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- Title
Comparison of health status and health behaviors between female graduate and undergraduate college students.
- Authors
Bulmer SM; Irfan S; Barton B; Vancour M; Breny J
- Abstract
Objective: Graduate females represent a substantial and growing proportion of the college student population, yet health promotion research and programming has traditionally focused on undergraduates. This study compared health status and health behaviors of female graduate and undergraduate students at a public university in the northeastern U.S. Methods: Data were collected from students in randomly selected courses during the spring 2008 semester using the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) survey instrument. Data were analyzed using bivariate and regression procedures. Results: Graduate females were similar to their undergraduate counterparts on all measures of health status and behaviors with the exception of reporting significantly better health status, fruit and vegetable intake, routine gynecological exam participation, and more drinking and driving. After controlling for demographic variables there were no significant differences in any measures of health status or health behaviors between groups. Conclusions: University health promotion efforts typically focus on undergraduate student health behaviors. These data support the expansion of campus programming to include and target graduate females. Additional research is needed to gain insight into health needs, preferred programming, and barriers to participation for this population so that effective interventions and services can be developed and implemented.
- Publication
Health Educator, 2010, Vol 42, Issue 2, p67
- ISSN
2168-1821
- Publication type
Journal Article