An Examination of the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Physical Activity, and Mental Health of College Students


Book Description

Physical activity has been associated with several health benefits. In addition to the impact on physical health status and chronic disease, exercise has been shown to decrease risks of mental illness such as anxiety and depression. Despite this knowledge, the prevalence of mental illness in the population remains high, with college students being affected at a disproportionate rate. One factor related to mental illness that may contribute is adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences, physical activity, and mental health in college students. Participants were asked to participate in a survey examining self-reported PA, mental health outcomes, and ACE exposure. Data was analyzed by SPSS software, where t-tests and correlations were set at p




Examining the Relationship Among Physical Activity, Stress, Depression, and Anxiety in College Students


Book Description

Mental health challenges have been steadily increasing around college campuses, with consistent findings pointing to ethnic minorities and low socioeconomic groups adversely affected and needing more support than their counterparts. On the other end, physical activity (PA) has consistently been associated with positive mental health outcomes. Therefore, further understanding the relationship among race, socioeconomic status, and PA, as well as college students personal experiences on campuses, is of great importance to improve college student well-being. This two-study dissertation sought to address these relationships. Study 1 evaluated differences in mental health across race, parental education (proxy for SES) and PA. Student obstacles to using on-campus mental health and PA resources were examined in a mixed methods design. Most of the data was collected prior to the establishment of COVID-19 restrictions at a large Midwest university. Mental health levels were anticipated to vary between the variables of race, parental education, and PA, which was partially supported. Results showed that low SES participants had significantly higher levels of depression, while PA was associated with lower levels of anxiety and stress.Study 2 sought to replicate findings of study 1 and test the relationships within the context of a diathesis-stress model that includes PA using an expanded sample of students drawn from a large Midwest university and a smaller East Coast university. In addition to replicating study 1 findings, study 2 yielded several themes that revealed common obstacles of college students and how they overcome those obstacles. The hypothesized relationship among race, SES, PA and mental health was partially supported. Specifically, participants whose parents or guardians had lower levels of education reported higher levels of anxiety, while there were significant differences in mental health across different levels of PA. The other goal of this study was to map the above relationship onto a PA moderating model, including variables of race, parental education, depression, stress, and anxiety, based on an adapted diathesis-stress model. This relationship was not supported by the data. Free response answers revealed interesting themes related to the college student experience and campus resources. Focus groups added to this through discussions on topics like the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health, and advice for future students. Data from study 2 was collected while COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were in place. Overall results expanded knowledge on the experience of COVID-19 on college campus and the interconnection between race, parental education, PA, and mental health. Further social relations were important for student wellbeing. Students' also shared obstacles they faced with the use of on campus mental health and other resources.




Violence Across the Lifespan (First Edition)


Book Description

Violence Across the Lifespan presents students with scholarly articles and chapters that take a multidisciplinary approach to understanding family violence across the lifespan. The anthology is organized into six units. The opening unit introduces key theories from the fields of criminology, psychology, and sociology used in understanding violence. Later units progress through the lifespan, beginning with examining interpersonal violence and children, moving to interpersonal violence and adolescents, adults, and finally, older adults. The readings address all forms of interpersonal family violence including emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. They also covers abuse that occurs in educational settings such as bullying and sexual assault. Finally, issues of financial exploitation and self-neglect occurring in older adulthood are covered. The collection concludes with strategies for collaborating within multidisciplinary teams to increase effectiveness and for developing effective self-care strategies to prevent secondary traumatic stress. Violence Across the Lifespan is an ideal resource for courses in criminology, psychology, counseling, and social work that prepare students to support or interact with individuals who have endured acts of violence.




Towards a Psychophysiological Approach in Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sports


Book Description

In recent years, there has been an increase in interest in mental health disorders as a result of mediatic coverage of Olympic athletes’ mental health struggles, and also due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. These phenomena helped to further exacerbate a problem already extensively present in sport and society. Therefore, applying a psychophysiological approach to physical activity, exercise, and sports research has become very popular. Indeed, mental fatigue and mental disorders are not only psychological in origin, but also require an explanation from a psychophysiological perspective due to the effective interconnection between the psychological and physiological dimensions. Psychological variables can also influence performance and the psychophysiological system has a strong effect on the control of physical capacities. Moreover, pacing behaviour, decision-making, self-regulation, and effort perception can also explain the role of the brain in physical activity and exercise management. Thus, the aim of this Research Topic is to share the impact of a psychophysiological approach in physical activity, exercise and sports.




Educating the Student Body


Book Description

Physical inactivity is a key determinant of health across the lifespan. A lack of activity increases the risk of heart disease, colon and breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, osteoporosis, anxiety and depression and others diseases. Emerging literature has suggested that in terms of mortality, the global population health burden of physical inactivity approaches that of cigarette smoking. The prevalence and substantial disease risk associated with physical inactivity has been described as a pandemic. The prevalence, health impact, and evidence of changeability all have resulted in calls for action to increase physical activity across the lifespan. In response to the need to find ways to make physical activity a health priority for youth, the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Physical Activity and Physical Education in the School Environment was formed. Its purpose was to review the current status of physical activity and physical education in the school environment, including before, during, and after school, and examine the influences of physical activity and physical education on the short and long term physical, cognitive and brain, and psychosocial health and development of children and adolescents. Educating the Student Body makes recommendations about approaches for strengthening and improving programs and policies for physical activity and physical education in the school environment. This report lays out a set of guiding principles to guide its work on these tasks. These included: recognizing the benefits of instilling life-long physical activity habits in children; the value of using systems thinking in improving physical activity and physical education in the school environment; the recognition of current disparities in opportunities and the need to achieve equity in physical activity and physical education; the importance of considering all types of school environments; the need to take into consideration the diversity of students as recommendations are developed. This report will be of interest to local and national policymakers, school officials, teachers, and the education community, researchers, professional organizations, and parents interested in physical activity, physical education, and health for school-aged children and adolescents.




Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Toxic Stress Among College Students


Book Description

Mental health has become a national health crisis, with suicide as the second leading cause of death for 10 to 34-year-olds. One in five college students experiences anxiety or depression, to the extent that it is hard for them to function. Compounding the effects of college-related stress, student exposure to childhood adversity has been associated with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. ACEs refer to childhood abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. The landmark ACEs study found significant links between childhood trauma and risk for chronic disease, social, and emotional problems in adulthood. Individuals with three or more ACEs have an increased risk of negative health outcomes. ACEs are also a global public health issue, with over 275 million children worldwide experiencing some form of violence in the home. Nationally, over half of the population has experienced at least one ACE, and 25% report two or more.ACEs, toxic stress, and poor health outcomes are particularly problematic for college students, considering stress-related (mal)adaptive coping strategies that negatively impact students before and during college. The purpose of this study was to understand and describe the characteristics and prevalence of college students most at risk for high ACEs and determine the association between college student ACEs and academic success. A quantitative correlational survey design was used to determine the relationship between ACEs scores and first-generation status among college students. ACEs scores and demographic data were used to determine prediction values for GPA. Archival data consisted of online student survey responses (N = 1,197) collected from an exploratory study investigating the relationship between ACEs and methods for which college students navigate stress. The instrument included four separate adapted surveys, including participant demographics, and was administered over three terms.Findings demonstrated 59% of students reported at least one ACE, 38% experienced two or more ACEs, and high ACEs totaled 22%. Mann-Whitney U results indicated higher ACEs among first-generation students as compared to multigenerational students. Multiple regression significantly predicted lower GPA for students identifying as first-generation, male, African American/Black, or multiple race/ethnicity, and students with high ACEs. Evidence-based practice implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.




Investing in the Health and Well-Being of Young Adults


Book Description

Young adulthood - ages approximately 18 to 26 - is a critical period of development with long-lasting implications for a person's economic security, health and well-being. Young adults are key contributors to the nation's workforce and military services and, since many are parents, to the healthy development of the next generation. Although 'millennials' have received attention in the popular media in recent years, young adults are too rarely treated as a distinct population in policy, programs, and research. Instead, they are often grouped with adolescents or, more often, with all adults. Currently, the nation is experiencing economic restructuring, widening inequality, a rapidly rising ratio of older adults, and an increasingly diverse population. The possible transformative effects of these features make focus on young adults especially important. A systematic approach to understanding and responding to the unique circumstances and needs of today's young adults can help to pave the way to a more productive and equitable tomorrow for young adults in particular and our society at large. Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults describes what is meant by the term young adulthood, who young adults are, what they are doing, and what they need. This study recommends actions that nonprofit programs and federal, state, and local agencies can take to help young adults make a successful transition from adolescence to adulthood. According to this report, young adults should be considered as a separate group from adolescents and older adults. Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults makes the case that increased efforts to improve high school and college graduate rates and education and workforce development systems that are more closely tied to high-demand economic sectors will help this age group achieve greater opportunity and success. The report also discusses the health status of young adults and makes recommendations to develop evidence-based practices for young adults for medical and behavioral health, including preventions. What happens during the young adult years has profound implications for the rest of the life course, and the stability and progress of society at large depends on how any cohort of young adults fares as a whole. Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults will provide a roadmap to improving outcomes for this age group as they transition from adolescence to adulthood.




Tobacco Control in China


Book Description

This book comprehensively covers the science and policy issues relevant to one of the major public health issues in China. It pulls together the prevalence pattern of tobacco use in different population and burden of the myriad of tobacco-related diseases. The book pays more attention to review the successes and failures of tobacco control policies in China, including the protect peoples from second-hand smoke, comprehensive banning tobacco advertisement promotion and sponsor, regulation of the contents of tobacco products and low tar cigarettes, warn about the dangers of tobacco, support for smokers to quit, and increasing tobacco taxation and price, as well as monitor and assessment on tobacco use and implement of prevention policy under the international background of tobacco control. The book analyse and explain the influence factors, especially interference from tobacco industry with public management theory frame for promoting tobacco control policies and looks at lessons learnt to help set health policy for reducing the burden of tobacco-related diseases. It is a helpful reference for experts in public health and epidemiologists in tobacco control, advocators and policy maker.







Adverse Childhood Experiences in Relation to Psychological Capital, Mental Health, and Well-being in College Students


Book Description

Historically, human beings and human behavior and health have been viewed through the lens of disease and dysfunction, rather than a lens of wellness and growth (Seligman, 2000). Mental health care and health care in general, still widely utilize the medical model, which focuses on illness (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). When examining mental health care and overall health, it is valuable to utilize a holistic approach that focuses on positive psychology and growth. This exploratory, cross-sectional study utilizes a positive psychology approach and examines adverse childhood experiences (Felitti et al., 1998), psychological capital (Luthans, Youssef, & Avolio, 2007), and students’ subjective well-being and mental health (Keyes, 2002). Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are measured utilizing the adverse childhood experiences (ACE) questionnaire which is comprised of 10 yes or no questions and assesses traumatic events in childhood. The PsyCap consists of four measures which include Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, and Optimism (HERO), which are assessed through the PsyCap Questionnaire (PCQ) (Luthans, Luthans, & Jensen, 2012). Mental health and subjective well-being are measured utilizing Keyes Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF) which includes a mental health score, well-being clusters, that include emotional, social, and psychological, and mental health categories that range from languishing to flourishing (Keyes, 2009).