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A Content Analysis of College Students’ Health Behaviors
– Elizabeth G. Calamidas and Tara L. Crowell
Background: The perception of college students’ health is overall positive, yet research indicates that they engage in negative behaviors that can lead to long-term health consequences.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of a course activity as an opportunity for students to assess their own health behaviors, which could increase the likelihood of students adopting healthier behaviors.
Method: A content analysis of 100 students’ Lifestyle Analysis assignments was conducted and the results were analyzed.
Results: Results reveal that unhealthy eating, smoking, and lack of exercise are the most commonly reported negative behaviors and are reinforced by social support networks, stress, busy schedules, and habitual behaviors. Most common healthy behaviors to adopt are exercise and better eating habits and would be supported by help from friends and family, internal motivation, and goal-setting. Although past research indicates that setting specific time frames for adoption of healthier behaviors is critical, over half of the students failed to do so.
Discussion: Discussion of results includes the use of a guided assignment to identify students’ perceptions of negative behaviors, the consequences of the behaviors, and positive alternative behaviors to adopt.
Translation to Health Education Practice: Results provide valuable insight into the value of guided self-reflection in fostering positive health behavior change.

Assessing College Students’ Perceptions About Cigarette Smoking: Implications for Prevention
– Ninfa C. Peña-Purcell, Rhonda N. Rahn, and Taylor Dailey Atkinson
Background: College students are susceptible to cigarette smoking initiation, and those who smoke are at risk for a lifetime addiction.
Purpose: This study examined the differences in college student smoker and nonsmoker perceptions about cigarette smoking in relation to emotional benefits, health hazards, self-confidence, and body image.
Methods:A cross-sectional study using a convenience sample was conducted. The Attitudes and Beliefs about the Consequences of Smoking (ABC) instrument assessed cigarette smoking perceptions. An independent samples t test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) assessed the differences between smoking status and the 4 ABC subscales. A multivariate ANOVA was conducted to test for the differences between smoking status and gender, as well as other demographic items.
Results: Of the 1333 participants, the average age was 21, 63% were female, 69% were white, and 11% were current smoker. The one-way ANOVA revealed a statistically significant difference between smokers and nonsmokers. Multivariate tests indicated a significant effect of smoking status and gender for the 4 subscales. The interaction of smoking status and gender had a significant effect on smoking attitudes.
Discussion: College student smokers underestimate the harm of cigarette smoking.
Translation to Health Education Practice: Tailored smoking prevention and cessation interventions targeting college students are recommended.

An Investigation of Predictors of Self-efficacy to Cope with Stress and Implications for Health Education Practice
– Asrat G. Amnie
Background: We investigated predictors of self-efficacy to cope with stress in diverse populations with stressful life experiences. We also examined the association between predictors of coping self-efficacy and the different copying strategies adapted by study participants.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between sociodemographic variables and individuals’ self-efficacy to cope with stress resulting from exposure to adverse life experiences.
Methods: A total of 233 adult U.S. residents aged 18 years or above were recruited in a self-administered questionnaire survey study.
Results: Regression results showed that male gender, older age, being non-white, not being U.S. born, higher income, and adult stress exposure were significant predictors of higher self-efficacy to cope with stress. Adults who have had fewer adverse childhood experiences had higher coping self-efficacy through seeking social support from friends and family.
Discussion: Sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, race, income, and stress exposure appear to be significant predictors of self-efficacy to cope with stress.
Translation to Health Education Practice: Understanding predictors of self-efficacy to cope with stress may help Health Educators to integrate the emotional dimension of health in Health Education interventions, identify high-risk groups, tailor messaging, and prioritize resources to address the needs of individuals living with stress.

The Relationship Between Stress and Maladaptive Weight-Related Behaviors in College Students: A Review of the Literature
– Lynnette Nathalie Lyzwinski, Liam Caffery, Matthew Bambling, and Sisira Edirippulige
Background: College students are at risk of the “freshman 15,” consisting of weight gain during their university studies. Stress has been linked with unhealthy dietary intake and weight in adults in the general literature. Little is known about the key patterns of dietary intake, eating behaviors, and physical activity in relation to stress in university students because this has not been previously thoroughly reviewed.
Purpose: The aims of this review were to assess these relationships along with weight gain in order to inform future targeted interventions.
Methods: A review of the literature was conducted in December 2016 for relevant studies meeting inclusion criteria.
Results: There was a positive association between stress and maladaptive weight-related behaviors, in particular, emotional eating and binge eating. There was also support for a positive association between stress and unhealthy dietary intake as well as an inverse association with healthy dietary intake in college students. Increases in these maladaptive behaviors and food intake were also observed before examinations. Evidence was weaker for physical activity because there were few studies. Evidence was also mixed for an association between stress and weight in college students.
Discussion: Interventions should be developed and tested that target stress in order to promote adequate dietary intake and healthy eating behaviors in students. Future studies could also longitudinally follow students to assess weight changes over longer periods of time.
Translation to Health Education Practice: Health Educators should raise awareness of the potential detrimental effects of stress in college on weight-related lifestyle behaviors in students. Ideally this should be done when students commence college to prevent weight gain. Offering support on campus for stress and lifestyle coaching is also desirable.