Racial/ethnic and gender disparities in perceived stress and physical activity in college.

The beginning of college marks a decline in physical activity and racial/ethnic minorities have disproportionately lower rates of physical activity. This study examined the association between perceived stress and physical activity among an ethnically diverse sample of college-attending young adults. 2,396 students (36% male, 64% female) from a large public university.

Psychological distress, social context, and gender patterns in obesity among a multiethnic sample of U.S. college students.

The growing prevalence of obesity among college students is a major public health issue, as over one-third are overweight or obese. This study used gender-stratified multivariate analyses to examine psychological distress and social contextual factors as key determinants of obesity. Students of a large public university in Southern California (N = 2392).

Design and Outcomes of a Community Trial to Increase Pap Testing in Pacific Islander Women.

Background: Pap tests remain an essential cervical cancer detection method in the United States, yet they are underutilized among Pacific Islanders (PI) who experience elevated cervical cancer incidence and mortality. This study describes the design, methods, participants, and outcomes of a multiyear (2010-2016), community-based randomized intervention trial in southern California. Based upon strong collectivistic norms, the trial tested the efficacy of a unique social support intervention targeting Chamorro, Samoan, and Tongan women and their male husbands/partners.

Decision making for Pap testing among Pacific Islander women.

This study employed a Multi-Attribute Utility (MAU) model to examine the Pap test decision-making process among Pacific Islanders (PI) residing in Southern California. A total of 585 PI women were recruited through social networks from Samoan and Tongan churches, and Chamorro family clans. A questionnaire assessed Pap test knowledge, beliefs and past behaviour.

Associations Between Women's Perception of Their Husbands'/Partners' Social Support and Pap Screening in Pacific Islander Communities.

Pacific Islanders experience high rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality. This cross-sectional study examined the extent to which Samoan, Chamorro, and Tongan women's perceived receipt of social support from their husbands or male partners was associated with rates of routine cancer screening- specifically Pap testing. A total of 585 Pacific Islander women who live in the United States completed a self-report survey.

CBPR-Informed Recruitment and Retention Adaptations in a Randomized Study of Pap Testing Among Pacific Islanders in Southern California.

Background: Pacific Islanders (PIs) experience high cervical cancer rates in the United States. Stage of diagnosis is also later for PIs than non-Hispanic Whites. The Pap test is severely underutilized among PIs: only 71% of Asian American and Pacific Islander women age 25 years or older received a Pap test within the last 3 years (U.

Rationale and design of active play @ home: a parent-led physical activity program for children with and without disability.

Background: Compared to other children, those with disability have additional challenges to being physically active. Prader-Willi Syndrome is a genetic form of childhood obesity that is characterized by hypotonia, growth hormone deficiency, behavioral, and cognitive disability. In children, the low prevalence of this syndrome (1 in 10,000 to 15,000 live births) makes group-based physical activity interventions difficult.

Increased detection of alcohol consumption and at-risk drinking with computerized alcohol screening.

Background: The impact of alcohol use has been widely studied and is considered a public health issue. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recommends Screening and Brief Intervention and Referral Treatment (SBIRT), but the actual practice in the Emergency Department (ED) is constrained due to limited provider time and financial resources.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of alcohol screening using Computerized Alcohol Screening and brief Intervention (CASI) compared to alcohol screening by triage nurse during Medical Screening Examination (MSE) in the ED.

Substance use and its relationship to family functioning and self-image in adolescents.

This study examined associations between substance use, family functioning, and self-image among four ethnic adolescent groups. Three thousand three hundred and fifteen 8th and 9th grade students were recruited from 10 schools in Los Angeles County. Participants completed a paper-and-pencil survey regarding their alcohol and marijuana use, along with their perceived family functioning and self-image and other demographic variables.

Longitudinal effects of hostility, depression, and bullying on adolescent smoking initiation.

Purpose: The present study examined the associations between smoking initiation and, hostility, depressive symptoms, and bullying (bullies and bully-victims) among a culturally diverse sample of 1,771 adolescents who reported never having smoked at baseline.

Methods: Data were obtained from a longitudinal school-based experimental trial of smoking prevention programs in Southern California. Annual survey was performed for students of the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades.

The Personal Nutrition Planner: a 5-week, computer-tailored intervention for women.

Objective: To conduct a dietary intervention using the Personal Nutrition Planner (PNP), an on-line nutrition intervention tool.

Design: Randomized controlled trial with pretest, posttest, and 2-month follow-up self-report assessments.

Setting: Web/on-line.

Is image everything? The role of self-image in the relationship between family functioning and substance use among Hispanic adolescents.

This cross-sectional self-report study examined (1) whether family functioning (Family Functioning in Adolescence Questionnaire, FFAQ) and self-image (Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale) have independent associations with smoking and alcohol use and (2) whether self-image mediates the relationship between family functioning, smoking, and alcohol use among 1,598 Hispanic males and females in grades 7 through 12 in Los Angeles County, California, in 2001. The findings supported the main effects and, to some degree, the mediational effects that were hypothesized. Limitations and implications for this study are discussed, and directions for future research are suggested.

Association between psychological factors and adolescent smoking in seven cities in China.

Background: Cigarette smoking is a culturally accepted behavior among adult males in China. However, there is limited information on smoking among Chinese adolescents, particularly the information on the relationship between psychological well-being and smoking behavior among this population.

Purpose: This study explored associations between three psychological factors--anxiety, hostility, and depressive symptoms--and smoking behavior among Chinese adolescents.

Ethnic variation in the association between weight concern and adolescent smoking.

This study examined differences in associations between weight concern and smoking initiation among culturally diverse adolescents. Statistical analyses were conducted on responses from 3,515 students in the 8th and 9th grades from three school districts in Los Angeles County. The restrained eating scale, adapted from the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire, was used to measure students' weight concerns.

Dieting and its relationship to smoking, acculturation, and family environment in Asian and Hispanic adolescents.

The objective of this article was to examine dieting and its relationship to smoking behaviors and attitudes, acculturation, and family environment in an ethnically diverse sample of adolescents. Participants were 211 adolescent girls and boys: 57% Asian, 16% Hispanic, 27% White. Regular dieting was determined using the Restraint Scale (Herman, 1978).

Effects of family functioning and self-image on adolescent smoking initiation among Asian-American subgroups.

Purpose: This study examined differences in smoking prevalence and differences in associations between family functioning, self-image and adolescent smoking behavior among four Asian-American subgroups.

Methods: Statistical analyses were conducted on responses about their smoking behaviors from 1139 students who self-identified as Chinese-Americans, Filipino-Americans, Korean-Americans, and Vietnamese-Americans.

Results: Significant differences in the prevalence of ever-tried smoking and 30-day smoking were found across subgroups, but there were no overall gender differences.

Longitudinal effects of pro-tobacco and anti-tobacco messages on adolescent smoking susceptibility.

We examined the longitudinal impact of self-reported exposure to pro- and anti-tobacco media on adolescents' susceptibility to smoking, using in-school surveys from a culturally diverse sample. Ethnicity and acculturation also were examined as potential moderators. Middle-school students (N = 2,292) completed self-report questionnaires during the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.

Effects of acculturation and social norms on adolescent smoking among Asian-American subgroups.

This study provides new information about how acculturation and perceived social norms affect adolescents smoking among four Asian-American subgroups. Results showed differences in smoking prevalence rates across subgroups, with Koreans having the highest rates of smoking, while Chinese have the lowest rates. In contrast to the large gender disparity in the ancestral countries, smoking rates were equal for Asian-American boys and girls.

Smoking among adolescents in China: an analysis based upon the meanings of smoking theory.

Purpose: This study utilized the Meanings of Behavior theory to examine whether meanings of smoking differ among adolescents in China who were never smokers, ever smokers, and past-30-day smokers. The Meanings of Behavior theory argues that affect takes precedence over cognitive constructs in motivating behavior This study also examined whether the associations among meanings of smoking and smoking behavior vary by age and gender

Design: This study was a cross-sectional study using survey data.

Setting: Middle and high schools in seven cities in China.

Hostility, depressive symptoms, and smoking in early adolescence.

Using logistic and multiple regression, we examined the association between hostility, level of depressive symptoms, and smoking in a sample of 1699 ethnically diverse students in California. Self-reports were collected twice from each student, at the beginning of the 6th and 7th grade years. Among 6th graders who had not smoked, depressive symptoms and hostility were associated with smoking initiation by the 7th grade.