Young Adult College Students Research Articles

Dopamine and Serotonin Transporter Genes Regulation in Highly Sensitive Individuals during Stressful Conditions: A Focus on Genetics and Epigenetics.

Background: Coping with stress is essential for mental well-being and can be critical for highly sensitive individuals, characterized by a deeper perception and processing of stimuli. So far, the molecular bases characterizing high-sensitivity traits have not been completely investigated and gene × environment interactions might play a key role in making some people more susceptible than others. Methods: In this study, 104 young adult university students, subjects that might face overwhelming experiences more than others, were evaluated for the genetics and epigenetics of dopamine (DAT1) and serotonin (SERT) transporter genes, in addition to the expression of miR-132, miR-491, miR-16, and miR-135. Results: We found an increase in DNA methylation at one specific CpG site at DAT1 5'UTR in highly sensitive students reporting high levels of perceived stress when compared to those less sensitive and/or less stressed. Moreover, considering DAT1 VNTR at 3'UTR, we observed that this effect was even more pronounced in university students having the 9/9 genotype when compared to those with the 9/10 genotype. These data are corroborated by the higher levels of miR-491, targeting DAT1, in highly sensitive subjects with high levels of perceived stress. SERT gene DNA methylation at one specific CpG site was reported to instead be higher in subjects reporting lower perceived stress when compared to more stressed subjects. Consistently, miR-135 expression, regulating SERT, was lower in subjects with higher perceived stress. Conclusions: We here suggest that the correlation of DAT1 and SERT genetic and epigenetic data with the analysis of stress and sensitivity might be useful to suggest possible biomarkers to monitor mental health wellness in vulnerable subjects.

B - 84 Memory and Attention Predict Narcissistic Personality Characteristics

Abstract Objective Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) entails grandiosity, lack of empathy, and a need for admiration. Research suggests a distinct cognitive profile linked to narcissistic characteristics, including facial recognition and memory issues. Our study examined memory and attention predictors of NPD characteristics in a non-clinical sample, filling a research gap. Method Young adult (M = 19.9, SD = 3.4) university students (N = 109) were participants. They identified primarily as women (52.3%) or men (47.7%) and White (65.1%) or African American (29.4%). Measures included Test of Everyday Attention (Robertson et al., 1996) and the Wechsler Memory Scale – IV (Wechsler, 2009) to assess memory and attention functioning. The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory – III (Millon et al., 2006) was used to measure narcissistic personality disorder characteristics. The Test of Nonverbal Intelligence-4 (Brown et al., 2010) was used to estimate IQ. Results Regression analysis revealed significant associations between memory/attention facets and NPD characteristics, F(7, 101) = 2.18, p = 0.04, adj. R2 = 0.07, 95% CI [0, 0.12]. Divided attention (β = −0.236, p = 0.02) and associative memory (β = −0.222, p = 0.04) were significant predictors. After controlling for IQ, associative memory remained significant (β = −0.257, p = 0.02), while divided attention did not (β = −0.102, p = 0.32). Verbal list learning emerged as a risk factor (β = 0.258, p = 0.04). Conclusions Our findings align with prior research, indicating cognitive correlates of NPD, particularly poorer associative memory and better verbal list learning. These results suggest a unique cognitive profile for NPD, characterized by high verbal list learning and poor associative memory. Understanding these cognitive underpinnings sheds light on the complexity of NPD and may inform interventions.

Health and Well-Being Among College Students in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Daily Diary Study.

There is evidence that anxiety and stress increased among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, less is known about daily experiences of affect, worry, substance use behaviors, experiences of pleasure, concern over food security, experiences of bias or discrimination, feelings of belongingness, and other indicators of well-being and how they vary across days in this population. This study surveyed a wide range of indicators of health and well-being in daily life over 21 days with a sample of college students in a large university system in the United States during the pandemic. The overall variance in each daily measure was partitioned to reflect the proportion due to (1) between-person differences versus (2) within-person, day-to-day variability. This is important because measures that vary primarily due to between-person differences may be more amenable to interventions that target particular students, whereas measures that vary more due to day-to-day variability may be more amenable to interventions that target day-level contextual factors. A sample of 2068 young adult college students (aged 18-24, mean 19.8, SD 1.3 years; 66.6% women) completed a baseline survey; 97.3% (n=2012) then completed up to 21 consecutive daily surveys that assessed a comprehensive set of daily markers of health, behavior, and well-being. The daily diary study produced a total of 33,722 person-days. Among all person-days, a minority were substance use days (eg, 14.5% of days involved alcohol use, 5.6% vaping, and 5.5% cannabis). Experiences of pleasure were reported on most (73.5%) days. Between-person differences explained more than 50% of the variance in numerous indicators of health and well-being, including daily vaping, cannabis use, other illicit substance use, experiences of bias or discrimination, positive affect, negative affect, worry, food insecurity, and feelings of belonging at the university. In contrast, within-person differences explained more than 50% of the variance in daily alcohol use, cigarette use, stress, experiences of pleasure, where the student slept last night, and physical activity. College student health and well-being are multifaceted, with some aspects likely driven by person-level characteristics and experiences and other aspects by more dynamic, contextual risk factors that occur in daily life. These findings implicate services and interventions that should target individual students versus those that should target days on which students are at high risk for poor experiences or behaviors.

Young Adult College Students’ Satisfaction With Life: Relationships With Eating Styles, BMI, and Health Status

Young Adult College Students’ Satisfaction With Life: Relationships With Eating Styles, BMI, and Health Status

Associations between vicarious discrimination and mental health among young adult college students: Findings from the 2020–2021 Healthy Minds Study

BackgroundPoor mental health among young adults in higher education is a growing concern. In recent years, the visibility of racism has sharply risen. Vicarious discrimination is defined as the secondhand witnessing of racism, and given society's increased accessibility to social media and the Internet, addressing indirect violence is urgently needed to inform anti-racism and mental health efforts. The current study examined associations between vicarious discrimination and mental health across a large sample of young college students in the United States. MethodsWe analyzed data from the Healthy Minds Study (HMS; 2020–2021; N=130,566) and used multivariable logistic regression to examine whether past-year vicarious discrimination was associated with various mental health outcomes, adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and direct discrimination. ResultsThe sample was predominantly white (n=31,438, 63.66%) and female-identifying (n=34,313, 69.49%) with an average age of 21.1 years. Approximately 35.9% of the sample endorsed experiencing vicarious discrimination. Vicarious discrimination was associated with greater depression (OR:1.97; 95% CI: [1.86,2.09], p< 0.001), anxiety (OR:1.82; 95% CI: [1.72,1.92], p<0.001), languishing (OR:1.75; 95% CI: [1.65,1.87], p<0.001), perceived need for treatment (OR:2.24; 95% CI: [2.10,2.40], p<0.001), suicidal ideation (OR:1.86; 95% CI: [1.73,2.01], p<0.001), suicide plan (OR:1.91; 95% CI: [1.71,2.14], p<0.001), suicide attempt (OR:1.89; 95% CI: [1.51,2.36], p<0.001), self-injurious behavior (OR:2.0; 95% CI: [1.88,2.12], p<0.001), and loneliness (OR:1.67; 95% CI: [1.58,1.77], p<0.001). DiscussionConsistent with growing literature, vicarious discrimination was associated with poorer mental health among young college students. Additional research should investigate moderators, mediators, and interventions to support those who may be impacted indirectly by discrimination.

Narcissism and alcohol use: The mediating role of drinking motives among college students

Objective: The current study examined associations between grandiose and vulnerable subclinical narcissistic traits and alcohol use among college students and whether drinking motives mediated these associations. Methods and Participants: Young adult college students who reported past month alcohol use were invited to complete self-report online surveys (N = 406; 81% female; Mage = 20.13, SD = 1.69; 10% Hispanic; 85% White). Results: Results from path analysis using structural equation modeling indicated that there were no direct associations between grandiose or vulnerable subclinical narcissistic traits and alcohol use. However, several drinking motives mediated these associations. Specifically, the association between grandiose traits and alcohol use was mediated by enhancement and social motives. Similarly, the association between vulnerable traits and alcohol use was mediated by enhancement, social and coping motives. Conclusions: Findings highlight a potential mechanism by which personality traits may contribute to a health risk behavior among young people.

Barriers and facilitators to healthy eating among college students: A cross-sectional study

Young adulthood is an influential life stage for developing lifelong eating patterns, yet limited research characterizes dietary intake among young adults. This cross-sectional study assessed dietary intake and characteristics associated with nutrition knowledge and healthy food consumption among college students. We hypothesized that healthy food intake would be lower than U.S. dietary guidelines and that perceived healthy eating barriers would be negatively associated with diet quality. Participants were undergraduate college students enrolled in an introductory human nutrition course (N=762), with surveys administered during the first week of class. Survey instruments included the Dietary Screener Questionnaire developed by the National Cancer Institute and the Jones Nutrition Knowledge questionnaire. Perceived encouragement, cost, taste, and ease of eating healthier foods were assessed with questions from the National Health Interview Survey. College student daily mean intakes of fiber (15.46 ± 3.06 grams), whole grains (0.63 ± 0.29 ounce equivalents), combined fruits and vegetables (2.38 ± 0.73 cup equivalents), and dairy (1.49 ± 0.53 cup equivalents) were lower than U.S. recommended dietary guidelines, while mean intakes of added sugars (14.65 ± 4.01 teaspoon equivalents) were greater than recommendations. As hypothesized, dietary intakes of young adult college students were sub-optimal, not meeting the U.S. dietary guidelines for fiber, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy, and added sugars. Additionally, perceived ease of eating healthier foods, cost, and nutrition knowledge were significantly associated with increased consumption of healthier foods. Results highlight the need to reduce barriers to improve healthy eating among young adults.

A Web-Based Intervention for Insufficiently Active College Students: Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy.

One third of college students do not achieve aerobic activity levels recommended for physical and mental health. The web-based "I Can Be Active!" intervention was designed to help college students increase their physical activity. The intervention was grounded in the Multi-Process Action Control (M-PAC) framework which emphasizes translating intention into sustainable action. The primary purpose was to evaluate the feasibility of the intervention with insufficiently active young adult college students. The secondary purposes were to describe the preliminary effects of the intervention on: (1) the M-PAC constructs and (2) physical activity. Twenty-one college students, ages 18 to 24, were enrolled in the pre-post quasi-experimental study to test the 8-week intervention during Spring 2021. Data were collected via self-report questionnaires, web-analytics, and interviews. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment, retention, acceptability, practicality, and implementation. Preliminary efficacy outcomes were self-report M-PAC constructs and physical activity. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, t tests, Wilcoxon signed rank tests, Hedge's g, and thematic analysis. Recruitment and retention rates were 70% and 71%, respectively. Participants reacted positively to the program, content, and features, except the manual entry step tracker and private social media group. Positive trends and significant increases were found in the regulatory and reflexive M-PAC constructs (self-regulation, habit, and identity) and physical activity. Findings support the feasibility and preliminary effects of the intervention for insufficiently active college students and highlight implications for intervention refinement. Future research will test intervention effectiveness using a randomized controlled trial with a larger diverse sample of college students.

Online Video-Mediated Compassion Training Program for Mental Health and Well-Being of University Students.

College students experiencing psychological distress have significantly greater negative emotions than students who practice compassionate thinking. We have developed Eight Steps to Great Compassion (ESGC), an innovative brief and no-cost online video training program about how to increase compassion among busy and young adult university students. To examine the effectiveness and benefits of the ESGC, a single-group pre-test-post-test quantitative design with undergraduate university students (N = 92; Mage = 20.39) evaluated its effects. The results from the post-test showed that the ESGC had a significant positive impact on increased feelings of compassion towards oneself, compassion for others, and the sense of personal well-being from the pre-test. The analysis of the PERMA-Profiler subscales also reflected a statistically significant increase in overall well-being and health and a decrease in negative emotions and loneliness. From the Post-Survey Lesson Feedback, 88% of the participants reported significant positive changes in themselves and the way that they live due to the program. These findings appear to show important implications for improving healthy minds and reducing negative emotions among university students.

A Scoping Review of Determinants of Drinking and Driving Behavior among Young Adult College Students in the US

College students are a primary population for risky alcohol use behaviors, with one of every eleven students grappling with severe alcohol-related issues. The objective of this scoping review was to synthesize the existing literature to identify factors influencing the prevalence of drinking and driving (DAD) behaviors among college students. A scoping review was conducted using Medline (PubMed), ERIC, The American Journal on Addictions, and the NCHA databases. Criteria for article selection included being published in English and focused on DAD behaviors among college students. Articles excluded from the review were systematic reviews and discussion pieces without empirical findings related to college DAD. Of the included studies (n = 23), most identified a range of factors as being influential in college students’ DAD behavior including a family history of alcohol misuse, the use of other substances such as marijuana, age of initial alcohol consumption, place of residence, propensity for sensation seeking, affiliation with sorority/fraternity groups, and the perception of associated risks. Effective strategies may include education on the risks of combined alcohol and substance use, screening and brief interventions tailored to at-risk students, and the implementation of campus policies that promote responsible alcohol consumption and deter DAD.

Instagram addiction, life satisfaction and self esteem in young adults

IntroductionAddiction to Instagram can have severe consequences at a psychological, physiological and social level. On the other hand, social networks can be useful tools for an individual’s daily life. Studies show that the problematic use of some social networks, namely Instagram, can have an impact on users’ self-esteem. This construct is considered a predictor of life satisfaction, which is why in the literature these two variables appear positively related.ObjectivesTo explore the relationship between addiction to Instagram, life satisfaction and self-esteem in young adult university students and to carry out a comparison between groups with and without probable addiction to Instagram.MethodsThe sample was composed by 241 Portuguese university students with a mean age of 22.03, (SD = 2.29, range 18-29), and who have an Instagram account. Subjects fulfilled a sociodemographic questionnaire, and the Portuguese version of the Bergen Instagram Addiction Scale, the Life Satisfaction Scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.ResultsThe average score on the Bergen Instagram Addiction Scale was of 13.37 (SD = 4.41), with 29.5% of the sample spending one to two hours a day (n = 71) on the social network and 29.1% showing a probable Instagram addiction (n = 70). Mean scores of 27.17 (SD = 5.34) were found on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and 16.31 (SD = 3.97) on the Satisfaction with Life Scale. A strong relationship was found between life satisfaction and self-esteem, with males tending to have an higher self-esteem comparing to females. A low negative correlation was found between self-esteem and the total score on the Bergen Instagram Addiction Scale, which was not maintained when analyzing groups with and without a probable Instagram addiction.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the probable presence of instagram addiction and the potential role of low self-esteem. It also emphasizes the strong relationship between life satisfaction and self-esteem. Instagram updates, as well as habits developed during the pandemic period, may have worsened the instagram use. The study shows how paradoxical the impacts of using this social network can be. Furthermore, the present study raises awareness to new national investigations that explore the use of Instagram and how they are related to the impacts on users’ lives.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Validation and Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Binge Eating Scale in Young Adults.

Although structured clinical interviews are considered the gold standard for assessing binge eating disorder (BED), the self-administered Binge Eating Scale (BES) has been widely used as a screening tool for BED in clinical research. However, the psychometric properties of the BES among Chinese young adults remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the validity of a Chinese version of the BES with a large sample. A total of 2182 young adult college students were tested using the Simplified Chinese version of BES (SCBES), the 7-Item Binge-Eating Disorder Screener (BEDS-7), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the Dual-Modes of Self-Control Scale (DMSC). The frequency of objective binge-eating episodes was used as a measure of severity. Validity and reliability of the SCBES were assessed through multiple analyses, along with the item analysis. The data revealed that the SCBES demonstrated reasonable reliability and validity. The Cronbach's α value was 0.813, with a one-month test-retest reliability of 0.835. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) extracted three first-order factors, which explained a total of 53.82% of the variance. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed the three-factor model (ie, Binge-eating behaviors, Lack of control, Negative affects related to overeating), with a good model fit. The SCBES also demonstrated excellent concurrent and criterion validity, significantly correlating with the BEDS-7 and frequency of objective binge-eating episodes (r=0.760-0.782, p<0.001). Gender, body mass index, depression, anxiety, impulsivity, and self-control were significantly associated with the total score of SCBES. The SCBES demonstrated sound psychometric properties and exhibited good cross-cultural adaptability in Chinese young adults, with a novel three-factor model fitting the data best. This scale could serve as a useful screening tool for identifying the severity of binge eating behaviors among Chinese youths.

COVID-19 and changes in young adults' weight concerns.

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced fundamental challenges to nearly all aspects of college students' lives, yet changes in key domains of their health, including weight concerns, remain untested. The current study utilized a longitudinal project comprised of 355 young-adult college students (Mage=19.5, 66.8% female, 33.2% male) oversampled for recent substance use behavior. Participants completed multiple assessments (mode = 5) from September 2017 to September 2021. Piecewise growth-curve models tested whether COVID-19 onset was associated with changes in the trajectories of young adults' weight concerns. Analyses also examined participants' sex as a moderator of these trajectories. On average, participants reported a significant increase in weight concern levels around the start of COVID-19, although weight concern slopes were not significantly different before and after COVID-19. Additionally, moderation analyses showed that females (but not males) had a significant increase in weight concern levels after COVID-19 onset.

Covid-19 psychological pressures, depression and FOMO: the mediating role of online social support and emotional regulation

BackgroundThe spread of the coronavirus has led to significant anxiety among university students, resulting in various mental health problems that could potentially impact their academic performance.MethodTo examine the mediating role of emotional regulation and online social support in the relationships between COVID-19 psychological pressures, depression, and the fear of missing out (FoMO) among young adult university students, a cross-sectional research design was employed using an online survey. The sample consisted of 521 full-time university students from China, currently enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programs.ResultsFindings revealed that more than half (55.09%, n=287) of the university students experienced COVID-19 psychological pressures. These pressures directly contributed to increased levels of depression (β = 0.339, p < .001) and fear of missing out (β = 0.236, p < .001). Moreover, online social support and emotional regulation exhibited partial mediating effects on the association between COVID-19 psychological pressures, depression, and the fear of missing out. The results indicated that COVID-19 psychological pressures were linked to higher levels of depressive symptoms and a greater fear of missing out among university students.ConclusionsHowever, the provision of timely and adequate online social support, as well as the implementation of emotional regulation strategies, mitigated the negative effects of the pandemic on students' social and emotional well-being. Consequently, this led to reduced levels of depression and fear of missing out.

Determinants of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination intentions among young adult college students using the theory of planned behavior

Purpose: To determine college students’ intentions to be Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinated. Methods: The study was comprised of college students aged 18–45 years. A survey was developed based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The significance of the TPB constructs—attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control—and an additional construct—knowledge—in predicting intention were assessed. Results: The regression model containing attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control accounted for 40% of the variance in intention. Attitude and subjective norms were significant predictors, while perceived behavioral control was not. Provider recommendation was the only significant covariate. Knowledge did not significantly contribute to the model. Discussion: The TPB was useful in predicting HPV vaccination intentions. A focus on attitude, subjective norms and provider recommendation may be useful in creating new or enhancing existing interventions.

Chronic exercise and neuropsychological function in healthy young adults: a randomised controlled trial investigating a running intervention

Despite the well-known physical and mental health benefits of regular exercise, many of the world’s population, including healthy young adults, grossly undershoot recommended physical activity levels. Chronic exercise has potential to improve cognitive performance and affect in most age groups. However, there is currently a poverty of relevant research in young adults, especially randomised controlled trials. To address this, the current research investigated the effects of a running intervention on neuropsychological function (cognition and affect) in young adults. We predicted that following a running intervention, neuropsychological performance would improve alongside increases in aerobic fitness. Thirty-two healthy young adult university students were randomised (using a 3:1 ratio) into an intervention or control group, with the intervention group (n = 24) asked to run for 30 min three times a week over a 6-week period and the control group (n = 8) asked to maintain their current level of exercise over a 6-week period. We assessed fitness, cognitive performance, affect and running enjoyment at baseline and follow-up, and runners recorded the environmental conditions of their runs. Repeated measures ANCOVAs failed to find any significant effects of the running intervention on fitness or the neuropsychological measures. Anecdotal evidence supported running environment and enjoyment as potentially relevant factors. The failure to find any fitness improvements, which likely underpins the lack of neuropsychological improvements, highlights the importance of monitoring exercise sessions. Coupled with other insights gained from this trial, this article may prove useful towards future endeavours to develop exercise interventions beneficial to young adults.TRN: ACTRN12621000242820, Date of registration: 08/03/2021.

Evaluation of the psychometric properties and convergent validity of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) questionnaire in Brazilian young adults

BackgroundThis cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties and the convergent validity of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and linear regression adjusted for confounding factors were performed to obtain the adjusted beta value (βadj) for sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), burnout (Copenhagen Burnout Inventory), and depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9).ResultsThe study population consisted of 3187 young adult university students. The CFA indicated adequate fits for the one- and two-factor structure of the ASSIST, with better indices for the two-factor model. Convergent validity results confirmed the best fit of the one-factor model (version 3.1), in which individuals classified as “suggestive of dependence” showed a greater effect on worse sleep quality (βadj 2.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.48–2.84), burnout (βadj 12.25, 95% CI 8.43–16.06), and depressive symptoms (βadj 6.69, 95% CI 5.37–8.00).ConclusionsThe results and the literature review indicated that the one-factor presents an adequate factor structure and better convergent validity.

Sleep quality and executive function in a diverse sample of healthy young adults

Few studies examine the relationship between sleep and executive function in diverse samples of young adults. Our research aims to fill this gap by analyzing how self-reported sleep quality is related to informant-rated executive function as a whole and its working memory component in a diverse sample of 29 healthy college students. Using the self-report measure, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), we divided our sample into two groups based on cutoff criteria (score ≥5: poor sleep): good sleep quality (n = 11) and poor sleep quality (n = 18). Participants were on average 20.86 years old. Informants rated participants’ executive functioning and working memory using the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe) and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). Individuals in the poor sleep quality group were reported as having significantly worse executive function and working memory scores. Young adult college students who report less than 7 hours of sleep per night have lower scores on informant measures of working memory and executive function. This study raises awareness about how self-reported sleep experiences are related to other’s observation of cognitive abilities in everyday life in a diverse young adult sample.

Exploring Facilitators and Barriers to STD/STI/HIV Self-Testing Among College Students in the United States: A Scoping Review.

HIV affects 1.2 million Americans, with 20% of new diagnoses being 13 to 24-year-olds. Young adult college students are more likely than the general population of 18 to 24-year-olds in the U.S. to engage in sexual practices that increase their risk of STIs. This scoping review explores factors that promote or hinder STD/STI/HIV self-testing among U.S. college students. A scoping review of original, experimental (randomized or nonrandomized), observational (longitudinal and cross-sectional), and qualitative or mixed-methods U.S. research was conducted using OVID Medline, OVID Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science Core Collection, and Cochrane CENTRAL. English-language studies measured STD/STI/HIV self-test kits and college student testing. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to narrow down articles that addressed barriers and facilitators to STD/STI/HIV testing, and self-testing among college students in the U.S. Database searches yielded 8,373 articles. After removing duplicates, 6173 items remained. After independent dual-title/abstract screening, 100 papers were full-text reviewed. Seven retrieved articles were unavailable, and 93 were selected for full-text screening. After reviewing the whole text, 89 papers did not fulfill the inclusion requirements and were deleted, leaving 4 articles in the final analysis. Additional research on self-testing among college students in the U.S. is urgently required. The results should guide university health policies on the need to cater to the unique requirements of college students by increasing the availability of healthcare and embracing STD/STI/HIV self-testing. This can enhance testing rates, diminish stigmas, and ultimately contribute to wider endeavors to reduce the transmission of infections in the U.S.

The Eating and Food Literacy Behaviors Questionnaire Has the Capacity to Distinguish Between Food Literacy Scores of Students Enrolled in Senior-Level Nutrition Classes Compared With Those Students Registered in Other Academic Courses Attending a University in the Southeastern United States

BackgroundThe Eating and Food Literacy Behaviors Questionnaire (EFLBQ) is an instrument that has not been tested for its capacity to distinguish among individuals assumed to have higher and lower food literacy. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine and compare EFLBQ scores among university students with and without formal nutrition-related training. DesignThis study had a cross-sectional design. Participants and SettingsTwo hundred twenty-seven young adult university students enrolled in non–nutrition-related classes (n = 76), introductory nutrition classes (n = 98), and senior-level nutrition classes (n = 53) were recruited from a large university in the southeastern United States during the spring and fall semesters of 2022. The students ranged in age from 18 to 30 years. Main Outcome MeasuresMean EFLBQ total scores and factor scores of health and nutrition, taste, food preparation, planning and decision making, and convenience were compared among the three groups. Statistical AnalysesLinear regression backward method examined whether level of training, age, sex, race and ethnicity, and BMI were independent variables associated with total EFLBQ mean scores. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) compared normally distributed data and Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests compared non-normally distributed data. ResultsLinear regression testing found that the level of nutrition training was significantly associated with total EFLBQ scores. Students in senior-level nutrition classes had higher total EFLBQ mean scores (M = 3.1 ± 0.2) than students in non–nutrition-related classes (M = 2.9 ± 0.3) (P = 0.002; 95% CI = 0.055, 0.280) and introductory nutrition classes (M = 2.9 ± 0.3) (P = 0.001; 95% CI = 0.275, 0.061). Total EFLBQ mean scores were not different among the students in non–nutritional-related classes and introductory nutrition classes (P = 1.000; 95% CI = −0.096, 0.096). Scores differed by training level for items measuring EFLBQ Factor 1: Health and Nutrition. Factor 1 mean scores were higher in students in senior-level classes (M = 3.1 ± 0.4) than for those in non-nutrition classes (M = 2.7 ± 0.5) (P < 0.001; 95% CI = 0.294, 0.670) and introductory nutrition classes (M = 2.8 ± 0.5) (P < 0.001; 95% CI = 0.228, 0.553). The other EFLBQ factor mean scores were not different among the three groups (all P-values > 0.12). ConclusionThe EFLBQ demonstrated the capacity to distinguish food literacy scores between students expected to have higher as compared with lower food literacy.