Progress 05/16/08 to 07/31/11
Outputs
(N/A)
Impacts
The results of the project were possible due to the support the project received from 1890. The purpose of the proposed research study is to examine African American college students' health-related perceptions and behaviors to better understand their current practices and health orientations. Additionally, the proposed study seeks to examine the direct effects of selected precollege factors, institutional characteristics, and college experiences on African American college students' health orientations and behaviors. Specific research included, but was not limited to the following tasks: (a) critically reviewing and synthesizing relevant research literature, (b) collecting data, (c) cleaning, coding, and constructing dependent and independent variables, (d) analyzing data using appropriate analytical procedures, and (e) conference proposals were prepared and submitted to conferences that focus on health-related issues, student development, and student retention. A Nutritionist worked on this project. The Nutritionist and Project Director will collaborate with Extension and college health professionals who work in Extension and college health settings (e.g., counseling center, health center, etc.). Also, their role will be to work with the other co-principal investigator of the proposed project to develop a series of research-based and data-driven professional development experiences for Extension and college health offices on university campuses and local communities in South Carolina (e.g., churches, etc.) to: (a) raise awareness about African American college students' health concerns; (b) increase understanding about African American college students' mental health (e.g., racial identity, sense of well being, etc.) and physical health concerns; and (c) present statistical and qualitative information that incorporates data from the cross-sectional study to inform decision-making and knowledge on this subject. Exploring African American College Students' Health Orientations and Behaviors examined the direct effects of selected precollege factors, institutional characteristics, and college experiences on African American college students' health orientations and behaviors. The American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA-II) Survey was administered to 402 college students at South Carolina State University. The results of the data indicated that people tend to underestimate weight especially if they are overweight or obese. Students reported about 49% normal weight, 33% slightly overweight, ad 9% very overweight but the Body Mass Index (BMI) indicated 41.9% at a healthy weight, 26% overweight, and 28.9% obese (14.8 class I obesity, 6.6 class II obesity, and class III obesity).
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
(N/A)
Impacts
In light of national data highlighting the poor health status of African American young adults (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services & U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2005), exploring individual-level and institutional-level factors impacting health orientations and behaviors for this population may yield information that increases our understanding of the most effective approaches to reduce the incidence of obesity, raise awareness about health issues, and improve the health of African Americans in South Carolina and throughout the United States. Furthermore, given the dearth of research literature and empirical information regarding the health of African American college students, the purpose of the proposed research study is to examine African American college students' health-related perceptions and behaviors to better understand their current practices and health orientations. Additionally, the proposed study seeks to examine the direct effects of selected precollege factors, institutional characteristics, and college experiences on African American college students' health orientations and behaviors. Specific research included, but was not limited to the following tasks: a) critically reviewing and synthesizing relevant research literature, (b) collecting data, (c) cleaning, coding, and constructing dependent and independent variables, (d) analyzing data using appropriate analytical procedures, and (e) conference proposals were prepared and submitted to conferences that focus on health-related issues, student development, and student retention. A Nutritionist worked on this project. The Nutritionist and Project Director will collaborate with Extension and college health professionals who work in Extension and college health settings (e.g., counseling center, health center, etc.). Also, their role will be to work with the other co-principal investigator of the proposed project to develop a series of research-based and data-driven professional development experiences for Extension and college health offices on university campuses and local communities in South Carolina (e.g., churches, etc.) to: (a) raise awareness about African American college students' health concerns; (b) increase understanding about African American college students' mental health (e.g., racial identity, sense of well being, etc.) and physical health concerns; and (c) present statistical and qualitative information that incorporates data from the cross-sectional study to inform decision-making and knowledge on this subject. African Americans are more likely to be obese, have heart disease, and engage in less healthy behaviors than other Americans (Braithwaite & Taylor, 2001). According to data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, African Americans are disproportionately impacted by health problems in the United States.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities during this period involved posting employment positions for both undergraduate and graduate students. Subsequently, two graduates and four undergraduate students have received mentoring. Both graduate and undergraduate students have participated in both quantitative and qualitative aspects of research. For example, students have been mentored in the area of conducting comprehensive literature reviews. Also, students have participated directly in assisting the project director with conducting and transcribing qualitative interviews. Additionally, students participated in developing and presenting research at two national conferences. Also, the students have been hired to assist with the completion of the project's proposed objectives. Additionally, students and the project director presented preliminary research pertaining to this study at the Association of Research Directors, Inc., 15th Biennial Research Symposium. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Dr. David Staten has been the primary individual working on the proposed project. Dr. Bonita Mason, Associate Professor at South Carolina State University has also participated on the proposed project. Dr. Manson is one of the Co-Principal investigators working on the project. She has been supervising graduate students and providing assistance with regards to selecting the research instruments for the project. Partner Organizations: Dr. Lamont Flowers, Associate Professor employed by Clemson University will also participate in the proposed study. Dr. Lawrence Flowers, Assistant Professor employed by Fayetteville State University will also participate in the proposed project. Dr. Antoinette Hollis is one of the consultants on the proposed project. She will assist in recruiting students to participate in the proposed study from Clark University in Atlanta. She will also assist with data collection for the project. Dr. Antoinette Hollis will also participate in the proposed study. The partners have not contributed to the project due to difficulty in establishing cooperative agreements with their respective Institutions. Two graduate students and four undergraduate students have all attended weekly mentoring sessions conducted by the project director. All students have been trained to conduct exhaustive literature reviews. Also, four students along with the project director conducted a presentation at the Spring, 2009 Association of Research Directors, Inc., 15th Biennial Research Presentation. Also, all four students attended the National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Counselor Concerns Conference during the summer of 2009. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The project director needs assistance from the 1890 Research Director in establishing the cooperative agreements and sub-contracts with the partner organizations, (Clemson University, Fayetteville State University, and Clark Atlanta University). This assistance is imperative to accomplish the project's objectives in a timely manner. I am not modifying the project's objectives. However, it is essential that I am able to establish the cooperative agreements in effort to the project's research objectives accomplish.
Impacts
Given the dearth of research literature and empirical information regarding the health of African American college students, the purpose of the proposed research study is to examine African American college students' health-related perceptions and behaviors to better understand their current practices and health orientations. Additionally, the proposed study seeks to examine the direct effects of selected pre college factors, institutional characteristics, and college experiences on African American college students' health orientations and behaviors. Specific research activities will include, but are not limited to the following tasks: (a) critically reviewing and synthesizing relevant research literature, (b) collecting data, (c) cleaning, coding, and constructing dependent and independent variables, (d) analyzing data using appropriate analytical procedures, and (e) producing manuscripts for publication. Also, conference proposals will be prepared and submitted to conferences that focus on health-related issues, student development, and student retention. The Nutritionist and Microbiologist will collaborate with Extension and college health professionals who work in Extension and college health settings (e.g., counseling center, health center, etc.). The Co-Principal investigators are in the process of selecting the instrumentation for the proposed project. Subsequently, the data collection and analyses will be forthcoming. Thus outcomes/impacts will be discussed in more detail in subsequent reports.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The grant entitled "Exploring African American College Students' Health Orientations and behaviors" was initiated on July 1, 2008. Activities during this period involved posting employment positions for both undergraduate and graduate students. Subsequently, two graduates and one undergraduate student have received mentoring in the area of conducting comprehensive literature reviews and have been hired to assist with the completion the project's proposed objectives. Additionally, students and the project director have submitted an abstract of a research proposal and they will be co-presenting at the Association of Research Directors, Inc., 15th Biennial Research Symposium. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. David Staten has been the primary individual working on the proposed project. Dr. Bonita Mason, Associate Professor at South Carolina State University will participate in the proposed project. Partner Organizations Dr. Lamont Flowers, Associate Professor employed by Clemson University will also participate in the proposed study. Dr. Lawrence Flowers, Assistant Professor employed by Fayetteville State University will also participate in the proposed project. Training Two graduate students and one undergraduate student have all attended weekly mentoring sessions conducted by the project director. All students have been trained to conduct exhaustive literature reviews. Also, three students along with the project director will be conducting a presentation at the Spring, 2009 Association of Research Directors, Inc., 15th Biennial Research Presentation. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The project director needs assistance in establishing cooperation agreements and sub-contracts with the Partner Organizations (Clemson University and Fayetteville State University). This assistance is imperative to accomplish the project's objectives in a timely manner.
Impacts
In light of national data highlighting the poor health status of African American young adults (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services & U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2005), exploring individual-level and institutional-level factors impacting health orientations and behaviors for this population may yield information that increases our understanding of the most effective approaches to reduce the incidence of obesity, raise awareness about health issues, and improve the health of African Americans in South Carolina and throughout the United States. Furthermore, given the dearth of research literature and empirical information regarding the health of African American college students, the purpose of the proposed research study is to examine African American college students' health-related perceptions and behaviors to better understand their current practices and health orientations. Additionally, the proposed study seeks to examine the direct effects of selected precollege factors, institutional characteristics, and college experiences on African American college students' health orientations and behaviors. Specific research activities will include, but are not limited to the following tasks: (a) critically reviewing and synthesizing relevant research literature, (b) collecting data, (c) cleaning, coding, and constructing dependent and independent variables, (d) analyzing data using appropriate analytical procedures, and (e) producing manuscripts for publication. Also, conference proposals will be prepared and submitted to conferences that focus on health-related issues, student development, and student retention. A Nutritionist and Microbiologist (co-principal investigators) will work on this project. The Nutritionist and Microbiologist will collaborate with Extension and college health professionals who work in Extension and college health settings (e.g., counseling center, health center, etc.). Also, their role will be to work with the other co-principal investigators of the proposed project to develop a series of research-based and data-driven professional development experiences for Extension and college health offices on university campuses and local communities in South Carolina (e.g., churches, etc.) to: (a) raise awareness about African American college students' health concerns; (b) increase understanding about African American college students' mental health (e.g., racial identity, sense of well being, etc.) and physical health concerns; and (c) present statistical and qualitative information that incorporates data from the cross-sectional study to inform decision-making and knowledge on this subject.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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