary students' condom use and number of sexual partners. Risky sexual behavior correlated with other risky behaviors. There was a pattern of declining condom use with increasing number of partners. (SM)

Examined the relationship between smoking and participation in unhealthy behaviors among Mexican-American adolescents. Analysis of data from the 1993 Teenage Attitudes and Practices Survey indicated that Mexican-American adolescents who smoke may be at higher risk for engaging in behaviors that could compromise their health and safety and for not…

Investigates the relationship between daily life events and total cholesterol levels among high school students (N=104) and examines contributions of health-related behaviors. Analyses showed that scores on a scale of daily life events explained a significant portion of variance in cholesterol levels. Females reported a greater degree of negative…

Surveyed international college students regarding their health conditions and student-health-center utilization motives and patterns. Significant gender differences existed in perceptions of health status and health behaviors. Many students had sleep-related problems. Language barriers was the main problem in making educational and sociocultural…

College age males have greater risk of disease, injury, and death than comparable females. This paper discusses their health risks, failure to adopt health promoting behaviors, propensity to engage in risky behaviors, beliefs about manhood, attitudes concerning vulnerability, and limited health knowledge, noting the health effects of male…

TAR WARS is an interactive, anti-tobacco program for fifth graders designed to promote positive health choices by increasing students' awareness of attitudes regarding tobacco use and the effects of tobacco on the body. The program encourages health care provider involvement in community health activities and mobilizes community support against…

Evaluated the effectiveness of a prenatal-education program in increasing prenatal care utilization, improving maternal weight gain, and reducing low-birthweight births among adolescents. Data from weekly program reports and state vital statistics and health services information indicated that program participants were less likely to have…

Examines the health behaviors of educators before and after attending a six-session, eight-month inservice health-promotion course. Finds that using a combination of behavior-change strategies (including goal setting, contracting, and skill practice) can help people to develop basic, positive health behaviors. (SR)

Surveyed the diet, exercise, and health habits of female college students, calculating body mass index, assessing physical activity, and estimating food and nutrient intake. Overall, no participants had adopted all of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Diets were nutritionally adequate but exceeded national recommendations for fat, sugar, and…

Reviews literature that has examined components of the social, mental, and physical health of African American college students. The review indicates a need for more information and further research specifically addressing health behaviors and practices of African American and other minority students. (SM)

Focus groups with diverse low-income women generated ideas about cardiovascular disease interventions. Women preferred programs that: addressed multiple risk factors; emphasized staying healthy for themselves; taught skills for adopting heart-healthy behaviors; and offered choices in effecting behavior change. Women stressed the need for health…