Promoting health and wellness during the college transition period from adolescence to young adulthood

Identifying and evaluating interventions which can be utilized during the transition period from high school to college will assist in establishing lifelong health habits for young adults and allow health/college educators to determine if a Fitness/Wellness Living Learning Center (FWLLC) is an effective way to enhance overall health for college freshmen. This cohort study involves an intervention with college freshmen living in a FWLLC where residents have access to a dedicated fitness center and are required to enroll in a 16-week development academic course (P-105). The FWLLC environment is intended to encourage residents to make healthy choices during and after college. This study evaluates the impact of a FWLLC on health behaviors and outcomes over the course of their college education. Subjects were divided into three groups: A control group (n=29), and two intervention groups. Both the intervention groups lived in the FWLLC and were enrolled in the Active Living Everyday (ALED) course (n=27) or the P-105 course (n=30). Physiologic parameters, self reported physical activity, stages of change, quality of life (SF-36) and stress (PSS-14) surveys were measured. Subjects exhibited higher levels of stress and slightly increased or stagnant health parameters at the end of the first semester. Further research, including longitudinal data collection, is required to determine the long term impact of the FWLLC on stress, physical activity, health, quality of life, and weight maintenance. (Funded in part by IU Residential Programs and Services)