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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Sacha Z. Pampalone, MPH, Kathleen J. Zavela, PhD, CHES, and Patricia A. Cost, PhD, CHES. Community Health and Nutrition, University of Northern Colorado, Gunter Hall, Greeley, CO 80639, 970.222.1688, szp445@hotmail.com
Research on health related behaviors is typically limited to a few behaviors, particularly among college populations. Designing programs and interventions based on knowledge of participation in multiple health behaviors and gender differences is important. As part of an international collaboration, the International Survey of Personal Health Behaviors (1991) was administered to 819 undergraduate college students at a university in northern Colorado. Results were based on analyses of a wide range of health behaviors; smoking, exercise, drinking, driving, eating, sleeping behaviors, and preventive measures. Several behavioral differences were observed between men and women. Overall, women tended to participate in healthier behaviors than men in areas such as eating habits, tobacco and alcohol non-use, dental care, sun protection, and driving behavior. For example, more women were non-smokers (70% vs. 63%), non-drinkers (18% vs. 11%), and practiced preventive health behaviors significantly more often than men. More women used sunscreen (57% vs. 38%), brushed their teeth significantly more often than men (86% vs. 68%), and practiced healthier driving behaviors. More men reported exercising significantly more often than women (64% vs. 53%), consuming significantly more alcohol in one sitting than women (six drinks vs. four drinks) and eating significantly more red meat (72% vs. 39%). (Significant differences were found at p.<001). These parallel findings of other well know studies and should be considered when developing programs for college-aged populations, particularly in efforts to reach the goals of Healthy people 2010.
Learning Objectives: Learning objectives
Keywords: Health Behavior, College Students
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.