Tattoos Can Harm Perceptions: A Study and Suggestions

Objective: Health researchers have claimed that perceptions toward a person with a tattoo are more negative than are perceptions toward nontattooed persons. However, support for this has been obtained almost completely by nonexperimental research. Participants: In 2 experiments with 158 community college student participants, the authors found that tattoos harmed perceptions. Methods: Students viewed a photograph of a female model with and without a visible tattoo, and rated her on 13 personal characteristics. Results: In Experiment 1, ratings of a model with a dragon tattoo were significantly more negative (p < .05) on 5 of the 13 personal characteristics than were ratings of the same model shown without the tattoo. In Experiment 2, which included different participants, a different model, and a different tattoo, the authors found that a dolphin tattoo led to more negative ratings on 2 of the 13 characteristics. Conclusions: The authors discuss possible impacts of tattoos on person perception as well as implications of the results for college student healthcare providers.     

Normative Beliefs as Risk Factors for Involvement in Unhealthy Weight Control Behavior

Objective: The authors' aim in this study was to determine, after adjustment for the effects of body mass index and sociodemographic measures, whether sex-specific weight control norms would have significant independent relationships with the weight control behavior of college women and men. Participants: The authors used an anonymous questionnaire to assess a sample of 470 college students, aged 18 to 26 years, attending either a 2- year community college or a 4-year public university. Methods: To calculate body mass index, the authors objectively measured the height and weight of each participant. They conducted separate discriminant function analyses for women and men. Results: The discriminant function analyses clearly indicated that weight control norms of same-sex, close friends were the best discriminators of involvement in weight control. Conclusions: The findings indicate that perceived peer norms may be important but overlooked risk factors for engaging in unhealthy weight control practices. The authors discuss the implications of these findings in the context of student health promotion.     

Comprehensive College Student Suicide Assessment: Application of the BASIC ID

Whether one knows someone who is thinking of suicide, has attempted suicide, or has completed suicide, nearly all individuals who encounter suicide are affected. The influence and residual affects of suicide are further amplified as the issue reaches across communities such as college or university campuses. College and university staff must improve their response to suicidal ideation with comprehensive assessment and intervention. The authors discuss risk factors and basic screening methods for suicide risk. They present Lazarus' BASIC ID tool (ie, Behavior, Affective Responses, Sensations, Images, Cognitions, Interpersonal Relationships, and Drugs or Biological Influences) as a method for conducting a comprehensive suicide assessment. The authors demonstrate assessment procedures through a case vignette.     

Stages of Change and Possible Selves: 2 Tools for Promoting College Health

When considering health promotion among college students, 2 questions that arise are how to (1) most effectively offer health initiatives and (2) motivate students to participate in these efforts. Objective: In responding to these questions, the author considered 2 health-promotion tools: the transtheoretical model and the concept of possible selves. Participants: There were 304 college students who participated in this study. Methods: To explore how such information can assist health-promotion planning by determining which behaviors to target and how to match interventions to the overall population's stage of change, the author had students report their stage of change for 6 health behaviors. In addition, to explore possible motivations for moving from the precontemplation to the preparation stage of change, the author had students generate future self-concepts regarding their health (health-related possible selves). Results: The number of illness-related possible selves cited was significantly related to stage of change for smoking and stress management. For smoking, precontemplators had the fewest number of illness-related possible selves; however, the author observed the opposite for stress management. Conclusion: The findings have implications for how the transtheoretical model and the concept of possible selves can serve as useful tools in promoting college health.     

The Association of Multiple Risk Factors With Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among a Nationwide Sample of College Students

Few college students meet fruit and vegetable intake recommended requirements, and most receive no information from their institutions about this issue. The avoidable disease burden among students is large, the necessary information infrastructure exists, and Healthy People 2010 objectives indicate efforts should be taken to increase intake. Objective: The authors examined the association of high-risk behaviors and fruit and vegetable intake to inform design of multiple risk factor interventions. Participants and Methods: The authors obtained data from a sample of 40,209 18- to 25-year-old college students who completed the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment during the spring 2002 and 2003 semesters. Results: Predictors of high fruit and vegetable intake for men and women included better: seatbelt and helmet use, physical activity, perceived health, sleep, self-care behaviors, and grades. Other notable predictors of high intake were reduced likelihood of cigarette smoking, alcohol use, drinking and driving, and feeling hopeless in both sexes; reduced likelihood of drinking and driving among men; and a greater likelihood of anorexia among women. Conclusions: The authors discuss implications of these findings.     

Energy Expenditure During Physically Interactive Video Game Playing in Male College Students With Different Playing Experience

Objective: Researchers have yet to explore the effect of physically interactive video game playing on energy expenditure, despite its potential for meeting current minimal daily activity and energy expenditure recommendations. Participants and Methods: Nineteen male college students-12 experienced Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) players and 7 inexperienced players- completed maximal oxygen uptake assessments and a 30-minute DDR gaming session. The authors recorded heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), respiratory exchange rate (RER), oxygen consumption (VO₂), and total steps (TS₃₀). Results: Experienced participants showed higher exercise HR, RPE, RER, VO₂, total and relative energy expenditure, exercise intensity, TS₃₀, and average steps per minute, and less time and steps to expend 150 kilocalories (p < .05). Conclusions: Participants with greater playing experience can work at higher intensities, promoting greater energy expenditure.     

Behavior Change and the Freshman 15: Tracking Physical Activity and Dietary Patterns in 1st-Year University Women

Objective and Participants: The authors assessed the stability of diet and physical activity and their relationship to weight changes in first-year university women. Methods: They collected anthropometric and body composition data from 101 resident women at the beginning of their first year of college and again at 12 months. The authors obtained physical activity and dietary logs 4 times throughout the year. Results: Caloric intake decreased over 12 months in all participants (p = .01). There was little change in physical activity in participants who lost weight (p = .73, d = .18). Those who gained weight experienced a trend toward decreased physical activity (p = .13, d = .38). A significant Time X Group interaction on physical activity (p = .04) suggests that physical activity patterns differed substantially between individuals who gained weight and those who lost weight. Conclusions: Reduction in physical activity appears to be the defining characteristic in freshman weight gain.     

Weight Loss Practices and Body Weight Perceptions Among US College Students

Objective: The authors assessed associations between body weight perception and weight loss strategies. Participants: They randomly selected male and female college students (N = 38,204). Methods: The authors conducted a secondary data analysis of the rates of weight loss strategies and body weight perception among students who completed the National College Health Assessment survey. Results: Half of respondents (50%) were trying to lose weight, although only 28% of students were overweight or obese. Also, 12% of respondents had inaccurate body weight perception. Women and men with inaccurate body weight perception were significantly more likely to engage in inappropriate weight loss strategies than were those with accurate body weight perception. Of all students attempting to lose weight, 38% used both diet and exercise. Conclusions: These data show that college students are interested in weight loss and that body weight perception plays an important role in the desire to lose weight.     

Recruitment Strategies and Motivations for Sexually Transmitted Disease Testing Among College Students

Objective The authors evaluated procedures for recruiting college students for sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing as part of a research study examining the impact of HSV serologic testing. Participants A convenience sample of 100 students was drawn from students aged 18 to 35 years enrolled at one university in a mid- Atlantic state between September 2004 and March 2006. Methods: Six strategies were used to recruit students for participation in the study. Upon enrollment, participants were asked where they heard about the study. Students were also asked about their motivations for participation. Results: Findings show that a significant recruitment strategy involves targeting places where students seek health care. Other effective strategies include those where information is directly provided to individuals. Most students were motivated to participate because of a possible past exposure to herpes simplex virus 2. Conclusions: Targeting places where students seek health care and educating students about STDs are important strategies for recruiting students for STD testing.     

Prevalence of Sufficient Physical Activity Among Parents Attending a University

Objective: The benefits of regular physical activity are well documented. However, approximately half of all university students are insufficiently active, and no research to date exists on the activity behavior of university students who are also parents. Participants and Methods: Using an adapted version of the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (ie, the Physical Activity Prevalence Questionnaire), the authors examined the prevalence of sufficient physical activity among 245 parent students from 6 faculties and 12 programs. Results: Half (49.5%) of the students who were not parents (n = 90) were sufficiently physically active, compared with 16% of students who were parents (n = 3, p < .002). The authors found that 33.3% of parents and 13% of nonparents limited their activity level as a result of illness or injury (p < .05). Conclusions: Most parent students in this study were insufficiently active and at potential risk for the negative health consequences of inactivity. This is a grossly understudied population, and researchers must conduct further studies to understand what can be done to facilitate physical activity among this potentially vulnerable group of students.