The authors identify specific health-related behaviors of African American college students and compare them with the students' perceptions of corresponding health issues. Among students surveyed, the rate of cigarette smoking (4%) was very low compared with smoking rates found in a national survey (14%); but alcohol consumption was relatively high (63%), although lower than the national average of 91%. More men than women smoked, but more women than men reported they drank alcoholic beverages. Most students (90.2%) said they did not usually eat breakfast, 73.6% reported that their diets were not nutritionally balanced, and the majority (55.4%) were not involved in daily physical activity. More than half (63%) of the students reported satisfactorily handling stress, and 74.1% indicated that they were sexually active. Respondents perceived the most important health issues facing college students as HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), birth control, date rape, stress management, suicide, and alcohol and other drugs.
The major objective of this study was to examine factors related to intentions to use drugs in the future by urban junior high school students. One hundred forty-eight subjects enrolled in Health Education classes were administered four questionnaires during two consecutive classroom sessions: 1) the Stanford University Drug Evaluation Questionnaire; 2) the Drug Attitude Scale of the Pennsylvania State University Drug Education Evaluation Scale; 3) the Self-Observation Scales; and 4) the School Atmosphere Questionnaire. The results indicated that: adolescents who currently report using drugs had a significantly higher mean anticipatory use score than those who reported that they did not use drugs; subjects who had friends who used drugs had a higher mean anticipatory drug use score than subjects who did not have friends who used drugs; adolescents with a pro-drug attitude had more ambiguous feelings toward future drug use when compared to adolescents who were anti-drug; subjects who were low in self-security and teacher affiliation anticipated using drugs more than subjects high in self-security and teacher affiliation. Current drug use, friend's drug use, attitude toward drugs and self-concept all play an important role in the adolescent's intentions to use drugs in the future.
This article discusses development of a collaborative approach centered on supporting peer education. Parent and communitybased organizations can support development of efforts designed and implemented by peer educators. A model of infrastructure development and support for school-based, peer-focused efforts is discussed. The article provides background data regarding the organizational supports for the school-based HIVprevention activities and community setting. Findingsfrom evaluation data and the local Youth Risk Behavior Survey are included. The article offers recommendations regarding support for "mini-networks" within local communities to support peerfocused prevention efforts.
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