Background: Dental diseases are associated with chronic health conditions and decreased psychological and sociological wellbeing. Young adulthood presents a pivotal stage as dental hygiene behaviors developed and practiced during this time persist into later life. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is a commonly used theoretical framework to…

Objective: Vaping rates among college students have been increasing significantly in recent years, due in large part to the diffusion of pod vaping devices (i.e., JUUL, Suorin) on American college campuses. In this study, we explore the ecological system of knowledge, attitudes, and practices in regards to this trend. Participants: Participants…

Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption in the Latinx population has been a topic of increasing interest due to higher rates of consumption in this population, as well as higher prevalence of chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and obesity. SSB behaviors are influenced by multiple factors across the socio-ecological model. Understanding…

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to explore sharing behavior among college students who use e-cigarettes. Methods: A convenience sample of current e-cigarette users answered questionnaire items regarding sharing behavior (e.g., the number of people that have shared e-cigarettes, the settings that sharing takes place, reasons for…

Parents of autistic children report barriers to engaging in physical activity, which may be exacerbated during subsequent pregnancies. We aimed to describe physical activity of parents caring for an autistic child, before and during a subsequent pregnancy, and to explore whether physical activity was associated with the autistic child's Social…

Background: We aimed to characterize relationships between delayed high school start time policy, which is known to lengthen school night sleep duration, and patterns in activity outcomes: physical activity, non-school electronic screen time (non-schoolwork), and sports and extracurricular activity among adolescents. Methods: We used data from the…

Purpose: The goal of this study was to assess changes in eating self-efficacy after participating in a brief psychoeducational group intervention, grounded in the cognitive-behavioral model, delivered by dieticians in community-based health facilities. Design/methodology/approach: The study was conducted using a quasi-experimental, pre-post…

Oral diseases present higher prevalence in people with mental disorders, which makes dental care a possible means for screening and referral to mental health specialized care. Because some dental conditions can be caused by or associated with mental disorders, dentists can identify patients' mental health care needs. However, they have shown low…

The purpose of this study was to explain Japanese mothers' communication on sexuality education with elementary school-age children (7-11). There were six mothers who consented to participate in this study, sharing their thoughts, opinions, and experiences related to sexuality education. A constant comparative analysis method was used to analyze…

Heavy drinking is a major public health concern, particularly among young adults who often experience fear of being stigmatized when seeking help for alcohol-related problems. To address drinking concerns outside clinical settings, we tested the feasibility of a novel imagery-based behavior change strategy led by student lay interventionists in a…

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of current smoking and examine the association between meeting combinations of the 24-h movement guidelines and current smoking in autistic adults. This cross-sectional study administered an electronic survey to a national sample of autistic adults in the United States. The study outcome was current…

This applied dissertation was designed to provide an understanding of the perspectives of former online physical education high school students and how participation in the course affected their ability to be active post-high school and their knowledge of fitness concepts. A phenomenological design was used to guide the study's investigation.…

COVID-19 vaccination rates remain lower among adolescents compared with adults. Youth participatory action research (YPAR) offers opportunities to inform youth vaccine communication at the local and population level. However, few studies have integrated systematic health communication research with YPAR. In the current study, a diverse team of…

Preventing young people's cigarette smoking is a major public health priority, and smoking is especially prevalent in vocational schools. Well-enforced comprehensive school tobacco policies accompanied by preventive efforts show potential to reduce smoking, but the implementation process is crucial to achieve the intended effect. We investigate…

Multi-level, place-based interventions have proven effective at promoting a range of health behaviors, including tobacco control and discouraging the uptake of tobacco products. This paper describes the implementation and impact of a 3-year, multi-level tobacco prevention and control program at a community-college minority-serving institution…