We investigated class clustering patterns of four behaviors--physical activity, fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake, smoking, and alcohol use--in a faith-based African American cohort. Guided by socio-ecological models, we also examined the psychosocial and neighborhood social environmental factors associated with the clustering patterns.…

Background: Emotions are important in smoking-related communications, but the role of discrete positive and negative emotions in comparative risk messages about combusted and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is unclear. Method: In an online experiment, 1,202 U.S. adult current smokers or recent quitters were randomized to view one of six…

Objective: To explore differences in tobacco information-seeking behaviours and perceptions between sexual minority and heterosexual (or 'straight') adults and to determine if these differences are mediated by tobacco use. Design: Cross-sectional national survey. Setting: Nationally representative probability-based surveys of adults 18 years of…

Background: A significant number of students enrolled in postsecondary institutions have a disability. Like many young adults, college students with disabilities have an elevated risk of substance use. However, research on substance use in this population is limited. Objectives: This dissertation aims to: 1) Examine the prevalence of disability in…

Previous research indicates that the disproportionate distribution of income within society is associated with aggression and violence. Although research has been conducted identifying the relationship between income inequality and bullying victimization and perpetration, little is known about possible mediators. We investigated the association…

Background: Observation Studies, Unmeasured Confounding, and Sensitivity Analysis: An important part of educational research is identifying important, potentially causal, factors that influence children's learning from observational studies. However, it is well-known that discovering such factors from observational studies can be biased due to…

Emerging tobacco product use is increasing. We evaluated factors associated with perceived risk of and intention to use waterpipe tobacco by surveying students at a large university in the southeastern U.S. (N = 667). Proportional odds modeling assessed whether demographic characteristics and social acceptability are associated with perceived risk…

Introduction: E-cigarette use remains a controversial topic in public health and medicine. Historically, cigarette smoking was identified as a gateway to marijuana use among adolescents. Recently, the prevalence of adolescent cigarette smoking has declined, but that of e-cigarette use continues to increase. As e-cigarettes eclipse cigarettes among…

Previous reviews have highlighted parent-child connectedness and communication as important protective factors against adolescent substance use. However, these reviews focus on single substances such as alcohol. An integrative review of the literature was conducted to examine which elements of parent-child connectedness and substance-use specific…

The purposes of this study were to compare the use of contraception by monocultural and multicultural adolescents and identify the multidimensional factors in an ecological model. This study was cross-sectional design with a secondary data analysis using national data from the 2018 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey, including 3,031 participants (81…

Background: Early reading success is predicated on language and pre-literacy skills. Children who are behind their peers in language and pre-literacy development before formal schooling are less likely to be proficient beginner readers, and difficulties may persist throughout primary school and beyond. We know children experiencing adversity are…

Background: Cigarette use is a public health issue and juvenile offenders are at risk for engagement in substance use. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been linked to elevated risk for cigarette use and juvenile offenders are at elevated risk for mental health issues. Objectives: To elucidate general patterns of development of…

Justice-oriented teaching must address how classroom-based disciplinary learning is shaped by interactions among local practice "and" systems of privilege and oppression. Our work advances current scholarship on high-leverage practices [HLPs] by emphasizing the need for teaching practices that restructure power relations in classrooms…

Background: Numeracy is one's ability to use numbers in context and influence's decision making and perceptions of health risk. Worry about lung cancer is an indicator of perceived risk (PR) and is related to interest in cessation and cancer screening. Purpose: The analysis sought to explore underlying relationships among worry about lung cancer,…

Objectives: This study compared the effects of two types of health warnings on cigarette packages: 'narrative visual warnings', showing an image portraying people plus a corresponding slogan that could evoke a story-like interpretation, and 'non-narrative visual warnings' with non-narrative content (i.e. body parts). Moreover, the mechanisms…