We use social learning, self-control, and social disorganization theories to develop hypotheses related to tobacco and alcohol use among a racially diverse sample of Chicago adolescents. Data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods were used to test models that examine relationships between neighborhood-level and…

Background: Youth with multiple minority identities, such as those who are both sexual minority (eg, lesbian, gay, bisexual) and racial/ethnic minority (eg, Black, Latino) may be at increased risk for bullying and peer victimization. Methods: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance data (2011-2017) were analyzed (N = 114,881; 50.8% girls; mean age = 15.7…

Background: The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarette) offers potential to facilitate cigarette smoking cessation, yet potentially increases risk of cigarette smoking initiation. This relationship has been primarily modeled in mathematical ways that often do not represent real-world complexities, which could inform decisions regarding local…

Dietary habits are developed through a combination of biological, environmental, socioeconomic, and psychosocial factors. However, these dietary habits can also be influenced by access and education. College undergraduate years are important for the development of life skills including the ability to select nutritious meals. This is of vital…

Background: The gateway behavior hypothesis posits that change in a health behavior targeted for modification may promote positive changes in other untargeted health behaviors; however, previous studies have shown inconsistent results. Aims: To examine the patterns and predictors of change in untargeted health behaviors in a large health behavior…

Objective: To examine the impact of nonmedical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) during sexual activity on the frequency of condom use among a sample of college students. Participants: Students attending a large Midwestern University (N = 4284) during April 2015. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of survey data using logistic…

Background: Breast health education could alleviate breast concerns reported by adolescent girls. Purpose: This article describes the development and psychometric properties of a survey to measure knowledge in multiple aspects related to breasts, attitudes to breasts and breast issues and the likelihood of engagement with positive breast habits…

Background: Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect in the world. Medical advancements in pediatric cardiac surgery have led to an increased number of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). PA was discouraged for ACHD patients in the past however, today it is strongly encouraged for this population to remain active.…

This study examined associations between positive financial behaviors and positive health behaviors. Participants (n 8,128) completed an online survey about their frequency of performance of recommended practices.A multiple regression analysis was used to predict participants' health behavior score based on their emergency fund, saving, and…

Background: Adults with intellectual disabilities are reported to be highly inactive, with research required to understand contributory factors. This systematic review aimed to investigate gender differences in physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) in adults with intellectual disabilities. Methods: This systematic review was reported…

Objective: While research suggests media use is positively associated with skin-damaging behaviours, especially among US college-aged women, less is known about the role of specific media types in potentially promoting indoor or outdoor tanning. Design: We used an online survey to examine the relationship between demographic variables,…

The necessity for physical activity during physical education has gained increased and widespread attention during the last few decades. However, without monitoring mechanisms it is challenging for physical education teachers to (a) get a notion of the extent to which lessons are providing physical activity, (b) evaluate the effectiveness of…

Rates of e-cigarette use are high among youth, and there is little known about the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes. Since peer influence is a powerful determinant of tobacco use, we aimed to identify message themes about e-cigarettes that youth would use to encourage or discourage peers from using e-cigarettes. We conducted 10 focus…

When individuals are exposed an adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), they can be impacted in a variety of ways including health risks, threats to safety, and community-level adverse experiences. The authors have combed recent research to explore what new evidence is available in understanding the nature of adversity that children face and the…

Background: There is widespread evidence of the health and wellness benefits associated with moderate physical activity, and lack of engagement with these behaviours remains a significant contributor to the burden of chronic disease in the US adult population. There are clear benefits to identifying motivational factors that facilitate increased…