College: A Time to Increase Knowledge and Attenuate Health? A Study into College's Influences on Students' Alcohol Consumption, Physical Activity, and Diet

COLLEGE: A TIME TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE AND ATTENUATE HEALTH? A STUDY INTO COLLEGE’S INFLUENCES ON STUDENTS’ ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND, DIET by Lauren M. Kincheloe Many behavior choices for one’s adult life are established during the college experience, a time in which health behaviors often. Multiple health behavior change research examines the relationship of two or more health behaviors in people, and may be a method of providing more efficient health interventions. Using data from 321 students' first semester of college, this study examines the relationship between and changes students' readiness to change their physical activity patterns, dietary choices, and alcohol consumption utilizing the Transtheoretical Model framework. Across the semester, significant changes were observed in the students' readiness to change certain health behaviors and gender differences were observed. Binge drinking and high fat food avoidance stages of change, and exercise and fruit and vegetable intake stages of change, showed the only significant health behavior relationships. Further understanding changes in students' readiness to change their health behaviors may aid universities in improving students' health behavior patterns. COLLEGE: A TIME TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE AND ATTENUATE HEALTH? A STUDY INTO COLLEGE’S INFLUENCES ON STUDENTS’ ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND, DIET