Victor G. Aeby

A survey of energy drink consumption patterns among college students

BackgroundEnergy drink consumption has continued to gain in popularity since the 1997 debut of Red Bull, the current leader in the energy drink market. Although energy drinks are targeted to young adult consumers, there has been little research regarding energy drink consumption patterns among college students in the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine energy drink consumption patterns among college students, prevalence and frequency of energy drink use for six situations, namely for insufficient sleep, to increase energy (in general), while studying, driving long periods of time, drinking with alcohol while partying, and to treat a hangover, and prevalence of adverse side effects and energy drink use dose effects among college energy drink users.MethodsBased on the responses from a 32 member college student focus group and a field test, a 19 item survey was used to assess energy drink consumption patterns of 496 randomly surveyed college students attending a state university in the Central Atlantic region of the United States.ResultsFifty one percent of participants (n = 253) reported consuming greater than one energy drink each month in an average month for the current semester (defined as energy drink user). The majority of users consumed energy drinks for insufficient sleep (67%), to increase energy (65%), and to drink with alcohol while partying (54%). The majority of users consumed one energy drink to treat most situations although using three or more was a common practice to drink with alcohol while partying (49%). Weekly jolt and crash episodes were experienced by 29% of users, 22% reported ever having headaches, and 19% heart palpitations from consuming energy drinks. There was a significant dose effect only for jolt and crash episodes.ConclusionUsing energy drinks is a popular practice among college students for a variety of situations. Although for the majority of situations assessed, users consumed one energy drink with a reported frequency of 1 – 4 days per month, many users consumed three or more when combining with alcohol while partying. Further, side effects from consuming energy drinks are fairly common, and a significant dose effect was found with jolt and crash episodes. Future research should identify if college students recognize the amounts of caffeine that are present in the wide variety of caffeine-containing products that they are consuming, the amounts of caffeine that they are consuming in various situations, and the physical side effects associated with caffeine consumption.

Dieting practices, weight perceptions, and body composition: A comparison of normal weight, overweight, and obese college females

BackgroundOf concern to health educators is the suggestion that college females practice diet and health behaviors that contradict the 2005 dietary guidelines for Americans. In this regard, there remain gaps in the research related to dieting among college females. Namely, do normal weight individuals diet differently from those who are overweight or obese, and are there dieting practices used by females that can be adapted to promote a healthy body weight? Since it is well recognized that females diet, this study seeks to determine the dieting practices used among normal, overweight, and obese college females (do they diet differently) and identify dieting practices that could be pursued to help these females more appropriately achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.MethodsA total of 185 female college students aged 18 to 24 years participated in this study. Height, weight, waist and hip circumferences, and skinfold thickness were measured to assess body composition. Surveys included a dieting practices questionnaire and a 30-day physical activity recall. Participants were classified according to body mass index (BMI) as normal weight (n = 113), overweight (n = 35), or obese (n = 21). Data were analyzed using JMP IN® software. Descriptive statistics included means, standard deviations, and frequency. Subsequent data analysis involved Pearson X2 and one-way analysis of variance with comparison for all pairs that were significantly different using Tukey-Kramer honestly significant difference test.ResultsOutcomes of this study indicate the majority of participants (83%) used dieting for weight loss and believed they would be 2% to 6% greater than current weight if they did not diet; normal weight, overweight, and obese groups perceived attractive weight to be 94%, 85%, and 74%, respectively, of current weight; 80% of participants reported using physical activity to control weight, although only 19% exercised at a level that would promote weight loss; only two of 15 dieting behaviors assessed differed in terms of prevalence of use among groups, which were consciously eating less than you want (44% normal weight, 57% overweight, 81% obese) and using artificial sweeteners (31% normal weight and overweight, 5% obese); and the most prevalent explicit maladaptive weight loss behavior was smoking cigarettes (used by 9% of participants) and most unhealthy was skipping breakfast (32%).ConclusionCollectively, results indicate female college students, regardless of weight status, would benefit from open discussions with health educators regarding healthy and effective dieting practices to achieve/maintain a healthy body weight. The results are subject to replication among high school, middle-aged, and older females.

A comparison of student outcomes with and without teacher facilitated computer-based instruction

The SuccessMaker computer-based instructional package can be used to improve the academic outcomes of disruptive students when intervention is teacher facilitated. Over a 2-year period, 215 participants identified as disruptive student were involved in a naturalistic quasi-experimental design in which independent sample t-tests were employed to determined differences between comparisons (Group I) and interventions (Group II) on psychosocial and academic measures. A significant difference (P> 0.05) was found between Group I and Group II on locus of control and grade point average at the end of the first grading period subsequent to the intervention. The difference in grade point averages was suspected to be attributed to the average amount of time spent on two curriculum areas, math and science, within the 14 academic areas that comprise the SuccessMaker computerized program. Evidence from this study provides hope that teacher facilitation with computer-based instruction (CBI) may be the key to improving locus of control and grade point averages of disruptive students.

Rewriting Family Stories During Successful Transition From an Alternative School: One Student's Story of “Violent Female” to “Phenomenal Woman”

The case described in this article reflects a young womans story of her personal struggle to stay in school and to participate in her family. Experiences of the student, reflecting serious personal and family problems, were limiting her ability to attend school and creating educational barriers. As a result, she was assigned to the alternative school where she re-scripted her story to make sense and give meaning to the assignment and her own identity and worth. Through interviews, family meetings, personal writings, poetry, and literature, she created a portfolio of school work, letters, and poems that told her story, past and present. With the help of the school social worker using the process of questioning in the narrative approach, the student was able to rewrite her story of violence and abuse and transform it into school and personal success. A year later, she found herself reflected in the mirror of Maya Angelous poem “Phenomenal Woman.”

An Integrated Model of Emotions, Attitudes, and Intentions Associated with Undergoing Autism Genetic Testing

Introduction: With increasing availability of genetic testing for various disorders, individuals and family members at risk are facing more decisions regarding current and emerging tests. However, no study has examined psychological determinants associated with decisions to undergo genetic testing for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The purpose of this study is to propose an integrated theoretical model for undergoing ASD genetic testing and examine psychological factors, attitudes and intention regarding autism genetic testing. Method: A theoretical framework specifically designed to explain emotional factors that may influence parents’ decisions to undergo autism genetic testing is proposed, which contains three key constructs, i.e., affect-type variables, attitudes and intention. Using a sample of parents with autistic children in Taiwan (N=444), we conduct a two-step Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis to assess whether the data supported the hypothesized model. Results: The greater genetic test-related anxiety parents have, the more likely they might want to take their children to undergo the test. Similarly, the more fear or guilt parents have, the less likely they would warrant the test. Attitude does not predict parents’ intention in this study. Conclusions: Our proposed model and findings from this study provided support to the need of pre-test counseling and genetic education among ASD – affected populations in Taiwan. It is imperative to build empathetic, caring, trusting professional relationships and consider emotional factors when performing genetic counseling among parents of children with ASD.

From Detention Camps of Thailand to Freedom in the Foothills of North Carolina: One Family’s Remarkable Story

In the 1980s, a number of Hmong families relocated from Thailand detention camps to the United States. This research explores one such family. The family became the key informant in snowball sampling for a larger, ongoing study. Following a series of interviews, qualitative narrative life stories were created and themes of family preservation, survival, and perpetuation of Hmong culture began to emerge. Importantly, parental concerns about how to keep the family intact despite different levels of acculturation surfaced during the process. The purpose of this research was to examine one family’s attempts to preserve the oral history of the Hmong culture and to promote understanding across generations and community members from different cultural backgrounds. The interviews gave the family a forum to expose and discuss their secret journey along with their sacrifices and triumphs. Significantly, the sense of urgency to blend the Hmong and American cultures was profound.

A Systematic Review of the Literature: Exploring Correlates of Sexual Assault and Homelessness

Sexual assault is a traumatic event and the aftermath can be devastating. Victims who of sexual assault may experience comorbid issues while trying to recover from this trauma, such as homelessness. Whether the victim is trying to escape an abusive home situation or is being sexually molested while serving in the armed forces, homelessness has been observed as a trend among those impacted. The purpose of this systematic literature review (SLR) was to provide an extensive summary of the impact that sexual assault has on an individual’s life and to also provide information regarding the number of articles pertaining to sexual assault and homelessness. A systematic approach was used to analyze the available literature; using keywords to help identify important articles that were pertinent to the topic. The outcome of the literature review revealed a total of 25 relevant articles relating to the key words. This literature indicated that further education is imperative for caregivers or social workers to better understand the symptoms associated with adolescent homelessness and runaway-ism, as most homeless youth will also meet the criteria for psychiatric disorders.

A Review of Mind Gym: Revisiting a Sports Management Classic

1PhD Candidate in Rehabilitation Studies, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA 2Assistant Professor, Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA 3Associate Professor, School of Social Work, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA 4Associate Professor, Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA 5Assistant Professor, Silver School of Social Work, New York University, 1 Washington Square N, New York, NY, USA *Corresponding author Victor G. Aeby, MS, BS, Ed.D Associate Professor Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University Greenville, NC, USA Tel. (252) 328-4650 E-mail: aebyv@ecu.edu

Evidence-Based Social Work Interventions to Improve Client Attendance in Rural Mental Health: An Overview of Literature

A patient’s unwillingness to adhere to scheduled appointment affects the patient, the clinic, and the community. Several barriers have been identified that increases the no-show rates among patients. While the rates of no-show have remained about the same throughout history, evidence-based interventions are needed to provide consumer with a continued and steady treatment regimen. Evidence-based interventions are particularly important to increasing attendance in rural mental health. Social workers are an important link between the patient getting adequate mental health services and attending services. Social workers development of evidence-based interventions will assist in breaking down the challenges associated with barrier to no-shows. The results of this study highlight the importance of evidence-based social worker interventions on improving client attendance in rural mental health.

Comparing the Health Locus of Control among Caucasian and Hmong College Students

The fourth largest population of Hmong in the United States resides in western North Carolina. Before their exposure to western medicine, the Hmong relied solely on shamans (ua neeb saib), or spiritual healers, and herbal medicine for health needs. This study compares the health locus of control among Hmong and Caucasian students using the Multi-Dimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. College students participated anonymously by email and social media utilizing a web-based survey. Based on rapid acculturation of Hmong families and social pressure to adopt a “college lifestyle,” we predict differences between subscales of Hmong and Caucasian College students.