Hatha Yoga Improves Psychophysiological Responses of College Students in Both Indoor and Outdoor Environments

College students experience increased stress levels that could predispose them to develop mental and physical health conditions throughout adulthood. Yoga is an ancient mind-body practice including breath techniques, body exercises, and meditation that may be a useful strategy for enhancing college student health. Likewise, exposure to nature has been shown to have beneficial impacts on human health. This study investigates physiological and psychological responses of college students to yoga practiced in outdoor versus indoor environments. Fifty-eight college females between the ages of 18-28 were randomly assigned to complete a 40-minute Hatha yoga session either indoors (empty classroom) or outdoors (green park) at a mid-sized public university. Heart rate, respiration rate, perfusion index, and positive and negative affect states were recorded pre/post yoga. Heart rate, respiration rate, and negative affect significantly improved after the yoga sessions in both indoor and outdoor environments. Baseline self-reported negative affect was significantly lower in the outdoor group compared to the indoor group. There were no significant interaction effects of yoga and environment. This study suggests that one 40-minute-session of Hatha yoga may be a useful method to alleviate acute signs of physiological stress and decrease negative affect for college females in both indoor and outdoor environments. Further research about potential synergistic effects of yoga and exposure to nature is warranted to better understand whether the environment in which yoga is practiced could enhance the benefits of this mind-body modality on health.

Perceived Stress and Diet Quality in College Females

Objectives To explore the relationship between perceived stress on the diet quality of college females, age 18–24. Methods Cross-sectional data from female students (n = 3113) were collected between 2012- 2020 from the College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey (CHANAS), an ongoing study at a public New England university. Perceived stress was measured via online questionnaire using Cohen's 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) during the 3rd or 4th week of the semester; scores were used to create quartiles (low to high stress). Self-reported three-day food records were collected and analyzed to assess diet quality (DietAnalysis+). Calcium, fiber, potassium, and saturated fat intake were used to create diet quality scores ranging from 4–20; scores ≥ 13 were characterized as a healthy diet. The differences in diet quality between level of perceived stress was examined using ANCOVA with anxiety medication, BMI, major, and living arrangement as covariates. Results Participants had a mean age of 18.8 ± 0.2 years; 59% were first-year students and 94% were white. Thirty-four % of students in the final sample were classified as having a healthy diet. Mean PSS was 16.8 ± 0.1. Diet scores were higher among students in the lowest vs. highest and moderate/high PSS quartiles (12.3 ± 0.1 vs. 11.8 ± 0.1 and 11.8 ± 0.1, respectively, P < .01). Conclusions Our data show lower diet quality scores among college women with the highest perceived stress. Research in this area supports the role of wellness and nutrition education for young adults as they navigate the college environment. Funding Sources New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Nutrition Practices of Anemic College Females

Context: The development of correct knowledge, appropriate practice and health-seeking behaviors, and acquiring a positive attitude towards anemia are essential for anemic' females to reach a healthy lifestyle and become free from serious complications secondary to anemia. Aim: This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and nutrition practices among anemic' college' females. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in Medical Clinics, Students' University Hospital on a purposive non-probability sample of (370) college females included in this study. Data collection tools were self-administered questionnaires covered: knowledge, attitudes, health-seeking behavior, and nutrition practices regarding anemia. Results: The current study revealed that most participants had incorrect knowledge regarding iron nutrition, incorrect knowledge about anemia as a disease, incorrect practice (94.1%, 65%, and 87.8%), respectively. The minority of them had a positive attitude regarding anemia (13.8%), while more than half have of them had a neutral attitude toward anemia (58.60%). Conclusion: The study concluded that participants' knowledge and nutrition practices were incorrect while their attitudes regarding anemia were neutral. The study recommended that the necessity of conducting a comprehensive survey of anemic females at the university stage for providing an educational program about anemia. Besides, there is a need for conducting the study on a larger probability sample of college females in different geographical settings.

College Females' Self-Perceptions of Their Overall Physical Self-Worth

The purpose of this study was to determine whether significant differences exist in the domain of overall physical self-worth and the subdomains of sport competence, physical condition, body attractiveness, and physical strength between intercollegiate athletes and regular exercisers, intercollegiate athletes and nonexercisers, and regular exercisers and nonexercisers. The Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP) was used to survey female college students attending one Midwestern University. It was concluded that college females who engaged in sport competition and exercise participation perceived their physical selves more positively than did female nonexercisers.

Evaluating the Use of Monetary Incentive in Text-Delivered Sexually Transmitted Infection Education

Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported increases in chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis from 2016 to 2017 despite numerous testing and education programs. In addition, young adults are at an increased risk of STIs.Aim: To describe the effectiveness of monetary incentives provided to college females for engaging with automated mobile messaging delivered education over the course of six weeks concerning sexually transmitted infections (STIs).Methods: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted at a large Southeastern, public university in the United States. One hundred and fifty-six female college students (18-24 years in age) participated in a mobile messaging and marketing automation platform delivered once a week for six weeks. Engagement with weekly education was measured by clicks on educational content.Results: Out of the six messages, χ2 analysis revealed that paid participants were more likely to engage with the STI education in weeks two, four, five, and six. In this study, simple linear regression ANOVA confirmed that compensation was the main extrinsic motivator for engagement rather than other factors, such as the delivery method.Conclusions: Monetary incentive can increase engagement with STI education in college females while mobile messaging also has the potential.

Women’s Pornography Consumption, Alcohol Use, and Sexual Victimization

While research in recent years has investigated the influence of pornography consumption on sexually aggressive behavior, research on the relationship between pornography and experienced victimization is sparse. The current study sought to explore female sexual victimization and its relationship with pornography consumption and alcohol use at two universities ( N = 483). Binary logistic regression analyses indicate that both pornography and alcohol consumption were unique predictors of self-reported victimization for college females and that the combined effect of pornography and alcohol dramatically increases the odds of victimization. Results are discussed in the context of pornography’s impact on the minimization of sexually aggressive acts in real life and campus rape culture.