Human and Clinical Nutrition Commons^™

The Gut Microbiome, The Gut-Brain Axis, And College Student Well-Being, Idi Mckay

University Honors Theses

This literature review examines how diet, stress, environmental exposure, and food accessibility may influence college students' mental health and academic performance through the gut microbiome and the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA). Current microbiome research often focuses on early childhood development, clinical disease populations, or older adults, while overlooking college-age students who experience significant social, environmental, and biological transitions. College students frequently face food insecurity, irregular eating patterns, chronic stress, inconsistent sleep schedules, and reduced access to nutrient-dense foods, all of which may influence microbial diversity and overall gut health.

This thesis explores how modern campus environments and lifestyle factors may contribute …

Awareness And Attitudes Toward Diabetes Among Students In The California State University System, Cesar Fajardo

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background and Aims: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has been increasing globally. Studies examining patient awareness and attitudes toward diabetes have been conducted and found that diabetes education does increase patient knowledge but has no effect on attitudes. Additionally, many of these studies did not assess university students’ views on type 2 diabetes. Given that type 2 diabetes incidence is increasing among young adults, more attention must be given to this population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate CSUSB students' understanding and attitudes toward type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using electronic surveys with …

The Effect Of A Virtual Covid-19 Interprofessional Educational Module On Knowledge, Confidence, Attitude, And Practice Among Health And Allied Health Professions Students, Tsu-Yin Wu, Jenni L. Hoffman, Grigoris Argeros, Sarah Lally, Andrea Gossett Zakrajsek, Jillian Graves, Alice Jo Rainville, Olivia Ford, Angela Lukomski, Renuka Roche, John Sonnega, Joan E. Cowdery Phd

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Purpose: The purpose of this research study was to examine the effect of an innovative, online COVID-19 interprofessional educational module among health and allied health professions students.

Methods: This study utilized a pre- and posttest design with quantitative and qualitative data collected winter 2023 and spring/summer 2023 semesters, and consisted of health and allied health professions students (N=143) from three Midwestern, urban, public universities. Participants completed a pretest, then an IPE module on COVID-19, and a posttest immediately after the educational intervention, and another (the same) posttest one month later. Quantitative and qualitative data were subject to statistical …

Body Image Perception And Its Association With Food Intake Among Undergraduate Students In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Christie Loke Sin Mun, Roslee Rajikan, Hanis Mastura Yahya

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Body image dissatisfaction may lead to the practice of imbalanced diet to achieve the desired body weight. This study aimed to determine the association between body image perception and food intake among undergraduate students.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on the data of 155 students from three faculties located at National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Assessments included demographic data, body mass index, Contour Drawing Rating Scale, and 3-day food records.

Results: The majority of the subjects were categorized as normal weight (64.5%), and the remaining were classified as underweight (26.5%), overweight (7.7%), and obese …

Comparing Intuitive Eating Behaviors Between Student Athletes And College Students Enrolled At The University Of Mississippi, Mary Mckennon Pierce

Honors Theses

Intuitive eating strives to consciously listen to the internal hunger and fullness cues our body provides, as humans often practiced long before counting calories and dieting existed. Rational thought, instinct, and emotion influence an intuitive eater’s decision-making and allow for full capability in navigating food decisions. While intuitive eating habits can benefit any individual, little research has compared the intuitive eating habits between collegiate students and student-athletes. measures unconditional permission to eat, eating for physical rather than emotional reasons, reliance on hunger and fullness cues, and body-food choice congruence. Student-athletes presented a significantly higher overall intuitive eating score (3.53±0.54, p=0.003) …

A Qualitative Study Of The Genesis Of A Community Food Pantry For Students Of Higher Education, Elizabeth Fast

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this case study was to understand the development of a food pantry for students of higher education at a Midwestern university.

Methods: The researchers recruited 11 individuals on the food pantry’s board using a snowball sampling method to participate in a 30-minute interview about the food pantry’s development from conception to implementation. The interviews were transcribed and then qualitatively analyzed by two researchers. The researchers coded interviews separately to identify frequent commonalities between participant responses. The researchers then organized the codes into themes, which were then summarized in the results of this study.

Results: The first …

Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling Of Students' Dietary Intentions/Behaviors, Bmi, And The Healthfulness Of Convenience Stores., Tanya M. Horacek, Elif Dede Yildirim, Kendra Kattelmann, Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, Onikia Brown, Sarah E. Colby, Geoffrey Greene, Sharon Hoerr, Tandalayo Kidd, Mallory Koenings, Jesse Morrell, Melissa D. Olfert, Beatrice Phillips, Karla P. Shelnutt, Adrienne A. White

Health and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: When dietary behaviors are habitual, intentions are low, and environmental cues, such as the consumer food environment, might guide behavior. How might intentions to eat healthily and ultimately actual dietary behaviors, be influenced by the consumer food environment (including the availability and affordability of healthy foods) in convenience stores? This study will determine pathways between the healthfulness of convenience stores and college students' dietary intentions/behaviors, and body mass index (BMI).
METHODS: Through multilevel structural equation modeling, a comparison was made of students' healthful meal intentions (HMI); intake (fruits/vegetables, %kcal/fat, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and whole-grains); and measured BMI; as well …

Teens Implementing A Childhood Obesity Prevention Program In The Community: Feasibility And Perceptions Of A Partnership With Hsta And Icook 4-H., Rebecca L. Hagedorn, Jade A. White, Lisa Franzen-Castle, Sarah E. Colby, Kendra Kattelmann, Adrienne A. White, Melissa D. Olfert

Health and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

High school student researchers and teen leaders from the Health Science Technology Academy (HSTA), under the supervision of HSTA teachers, led a childhood obesity prevention (COP) program (iCook 4-H). The objective was to evaluate the feasibility and perceptions of having teen leaders implement a COP program for dyads of youth (9⁻10 years old) and their primary adult food preparer. Behavior change and perceptions were assessed through surveys and open-ended interviews. Across eight HSTA organizations, 43 teen leaders participated in teaching the iCook 4-H program to 24 dyads. Increased frequency of culinary skills, physical activity and mealtime behavior were reported by …

Perceptions Of Green Eating Behaviors On College Campuses In An Urban Vs. Rural Setting, Gabriella G. Nowicki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Green Eating is a multidisciplinary approach to health in economic, public health, and environmental issues. GE has an evident impact on the quality of life in young adults, especially those on college campuses. Current evidence already supports an improved dietary intake in those who adopt GE behaviors. Objective: To determine if a university’s campus location affects first-year students’ exposure to green eating. We hypothesize that first-year students on university campuses located in urban settings are more likely to report GE awareness and practices than in rural settings.
Methods: First-year students were recruited for the GetFruved study in late summer …

Independent And Interactive Associations Of Negative Affect, Restraint, And Impulsivity In Relation To Binge Eating Among Women, Tyler B. Mason, Kathryn E. Smith, Jason M. Lavender, Robin J. Lewis

Psychology Faculty Publications

There is growing recognition that impulsivity may serve as an underlying risk factor for binge eating. In addition, the association of impulsivity with binge eating may be moderated by other affective and cognitive risk factors. This study examined independent and interactive associations of negative affect, dietary restraint, and facets of impulsivity with binge eating. A diverse sample of 566 undergraduate women completed online questionnaires of study variables. Results revealed a three-way interaction of negative affect, dietary restraint, and attentional impulsivity in relation to binge eating. Women who were high on each of these three variables reported the greatest levels of …

Scheduling Recess: Perceptions Of Lunchroom Supervisors, Teachers, And Principal, Reilly Layne Mckinnis

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the perceptions of elementary school staff in regards to scheduling recess after or before lunch and the effect each schedule had on students.

Methods

This research was conducted in Fall 2016 when a Midwestern elementary school had recess after lunch (RAL) and in Spring 2017 when the same school had recess before lunch (RBL). A mixed methods approach was used. Nineteen teachers completed a Likert-scale survey, six of whom completed both the pre- and post-survey. One principal and five lunchroom supervisors participated in individual semi-structured interviews pertaining to their perceptions of …

Contribution Of Dietary Supplements To The Nutritional Status Of College Students, Caroline Yu

Honors Scholar Theses

Little is known about the prevalence of dietary supplement usage among college students. Though taking dietary supplements can cover nutrient shortages not achieved through diet alone, it is often recommended to improve the quality of one's diet rather than rely on supplements. The main objective of this research study was to determine the prevalence of dietary supplement use among college students in relation to a variety of demographic and lifestyle variables, and to find out what portion of total nutrient intake is supplied by supplements. Subjects were all recruited from the University of Connecticut, and each participant completed a health …