Welcome to the second part of the Special Issue of the American Journal of Health Education (AJHE) on Health Education and Health Promotion in College Settings. When the call for manuscripts went out, we could not have anticipated the number and quality of manuscripts that would be submitted. The first set appeared in Volume 48, No. 5 and is being continued with this issue. We hope this is an indication of the interest in and outstanding research that is being conducted with the college student population.
As mentioned in the previous issue, college students are a unique population transitioning into adulthood and developing patterns of health behaviors that jeopardize their present and future health. Never before has the health of college students been as important. Additionally, as the cost of college increases, the link between health and academic success and retention becomes more relevant.
Taking responsibility for one’s health and developing healthy habits often emerge during the early adulthood age associated with the college years. Health behaviors learned and established in college can set individuals up for a lifetime of healthy living. It is important to take advantage of these formative years to ensure students continue healthy behaviors as they mature. The health needs of college students draw attention to the potential role and importance of health education and health promotion on college campuses.
This issue features seven research articles and commentaries focusing on theory based behavior change and disease prevention interventions in college settings. Significant issues like HPV, mental illness, wellness, and disordered eating are addressed. Additionally, two articles feature technology and mobile phone health apps, which are commonly used by young adults who are digital natives.
Addressing HPV infection in males is a significant public health issue. Chandrika Johnson and Roberta Ogletree examine male college student’s knowledge and intention regarding the HPV vaccination using the Theory of Planned Behavior. Given that most HPV vaccines were initially geared towards women, there is limited data on vaccination among men. Their findings suggest there is serious work to be done on college campuses to increase the knowledge and acceptance of HPV vaccination among males.
More students are coming to campus with significant health needs, including mental health challenges. Brandye D. Nobiling and Sherry Azadi Maykrantz use the Health Belief Model to investigate perceptions about mental illness and behaviors related to mental health service utilization, social support, and self-medication among college students who may or may not have a history of mental illness. The results of their mixed methods study indicate the need for health education and health promotion efforts in college settings that encourage professional help seeking for mental health issues.
College students are at risk for developing eating behaviors that promote obesity and eating disorders. Kelly A. Romano, Christina D. Colgary, and Amy Magnuson discusses, in their commentary, the role of dietary self-monitoring by means of eHealth/mHealth applications that incorporate nutritional food labeling in health behavior among college students. They advocate the use of eHealth/mHealth platforms to engage college students in nutrition related information across the different levels of the socio-ecological framework.
The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a risky period for the development of obesity due to unhealthy diet and physical activity practices. Alessandra Sarcona, Laura Kovacs, Josephine Wright, and Christine Williams examined differences in eating behaviors, physical activity, and health-related lifestyle choices between users and non-users of mobile health apps among college students. The results suggest college students who are app users demonstrate healthier behaviors than non-app users. This has implications for the utilization of this type of technology by health education and health promotion professionals to improve health of college students.
How do we determine wellness for college-aged students? Mindy Hartman Mayol, Brianna M. Scott, and James B. Schreiber test their Multidimensional Wellness Inventory with student-athletes and nonathletes as well as first and non-first generation college students. A validated instrument is needed to assist health education and health promotion professionals in measuring multidimensional wellness and creating holistic wellness programs for college students. Results indicate initial evidence of a concise and valid instrument.
Approximately one-fourth of all college students are overweight and obese, mostly due to poor dietary behaviors. April Tallant sought to evaluate a nutrition intervention involving food label reading and food choice behaviors of first year college students. Results demonstrated evidence of a relationship between food-label-reading and healthier food choices. Health education and health promotion professionals may be able to impact overweight and obesity rates among college students by implementing more food-label-reading education and interventions.
Many young adults do not meet national guidelines for physical activity. Charlotte Kerner and Victoria A. Goodyear sought to examine the role of wearable fitness devices in adolescent’s motivation for physical activity using the self-determination theory. The mixed methods study included an intervention that required participants to wear a Fitbit Charge and complete questionnaires assessing motivational regulation and psychological need satisfaction. The results suggest that wearable fitness devices may not be as beneficial to health and wellness as previously thought.
To conclude, we hope the set of articles included in this second half of the Special Issue will relay the breadth of issues and research in health education and health promotion with college students. Research on health education and health promotion in college settings is of tremendous importance to our readership given AJHE’s focus on chronic disease and related lifestyle behaviors across the lifespan. This collection of research should continue the conversation started in the previous issue and promote interest and research in college student health.