LGBTQIA+ Individuals' Experiences With Intimate Partner Violence and Perceptions of Victim Services.

This study explored lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). Seven participants completed a one-on-one, in-depth interview to share their experiences of IPV and any internal or external factors that influenced whether they sought support services or reported victimization. Thematic analysis revealed four overarching themes: (a) health complications, (b) coping mechanisms, (c) barriers to seeking professional help, and (d) suggestions for professionals. Results contribute insight into internal and external barriers LGBTQIA+ IPV survivors face when accessing support services and outline practical approaches for professionals providing support to LGBTQIA+ IPV survivors.

Association Between Family/Neighborhood Cancer Risk Factors and Adolescent Dietary Behaviors: A Parent-Adolescent Dyadic Analysis.

Objective. This cross-sectional study examined associations between adolescent dietary behaviors and family/home environments with parent-adolescent dyadic analysis. Methods. Secondary data were analyzed for adolescents and their parents who participated in the 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study. Relationships between adolescent and parent intake of convenience/fast-food, fruits/vegetables, and sugar, as well as family/community and mealtime environments, were examined using Pearson's correlations, 2-sample t tests, analysis of variance, and general linear model analyses. Results. Among this nationwide parent-adolescent dyad sample (N = 1890), a moderate relationship between parent and adolescent consumption of convenience/fast-foods (r = 0.426) and fruits/vegetables (r = 0.416) was found. Adolescent convenience/fast-foods intake differed by sex, neighborhood socioeconomic status, meals eaten with family, and meals eaten in front of the TV (P < .001 for all) as well as race/ethnicity (P = .004). Adolescent fruit/vegetable intake differed by home location (P = .029), school location (P = .032), meals eaten together with family, meals eaten in front of the TV, and body mass index category (P < .001 for all). Generalized linear models revealed multiple predictors of adolescent dietary behaviors. Conclusion. Findings suggest dynamic relationships between adolescent and parent dietary cancer risk factors and adolescent fruit/vegetable consumption disparities by multiple environmental factors. Interventions targeting adolescent-parent dyads may help reduce cancer risk associated with diet.

Impact of COVID-19 stress on food insecurity and fruit and vegetable consumption among college students.

Objective: This cross-sectional study utilized structural equation modeling to examine effects of COVID-19 stress on food insecurity and fruit and vegetable consumption mediated through personal agency and behavioral intention. Participants: Students (n = 749) enrolled at one federally designated Hispanic-serving public university during the fall 2020 semester. Methods: A 34-item survey was developed and administered. Results: COVID-19 stress had a statistically significant impact on food insecurity (B = .341; p < .001) and an inverse impact on personal agency to consume fruit and vegetables (B = -.283; p < .001). Personal agency (B = .389; p < .001) and behavioral intention to consume fruit and vegetables were directly associated while food insecurity inversely impacted behavioral intention (B = -.076; p = .034). Conclusions: Pandemic-related stress impacts nutrition behaviors among the student population already at risk of poor fruit and vegetable intake. During periods of high pandemic-related stress, college students need adequate access to fruits and vegetables and health promotion programs emphasizing stress management and healthy dietary behaviors.

Sexual Dating Violence, School-Based Violence, and Risky Behaviors Among U.S. High School Students.

Sexual dating violence is associated with several risky health behaviors among adolescents. This study explored the associations between school-based violence, risky health behaviors, and sexual dating violence victimization among U.S. high school students using the 2017 Youth Behavior Risk Survey data. Results indicate a statistically significant correlation (p < .05) between sexual dating violence, sex, sexual identity, and various risky behaviors including bullying, electronic bullying, alcohol use, and physical fighting. These additional behavioral risks experienced by sexual dating violence victims should be further researched to determine impact on overall quality of life and to help guide health education intervention development.

The FLASHE Study: Racial and Sex Disparities in Adolescent and Parent Modifiable Cancer Risk Behavior.

Objectives: Understanding modifiable risk factors related to cancer among adolescents and their parents may help identify at-risk populations and intervention aims for reducing cancer risk among families. Methods: Participants were 1336 adolescent-parent dyads who participated in the 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) conducted by the National Cancer Institute. Using independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA, we assessed differences in mean behavioral scores by sex and race/ethnicity, respectively. Results: For this nationwide sample, non-Hispanic black adolescents and parents were significantly (p < .05) more likely to participate in multiple dietary and sedentary behaviors than their Hispanic and non-black counterparts. Male adolescents reported significantly higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and processed and red meats than their female peers (p < .02 for all). We also found a strong positive association between adolescents' and their parents' dietary and sedentary behaviors (p < .001 for all). Conclusions: Sex and racial differences in cancer-related health behaviors among adolescents and their parents suggest current guidelines for cancer may benefit from inclusion of younger populations and families. Effective health interventions targeting adolescent-parent dyads may help reduce cancer risk among multiple populations simultaneously.

Racial and sex differences of fruit and vegetable self-efficacy and intake among college students in a rural, southern location.

Objective: To examine fruit and vegetable intake and self-efficacy among U.S. college students in a rural, Southern location. Participants: Undergraduate students (n = 1503) enrolled in a university-wide health class at one large public institution during the spring 2017 semester. Methods: Cross-sectional survey data were collected online and analyzed using independent samples t test, one-way ANOVA, and regression. Results: On average, participants did not meet fruit or vegetable intake recommendations. Mean self-efficacy scores were 17.2 (SD = 3.4) and 16.42 (SD = 3.7) for fruit and vegetables, respectively, with statistically significant differences observed by sex and race (p < 0.05). Hierarchical multiple regression results indicated self-efficacy explained 20.9% (fruit) and 29.3% (vegetables) of the variance in consumption. Similar patterns were found for meeting daily fruit and vegetable intake recommendations. Conclusions: Health campaigns are needed to address sex and racial disparities in college student fruit and vegetable intake and self-efficacy.

Cancer Awareness and Behavioral Determinants Associated with Cancer Prevention-a Quantitative Study Among Young Adults in Rural Settings.

Although college is a crucial time to establish healthy behaviors for cancer prevention, little is known about cancer awareness and behaviors among US college students in less economically developed, rural areas. The purpose of this study was to examine college students' cancer-preventative knowledge and health behaviors. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a large southeastern university in the USA, on a convenience sample of students attending a campus-wide health education class. Data were collected during April and May 2017. Pearson's chi-square tests, independent samples t test, and one-way ANOVA were used. Participants (n = 1511) were female (59.1%), non-Hispanic White (69.7%), first-year college students (76.7%), and either 18 (35.9%) or 19 (44.6%) years old. Participants recognized an average of 6.69 (SD = 3.08) out of 11 risk factors on the Cancer Awareness Measure (Cronbach's alpha = 0.874), with a statistically significant difference observed by gender (t(1471) = - 3.348, p = 0.001), but not by race ((F(2,1474) = 1.742, p = 0.176). Chi-square analyses revealed significant associations by gender for exercise (p < 0.001), tobacco use (p < 0.001), and alcohol use (p < 0.001). Significant associations were also found by race/ethnicity for exercise (p < 0.001), tobacco use (p < 0.001), alcohol use (p < 0.001), and fruit and vegetable consumption (p = 0.035). Findings indicate a need to educate college students to recognize and modify cancer-related behavioral risk factors, particularly dietary habits. Specifically, health campaigns to reduce gender and racial gaps in cancer-preventative knowledge and behavior among first-year students are recommended.

Intrapersonal Factors of Male and Female Adolescent Fruit and Vegetable Intake.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we examined the role of socio-demographic (race/ethnicity, sex, grade, nativity, literacy, body mass index) and individual-level (normative beliefs, knowledge, perceived barriers, food preference, self-efficacy) factors on US adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption. METHODS: We conducted hierarchical multiple regression analysis to determine the influence of factors on adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption in a nationally represen- tative sample of 795 adolescents from the National Cancer Institute's 2014 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating (FLASHE) study. RESULTS: Socio-demographic variables explained little variance (1.7%) whereas individual-level factors explained approximately 29% of the variance in adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption. Statistically significant (p < .001) predictors of adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption were food preference (ß = .253), self-efficacy (ß = .184), perceived barriers (ß = -.139), and normative beliefs (ß = .134). After controlling for sex, food preference and normative beliefs were stronger predictors of male, and perceived barriers was a stronger predictor of female, adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the predictive strength and sex-specific differences of intrapersonal variables on male and female adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption informs health promotion efforts to increase intake to recommended amounts.

Weight-Related Barriers for Overweight Students in an Elementary Physical Education Classroom: An Exploratory Case Study with One Physical Education Teacher.

INTRODUCTION: As physical performance may be more difficult for overweight children than for their non-overweight peers, understanding how weight impacts student performance in the physical education (P.E.) classroom could inform school-based obesity prevention programming. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This qualitative case study examined one elementary physical educator's perspectives of overweight students' weight-related experiences in her classroom. Narratives were elicited during an in-depth interview and analyzed using structural and thematic analyses. We utilized the social cognitive theory to inform our exploration of the narratives. FINDINGS: The thematic analysis illuminated a behavioral pattern of student refusal to participate in the P.E. classroom while the structural analysis emphasized the teacher's constructive, individualized responses to participation refusals. Combined, the two analytic techniques provided a more holistic snapshot of the experiences of overweight students in this elementary school. In addition, a preliminary model explaining the behavioral pattern among overweight students in this particular P.E. classroom was created. DISCUSSION: Students who were overweight were more likely to initially refuse to attempt physical tasks in the classroom because they feared peer ridicule, and the teacher played a critical role in whether these students chose to participate in subsequent classes. As agents of change, P.E. educators should be included in formative stages of comprehensive, systemic changes to combat childhood obesity.

Adolescent Energy Drink Use Related to Intake of Fried and High-sugar Foods.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the relationship between energy drinks, fried food, and high-sugar food consumption. METHODS: Secondary analyses including Mann-Whitney U, Cohen's d and effect sizes were used to examine 7-day intakes of energy drinks, fried foods, and high-sugar foods among teenagers (N = 1570) who participated in the 2014 FLASHE Study. RESULTS: Energy drink consumption during the past 7 days was reported by 14.4% (N = 226) of participants. Those who reported consumption of energy drinks in the past 7 days were more likely to eat various fried and high-sugar foods than those who did not report past 7-day energy drink consumption. These foods include candy (p < .001), cake (p = .011), desserts (p < .001), sugary cereal (p < .001), fried potatoes (p < .001), fried chicken (p < .001), and chips (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Energy drink consumption among adolescents may be linked to other high-risk nutrition intake behaviors, specifically increased consumption of fried and high-sugar foods. This study adds to the growing number of recent studies highlighting the multiple behavioral risks associated with early energy drink use. Health promotion and nutrition education efforts should focus on delaying early consumption of energy drinks among adolescents.

Energy Drink Use Linked to High-sugar Beverage Intake and BMI among Teens.

OBJECTIVE: We assessed the relationship of energy drink, high-sugar, and low-sugar beverage consumption. METHODS: Mann-Whitney U, Cohen's d and effect sizes were used to examine data from 1737 adolescents in the United States who participated in the 2014 FLASHE Study. Secondary analysis examined consumption of energy drinks, high- and low-sugar beverages, and adolescents' BMIs. RESULTS: Among adolescents, 13.7% (N = 239) reported past 7-day energy drink consumption. Participants who did not consume energy drinks in the past 7 days were more likely to consume low-sugar beverages of water (p < .001) and milk (p = .046). Consumption of energy drinks was positively related to sweetened fruit drinks (p < .001), pure fruit juice (p = .008), soda (p < .001), and sports drinks (p < .001). Energy drink consumers also reported higher mean BMI (p = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents who consume energy drinks during the past 7 days are more likely to also consume other high-sugar beverages. Whereas those who report no past 7-day use of energy drinks consume higher rates of low- or no-sugar beverages. Health education and prevention efforts to reduce adolescent energy drink consumption may lead to reductions in other high-sugar beverage intake and have a positive impact on obesity rates among adolescents.

African-American Fathers' Perspectives on Their Children's Health Education: A Qualitative, Exploratory Study.

PURPOSE: To investigate African-American fathers' (AAF) perceptions regarding the applicability and need for their involvement as a health connection for their children and describe how participating fathers' behavior was affected by their attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions of their influence on their children's health. METHODS: This exploratory study gathered data via semi-structured focus groups (n = 3) and thematically analyzed it utilizing a grounded theory approach. Participants included AAF (n = 20) with a mean age of 37 years (SD 11.79), with at least one child between 6 and 18 years old. RESULTS: Four major themes were revealed: (1) appropriate health education for participants' children (should first and foremost be delivered by parents); (2) participants' paternal health-related guidance approach (reactive, rather than proactive); (3) participants' perceived influences on health-related communication with their children (gender roles, efficacy constraints); and (4) paternal definitions of health (most often associated with diet). CONCLUSION: Understanding AAFs' perceived and desired role in their children's health edification can inform initiatives that actively engage these men, and nurture their level of involvement, to promote positive health behaviors among their children; this is necessary to realize their potential to actively improve the health of their children, families, and communities.

Elementary school personnel's perceptions on childhood obesity: pervasiveness and facilitating factors.

BACKGROUND: Researchers in numerous disciplines have investigated the effects of the school environment on childhood obesity (CHO), one of the greatest current health concerns in the United States. There is a gap in current empirical evidence, however, on school personnel's perspectives of this issue. This study examined school personnel's perceptions of obesity as a problem among school-aged children and their views on factors contributing to obesity. METHODS: Thirty-one semistructured interviews were conducted with elementary school personnel (teachers, administrators, and support staff) from 5 rural schools with a predominantly Hispanic (58.18%) and Black (30.24%) student population. The constant comparison method was used to identify emergent themes. RESULTS: All but one participant considered obesity to be a problem among elementary children. Factors facilitating obesity most frequently cited by school personnel were home environment, poor nutrition, child control of dietary choices, child inactivity, and entertainment electronics. CONCLUSIONS: Child control of dietary choices in both home and school environments was identified as a major contributor to obesity. Further exploration of this control is warranted to understand the complexity of this dynamic and its potential link to CHO.

Rural versus urban Texas WIC participants' fruit and vegetable consumption.

OBJECTIVE: To explore fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption among urban and rural Black Texas WIC participants. METHODS: The study included 673 WIC mothers and their 351 children from the TEXFAN study. T-tests, Pearson chi-squared test, and regressions were performed. RESULTS: Among children, differences were found for fruit consumption but not vegetable. Urban children were offered and consumed a greater variety of F&V. Mothers' F&V intake was related to age, pregnancy status, and breastfeeding status. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insight into a subsection of the WIC population. Further research should be done regarding increasing the amount and variety of F&V consumed by WIC women and children.