ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To extend knowledge about perceived drinking norms by assessing perceptions of college student drinking in a sample of 7th- to 12th-graders. METHODS: Anonymous questionnaire was administered to 2,017 adolescents in two Ohio school districts. RESULTS: By seventh grade, 89.6% of the students had formed normative perceptions of collegiate drinking. A canonical correlation analysis revealed that perceptions of collegiate drinking have substantial, independent relationships not only with alcohol use intensity and drinking onset, but also with indicators of tobacco and other drug use as well. CONCLUSIONS: Exaggerated perceptions of college student drinking are psychosocial markers of substance use in 7th- to 12th-graders.
Subject(s)
Adolescent Behavior/psychology , Alcohol Drinking , Social Perception , Students , Adolescent , Family Characteristics , Female , Humans , Male , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
This investigation assessed the relative influence of peer norms and parental involvement on adolescent cigarette and alcohol use. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to 2,017 seventh- to 12th-grade students in two Ohio public school districts. Cigarette and alcohol use rates in the sample were comparable to those found in national probability surveys. Results indicated that the relative balance of peer-parent influences did not differ across grade level. At all grade levels, perceived peer norms had substantially greater correlations with cigarette and alcohol use than did measures of perceived parental involvement. The findings are interpreted from an efficiency perspective. Optimal use of prevention resources suggest that programming for seventh- to 12th-graders should focus on shaping the perceptions of peer smoking and drinking practices rather than on parent interventions. Social norms marketing or other forms of normative education should be tested in this population.
Subject(s)
Parent-Child Relations , Peer Group , Smoking/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Alcohol Drinking/epidemiology , Alcohol Drinking/psychology , Analysis of Variance , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Smoking/epidemiology , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To advocate that research using intentional deception is sometimes appropriate. METHODS: A deception paradigm created to assess utilization of genetic screening for alcoholism susceptibility is reviewed in the context of competing ethical obligations and objections to the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The paradigm is ethically defensible, it generates useful knowledge about future utilization of alcoholism screening by college students, and it exposes participants to no more than minimal risk. The use of deception to address questions related to predictive genetic screening will require investigators to balance protection of participants with the need to advance knowledge.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism/genetics , Deception , Genetic Testing/statistics & numerical data , Human Experimentation , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Human Genome Project , Humans , Ohio , Research Design/standards , Risk Factors , Students , United States , UniversitiesABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to identify psychological and self-reported situational factors that are associated with degree of involvement in moderate-intensity physical activity at various stages of adult life. The study is grounded in Personal Investment Theory which proposes that personal incentives, sense of self and perceived options determine behavior. Participants aged 18 and above, selected by random-digit dialling, were invited to participate in a study on physical activity habits. Of 251 who agreed to participate, 41.4% were male (N = 104) and 58.6% were female (N = 147). These participants were asked the number of days per week that they engaged in physical activity which accumulated a total of 30 min or more. The 140 participants who indicated one or more days of activity answered questions concerning personal incentives for physical activity, sense of self and perceived barriers. Stepwise multiple regression analyses and discriminant function analysis indicated that Personal Investment Theory is able to predict up to 29% of the variance associated with voluntary participation in moderate-intensity physical activity. Discussion focuses on implications for physical activity programs for citizens at different stages of their adult life.
Subject(s)
Exercise/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Male , Middle Aged , Motivation , Personality , Random Allocation , Self ConceptABSTRACT
A convenience sample of 181 college students took part in a quasi-experimental study that tested the use of genetic screening for alcoholism--a test that does not yet exist. A questionnaire was administered before and after the students viewed a presentation that accurately explained genetic susceptibility to alcoholism but misled them by offering "a newly available" test. Alcohol-related variables were assessed before the presentation. Test-seeking intention and reasons for and against testing were assessed after the presentation. Regression analysis found that being Caucasian, female, and somewhat older than traditional college age, and having a history of early drunkenness were significant predictors of testing intention. During the week following data collection, only 7 participants (4%) attempted to schedule a test. Implications of these findings and the ethical issues related to predictive screening for alcoholism in the college population are discussed.
Subject(s)
Alcoholism/genetics , Deception , Genetic Testing , Informed Consent , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Students/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires/standards , Universities , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Male , Predictive Value of Tests , Regression Analysis , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
Recommendations for obtaining school cooperation to conduct school-based research are offered. Step-by-step protocols are outlined to assist prospective researchers in their quest to gain access to the school environment. The principle reason for adhering to these recommendations is to ensure research that is methodical, thorough, and scrupulous so children will benefit from resultant educational programming.
Subject(s)
Health Promotion , Research , Schools , Attitude , Humans , Interinstitutional Relations , Motivation , Research Design , School Health ServicesABSTRACT
This survey identified the extent of courses in cancer control through prevention in medical, dental, and health education curricula. A questionnaire was sent to all medical, dental, and health education academic programs in New York and California. With a return rate of 81%, it was determined that health education programs more frequently offered courses in cancer control through prevention than medical and dental programs. The majority of all academic programs studied that did not currently offer such a course reported it was unlikely such a course would be offered during the next 2 years. Primary reasons for this included an already crowded curriculum and lack of resources. Recommendations are offered to support health professionals in taking a more active role as cancer educators emphasizing primary prevention and early detection techniques.
Subject(s)
Curriculum , Education, Dental/standards , Education, Medical/standards , Health Education/standards , Neoplasms/prevention & control , California , Humans , New York , Surveys and QuestionnairesSubject(s)
Nicotiana , Plants, Toxic , Tobacco, Smokeless , Adolescent , Female , Humans , Male , New York , Smoking/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Patterns and prevalence of smokeless tobacco use by high school seniors in New York state were identified in this study. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 10% of each senior class in 96 randomly selected public and nonpublic secondary schools in New York; 1,830 students participated. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, t-tests, and chi-square tests. Comparisons were made by gender, hometown status, concurrent use of smokeless tobacco and cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco use versus cigarette smoking. Results revealed a significant difference existed between males and females and between urban and rural smokeless tobacco use (p = .05). Use of chewing tobacco related significantly to use of cigarettes (p = .05). A significant difference existed between prevalence of cigarette smoking and smokeless tobacco use (p = .05). Smokeless tobacco use by high school seniors in New York is predominantly a habit of rural males. Use of chewing tobacco is related to cigarette smoking, and smokeless tobacco was less prevalent than cigarette smoking in the sample (p = .05). Further research on the relationship between smokeless tobacco and cigarette smoking should be conducted. Use of chemical assays or the bogus pipeline to validate self-reported data is recommended. Identified high-risk groups such as rural males should receive particular attention in future research efforts.
Subject(s)
Nicotiana , Plants, Toxic , Students , Tobacco Use Disorder/epidemiology , Tobacco, Smokeless , Adolescent , Female , Humans , Male , New York , Risk Factors , Rural Population , Smoking/epidemiology , Smoking/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tobacco Use Disorder/psychologyABSTRACT
Health effects of involuntary smoking on school-age children are outlined and suggestions are offered for schools to become smoke-free environments for students, faculty, and staff. Suggestions are offered for developing and implementing strategies for smoke-free schools. A data base exists to support health reasons for eliminating smoking in schools, but it is necessary to build on this information to convince school personnel that smoking in schools offers no positive returns and should be eliminated. School health personnel are encouraged to lead the campaign.
