Purpose To examine cross-sectional associations between vigorous physical activity, mental health, perceived stress, and socializing among 4-year college students. Design A national cross-sectional sample of 4-year colleges in the United States. Setting Ninety-four 4-year colleges in the United States. Subjects A total of 14,804 undergraduate students. Measures Self-report vigorous physical activity, perceived stress (measured using the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale), mental health (measured using the SF-36), and socializing (assessed using self-report number of friends and hours spent socializing). Analysis Logistic regression models accounting for clustering within schools were estimated to examine the association between vigorous physical activity, mental health, perceived stress, and socializing. Adjusted models included high school vigorous physical activity and sociodemographic characteristics. Results Students who met vigorous physical activity recommendations were less likely to report poor mental health (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: .79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: .69, .90) and perceived stress (adjusted OR: .75; 95% CI: .67, .83) than students who did not meet recommendations. In addition, socializing partially mediated the relationship between vigorous physical activity, mental health, and perceived stress; however, race and sex did not moderate the relationship. Conclusion Interventions aiming to improve mental well-being of college students should also consider promoting physical activity. At least some of the positive benefits of physical activity may arise from social interactions.

In 2011, the Institute of Medicine highlighted the significant lack of research on the health of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) groups.1 Research has indicated that LGB adults experience worse health outcomes than their heterosexual peers. 2---11 These disparities may be attributable to an array of factors, including stigmatization, stress, and limited access to and use of health services. 1,12,13 Furthermore, much of the work in this area to date has not focused on the college years. Because nearly half of US high school graduates up to age 24 years are enrolled in postsecondary education, 27 colleges and universities offer unique environments for addressing health disparities among young people, including those of LGB students. For many, the college years represent a time during which health disparities emerge 28,29 and adverse changes occur in weight, dietary quality, physical activity, and other behaviors. 30---38 For LGB people, this age is commonly when sexual identity is declared and assimilation into the LGB community occurs. 39 Important postsecondary institutions that could act as platforms for intervention delivery include not only traditional 4-year universities but also 2-year community and technical colleges, which serve millions of students, particularly those from lower income and minority backgrounds. 40,41The objective of this study was to characterize gender-specific weight-related disparities among college students by sexual orientation. We analyzed state survey data of nearly 34 000 students attending a wide array of 2-and 4-year colleges and universities in 2007 to 2011, including a subsample of more than 2000 LGB-identified and LGB-questioning participants. This research was intended to fill several gaps in the literature. For example, although a recent wave of studies 11, 19,22---25 were published after the release of the Institute of Medicine report, 1 most of these studies used data from 1999 to 2007 and thus were not able to characterize disparities during the past 5 to 8 years (when important societal shifts in weight-related factors 42,43 and social shifts regarding LGB issues occurred). Moreover, a majority of these studies focused not on the college years but rather on adulthood overall (e.g., 18---74 years) or on adolescence (e.g., 9th---12th grade). Finally, only a small number of studies have examined population-level LGB disparities in dietary intake or physical activity, 11,20,25,26 which are critical factors to address in weight-related intervention strategies.Among the few population-based studies that have addressed diet and activity, unidimensional indicators have been used to assess fruit and vegetable consumption or moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity, but these studies have generally lacked characterization of other important dietary factorsObjectives. We assessed disparities in weight and weight-related behaviors among college students by sexual orientation and gender.Methods. We performed cross-sectional analyses of pooled annual data (2007-2011; ...

BackgroundYoung adults experience many adverse health behavior changes as they transition from adolescence into adulthood. A better understanding of the relationships between health promoting and risky health behaviors may aid in the development of health promotion interventions for various types of young adult post-secondary students. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine associations between alcohol and tobacco use and physical activity among 2-year and 4-year college students.MethodsCross-sectional analyses were conducted using 2007 survey data, collected as part of an on-going post-secondary health surveillance system in Minnesota. Students were randomly selected to participant from 14 Minnesota colleges and universities (six 2-year community and/or technical colleges, eight 4-year post-secondary institutions). The 2007 surveillance data included 9,931 respondents.ResultsThe prevalence of demographic characteristics and health behaviors (e.g., physical activity, tobacco use) differed between young adults attending 2-year and 4-year post-secondary institutions; in general, those attending 2-year institutions are representative of more at-risk populations. Overall, higher levels of moderate, vigorous and strengthening physical activity were associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption and lower levels of smoking. In general, despite the disparities in the prevalence of these risk behaviors, the associations between the behaviors did not differ substantially between 2-year and 4-year post-secondary populations.ConclusionsThese findings illustrate links between leading risk behaviors. Interventions targeting multiple risk behaviors among young adults may warrant further consideration. Overall, future research is needed to support and inform young adult health promotion efforts that may be implemented in a wide array of post-secondary institutions.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore disparities in weight and weight-related behaviors by transgender identity. Methods: Cross-sectional regression models were fit using 2007-2011 College Student Health Survey data. Results: Compared to non-transgender, transgender subjects (N=53) were more likely to be either underweight [adjusted relative risk (95% CI): 4.78 (1.61-14.18)] or obese [2.45 (1.21-4.93)], and less likely to meet recommendations for strenuous physical activity [1.16 (1.01-1.34)], strengthening physical activity [1.32 (1.11-1.56)], and screen time [1.20 (1.02-1.41)]. Conclusions: More research is needed to understand the unique social contexts of transgender college students with regard to weight status, physical activity, and screen time in order to effectively inform intervention and policy development and implementation.