Psychosocial factors as predictors of unsafe sexual practices among young adults.

This study examined the influence of both psychosocial constructs and demographic features on the sexual risk-taking behavior of young adults. Three hundred seventy-four students between the ages of 18 and 29 were drawn from a medium-sized university. All participants were assessed using measures that included the AIDS Coping and Change Survey, the AIDS Psychosocial Scale, and the AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes Survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated for levels of HIV risk behavior (failure to use condoms combined with casual or anonymous sexual partners), HIV/AIDS knowledge, alcohol and drug use, sexual history, and other demographic features. Factor analysis was then used to examine the latent factors associated with HIV risk behavior. All confirmed factors and demographic items that were shown to be significantly correlated with HIV risk behavior were then examined for predictive ability using a regression analysis. Ten factors or variables were found to be predictive of HIV risk behavior, including a Developmental Factor which was found to be moderately predictive of HIV risk behavior. Other predictors included Resistance to Change in response to AIDS; Perceived Risk of exposure, the influence of peer groups, age, alcohol use, marijuana use; a history of infidelity; a younger age of sexual initiation; and a lower self-efficacy.

PIP: This study examined the influence of psychosocial constructs and demographic features on the sexual risk-taking behavior of young adults in the US. The study included 374 undergraduate students, aged 18-29 years, drawn from both upper- and lower-division classes at a rural, medium-sized, southern university. 66% of the sample were females (72% White, 23% African American). All participants were assessed by using measures that included the AIDS Coping and Change Survey, the AIDS Psychosocial Scale, and the AIDS Knowledge and Attitude Survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated for levels of HIV risk behavior (failure to use condoms combined with casual or anonymous sexual partners), HIV/AIDS knowledge, alcohol and drug use, sexual history, and other demographic features. Factor analysis was then used to examine the latent factors associated with HIV risk behavior. All confirmed factors and demographic items that were significantly correlated with HIV risk behavior were then examined for predictive ability using a regression analysis. Findings showed that 10 factors or variables were predictive of HIV risk behavior, including a developmental factor, which was found to be moderately predictive of HIV risk behavior. Other predictors included resistance to change in response to AIDS; perceived risk of exposure, the influence of peer groups, age, alcohol use, marijuana use; a history of infidelity; a younger age of sexual initiation; and a lower self-efficacy.

Effects of phenylpropanolamine on withdrawal symptoms.

A prior report (Klesges et al. 1990) suggested that phenylpropanolamine (PPA) was successful in reducing the smoking withdrawal symptom of weight gain in a sample of women. The current investigation evaluates whether the effects of phenylpropanolamine (PPA; up to 10/day PPA gums) on withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking cessation are specific to weight and weight-related symptoms or whether PPA alleviates withdrawal in general. One hundred and seven adult smokers (56 men, 51 women) were randomly assigned, in this double-blind trial, to chew either 8.33 mg phenylpropanolamine gum or a placebo gum. Subjects were then aided to quit smoking for 4 weeks. PPA did not enhance cessation rates. Results from the 47 subjects who successfully quit smoking indicated that postcessation weight gain and ratings of hunger were significantly reduced in both men and women for those assigned to the PPA group relative to the placebo group. Overall, no effects of PPA relative to placebo were observed for other smoking-related withdrawal symptoms. Thus, although PPA appears to reduce weight gain and alleviate weight-related symptoms, no effects on other withdrawal symptoms were observed. Future research directions are suggested.

Relationship between dietary restraint, energy intake, physical activity, and body weight: a prospective analysis.

Dietary, activity, and body weight differences in high- and low-restrained eaters and the independent impact of dietary restraint on body weight change were evaluated in 287 adults (141 men, 146 women) followed over a 1-year period. Analyses of measures of energy intake, physical activity, and dietary restraint indicated that high-restrained eaters did not differ in physical activity compared to low-restrained eaters at baseline but were ingesting significantly fewer kcal/lb and a higher percentage of the diet from fat. Body mass was significantly greater in both high-restrained men and high-restrained women than in their low-restrained counterparts. Regression modeling procedures revealed that weight and body mass at baseline were related to weight gain in men. In contrast, weight gain in women was predicted by baseline weight and higher restraint scores. These results indicate that dietary restraint is associated with weight gain in women but not in men.

Physical activity, body composition, and blood pressure: a multimethod approach.

The purpose of the current investigation was to evaluate, using multiple measures of physical activity, the relationships among physical activity, body composition, resting heart rate, and blood pressure in an adult population. Subjects were 221 male (135 normal weight, 86 overweight) and 221 female (156 normal weight, 65 overweight) subjects participating in a longitudinal study of cardiovascular risk factors in families. All subjects were administered three physical activity questionnaires. Principal components analyses were conducted to reduce measures into empirically derived subscales; this analysis revealed five stable factors in men and four in women. Results indicated that aerobic/leisure time significantly correlated to body composition and resting heart rate in both men and women. Additionally, aerobic/leisure time activity was related to blood pressure in women, and moderate activity was related positively to blood pressure in men. No other form of activity (e.g., light activity, anaerobic activity) was related to either adiposity or blood pressure. The implications of these results are discussed, and future research directions are highlighted.

Parental influence on food selection in young children and its relationships to childhood obesity.

This investigation evaluated the impact of parental influences on children's food selections and the impact of childhood obesity on these food choices. Subjects were 53 young children of various weight status. Foods ranging widely in nutritional values were offered to each child for lunch. The children were again offered foods but were told that their mothers would be monitoring their selections. Finally, mothers were allowed to modify their children's last food choices. Results indicated that parental influences have a marked effect on food selection; both the threat of parental monitoring and actual parental monitoring lowered the number of nonnutritious foods chosen and total caloric content of the meal. The obesity status of the mothers and children had no impact on these results. The implication of these results for future intervention efforts are discussed.

Measurement reliability and reactivity using repeated measurements of resting energy expenditure with a face mask, mouthpiece, and ventilated canopy.

This investigation evaluated the measurement reliability and reactivity of repeated measurements of resting energy expenditure using different methods of data collection. Thirty subjects were randomly assigned to either face mask, mouthpiece/nose clip, or ventilated canopy collection systems for 45 min a day over 3 days. Results indicated that there were no significant differences among data collection systems nor were there any differences either within or between systems over time. Across all three days of measurement, the first 5 min of data collection on all systems were reactive compared to the subsequent 40 min of assessment. Analyses indicated that acceptable reliability coefficients were obtained after 20 min of continuous data collection in the ventilated canopy and after 40 min with the face mask after a 5-min acclimation period. The results suggest that, following an acclimation period, a single 20-min assessment of resting energy expenditure in both a face mask and ventilated canopy are stable and reliable.

Smoking status: effects on the dietary intake, physical activity, and body fat of adult men.

This investigation evaluated the relationship between smoking status and body fatness, dietary intake, and physical activity in adults. Subjects were 210 males who were either regular cigarette smokers (n = 35) or nonsmokers (n = 175). Estimated body fat and waist-to-hip (girth) measurements were carefully obtained. Additionally, a sensitive assessment of long-term dietary intake and a multifactorial approach to the assessment of physical activity were made. Results indicated that smokers had lower estimated body fat as calculated by multiple skinfold thickness assessments. In contrast, smokers reported the same total energy intakes as nonsmokers and their levels of physical activity were significantly lower than those of nonsmokers. The differences in intake and expenditure in smokers and the role of metabolism as a possible determinant of the body fat differences in smokers vs nonsmokers are discussed.