Suchergebnisse

Purpose. To examine cross-sectional associations between vigorous physical activity, mental health, perceived stress, and socializing among 4-year college students. Design. A national cross-sectional sample of 4-year colleges in the United States. Setting. Ninety-four 4-year colleges in the United States. Subjects. A total of 14,804 undergraduate students. Measures. Self-report vigorous physical activity, perceived stress (measured using the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale), mental health (measured using the SF-36), and socializing (assessed using self-report number of friends and hours spent socializing). Analysis. Logistic regression models accounting for clustering within schools were estimated to examine the association between vigorous physical activity, mental health, perceived stress, and socializing. Adjusted models included high school vigorous physical activity and sociodemographic characteristics. Results. Students who met vigorous physical activity recommendations were less likely to report poor mental health (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: .79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: .69, .90) and perceived stress (adjusted OR: .75; 95% CI: .67, .83) than students who did not meet recommendations. In addition, socializing partially mediated the relationship between vigorous physical activity, mental health, and perceived stress; however, race and sex did not moderate the relationship. Conclusion. Interventions aiming to improve mental well-being of college students should also consider promoting physical activity. At least some of the positive benefits of physical activity may arise from social interactions.

This study draws on a nationally representative sample to examine the relationship between participation in organized sport and alcohol use. We build on prior studies by re-examining the relationship between participation in organized sport and binge drinking and how this varies by both race and gender. We expand upon previous research by analyzing the long-term effects of involvement in organized athletics among both current and former sport participants and how this compares to patterns of binge drinking among the general college student population. To do so, our analysis compares rates of binge drinking among current college athletes, former athletes, and college students who were never involved in interscholastic sport. We find that: (1) organized sports participation is associated with binge drinking; (2) that this relationship holds across racial and gendered lines; (3) that the effects of exposure extend beyond time of involvement. The paper concludes with a discussion of possible explanations for the relationship between binge drinking and athletics, and the long-lasting effect of participation in organized sport.

Purpose.Public policies that reduce the availability of alcohol in communities can reduce consumption and related harms. In this article, we propose a practical model to guide alcohol policy implementation.Approach.The conceptual model is informed by a case study of three U.S. cities that adopted restrictions on high-alcohol malt liquor sales.Setting.The three cities included Seattle, Washington; Santa Ana, California; and Washington, D.C.Participants.Participants (n = 39) represented neighborhood groups, city officials, local police, Alcohol Beverage Control (board members and enforcement personnel), alcohol retailers, alcohol industry representatives, and advocacy and service organizations.Method.We conducted key informant interviews with participants in each city. We coded and analyzed the data by using a grounded theory approach. Findings were used to identify and illustrate model components.Results.Implementation components include building public awareness and educating stakeholders, monitoring and enforcing compliance, evaluating process and outcomes, and institutionalizing the policy. The experiences of study cities illustrate the importance of these activities in maintaining policy effectiveness; for example, a lack of enforcement resources appeared to contribute to the erosion of compliance over time.Conclusion.The model addresses an important gap in alcohol policy research. It is intended to spur further research on the subject, provide a guide for policy practitioners, and ultimately improve the long-term effectiveness of alcohol control policies.

Purpose. We describe the perceived usefulness of a learning collaborative for translating obesity prevention science into practice at YMCA after-school programs. Approach. We conducted mixed-methods research to identify beneficial aspects of the collaborative and to assess perceived effect of the collaborative on ability to meet goals. Setting. Sixty-one YMCA after-school programs serving roughly 2500 children in 21 states. Participants. After-school program staff attending learning sessions for the collaborative. Intervention. YMCA learning collaboratives comprise a structured organizational change process delivered during 9 to 12 months that aim to empower staff to find local methods for achieving specific program outcomes related to diet and physical activity. Research Method. Eight focus groups conducted during the collaboratives assessed their usefulness. A post hoc Web-based follow-up survey (39 respondents; response rate, 40.6%) assessed final perceived effect. Results. Qualitative and quantitative data were highly positive about the usefulness of the collaborative. The collaboratives' duration, peer learning, multilevel staff involvement, focus on creating a supportive organization, and regular coaching support enabled many respondents to make program and policy changes consistent with project goals. There was consensus that executive-level commitment to the work was critical. Conclusion. Learning collaboratives are a promising tool for embedding health promotion practices in existing after-school programs through a structured organizational change process.

Purpose: To test the effectiveness of an intervention to increase motivation for physical activity in racially diverse third- through fifth-grade students. Design: Natural experiment. Setting: Elementary schools in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Participants: Two hundred ninety-one students in 18 Minne-Loppet Ski Program classes and 210 students in 12 control classrooms from the same schools. Intervention: The Minne-Loppet Ski Program, an 8-week curriculum in elementary schools that teaches healthy physical activity behaviors through cross-country skiing. Measures: Pretest and posttest surveys measured self-determination theory outcomes: intrinsic exercise motivation, intrinsic ski motivation, autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Analysis: Hierarchical linear regression models tested treatment effects controlled for grade, race, sex, and baseline measures of the outcomes. Results: Minne-Loppet program students showed significantly greater motivation to ski (β = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.15-1.75) and significantly greater perceived competence (β = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.06-1.50) than students in control classrooms. Treatment effects for general exercise motivation and perceived competence differed by race. African American students in Minne-Loppet classes showed significantly greater general exercise motivation (β = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.03-2.14) and perceived competence (β = 1.95, 95% CI: 0.91-2.99) than African American students in control classes. Conclusion: The Minne-Loppet program promoted perceived competence and motivation to ski. Future improvements to the Minne-Loppet and similar interventions should aim to build general motivation and provide support needed to better engage all participants.

We describe a multi‐step method of coding the strength of 18 alcohol policies included in the Alcohol Policy Information System for each of the 50 states. After thoroughly reviewing each policy area, we chose components that were most important in categorizing the strength or restrictiveness of the policy using the following criteria: overall reach, enforceability, and implementation. We determined a unique coding scheme for each policy area. The total number of categories per policy area ranged from two to six, with categories numbered in an ordered sequence from least to most restrictive. We provide three examples of our coding schemes: Keg Registration, Underage Possession, and Sunday Sales. We also rank the states on their alcohol policy sum score. This study demonstrates how alcohol policies can be measured quantitatively, an important step for assessing the effects of alcohol policies on various outcomes.

Purpose. We examined the relationships among fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol consumption, and socioeconomic status (SES). We hypothesized that fruit and vegetable consumption would be inversely associated with alcohol consumption and the relationship would differ by SES. Design. A cross-sectional analysis. Setting. Large, urban Midwestern county. Subjects. A unique, racially/ethnically diverse sample of 9959 adults (response rate: 66.3%). Measures. Fruit and vegetable intake was measured using two items that assessed servings per day. Alcohol consumption was measured in terms of volume of alcohol consumed and binge drinking. Individual measures of SES included education and household income. Analysis. Weighted multivariate linear and Poisson regression were used to estimate effects. Results. The relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and alcohol consumption varied by SES. Those with lower household incomes who consumed five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day were less likely to engage in binge drinking relative to those consuming zero to one servings of fruits and vegetables per day (risk ratio = .66; 95% confidence interval: .46, .95). No association was observed for higher–household-income individuals. Conclusion. We observed an inverse relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and alcohol intake in those with lower household incomes but not in those with higher household incomes. Results suggest that the relationship between diet and alcohol consumption may be more relevant in populations with more restricted economic choices. Results are, however, based on cross-sectional data.

Purpose.To learn how the local context may affect a city's ability to regulate alcohol products such as high–alcohol-content malt liquor, a beverage associated with heavy drinking and a spectrum of nuisance crimes in urban areas.Approach.An exploratory, qualitative case study comparing cities that adopted policies to restrict malt liquor sales with cities that considered, but did not adopt policies.Setting.Nine large U.S. cities in seven states.Participants.City legislators and staff, alcohol enforcement personnel, police, neighborhood groups, business associations, alcohol retailers, and industry representatives.Method.Qualitative data were obtained from key informant interviews (n = 56) and media articles (n = 360). The data were coded and categorized. Similarities and differences in major themes among and across Adopted and Considered cities were identified.Results.Cities faced multiple barriers in addressing malt liquor–related problems, including a lack of enforcement tools, alcohol industry opposition, and a lack of public and political will for alcohol control. Compared to cities that did not adopt malt liquor sales restrictions, cities that adopted restrictions appeared to have a stronger public mandate for a policy and were less influenced by alcohol industry opposition and lack of legislative authority for alcohol control. Strategies common to successful policymaking efforts are discussed.Conclusion.Understanding the local context may be a critical step in winning support for local alcohol control policies.