EFFECT OF SELECTED VARIABLES DURING COLLEGE EXPERIENCE ON CARDIOVASCULAR RISK.
Contributors: Catholic University of America.
Published: 1992
Number of pages: 187
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Cardiovascular disease is considered the number one health problem in the United States. Longitudinal research studies have identified cardiovascular risk factors for the general population. Even though many risk factors track to childhood, little research has been conducted with the college-age student in relation to cardiovascular disease, risk factors, and lifestyle behaviors.

The conceptual frameworks for the study included the theories of atherosclerosis, psychosocial development of adolescence, and role. The dependent variable for the study was the student's score obtained on the Revised Wholistic Health Assessment Tool (RWHAT). The independent variables were year in college, perceived peer group support, socioeconomic status, academic major, and gender. Five research hypotheses were tested related to the effect of the independent variables on cardiovascular risk.

A causal comparative, ex-post facto, cross-sectional design was used. The study was conducted in a small, church related college in the central portion of West Virginia. A stratified random sample of 92 students was recruited.

After agreeing to participate in the study, the subjects completed the RWHAT and a demographic data form. The RWHAT consisted of 77 objective questions concerning a student's daily health practices and patterns in regard to cardiovascular risk factors. Possible scores ranged from 77 to 303, with a low score indicative of less cardiovascular risk. An internal reliability coefficient alpha of 0.83 was obtained.

Demographic data were summarized using descriptive statistics. The research hypotheses were tested using multiple regression analysis utilizing a hierarchial model for the inclusion of the independent variables into the equation. The significance level for all statistics was set at an alpha level of 0.05. None of the statistical hypotheses were significant. Thus, the sample's cardiovascular risk was not found to be significantly related to the variables studied. The RWHAT has been demonstrated to be a reliable instrument to quantify cardiovascular risk for the college-age cohort. Individual cardiovascular risk factors of obesity, stress, and positive family medical history were found to be present with this sample.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-12, Section: B, page: 6217.

Thesis (D.N.SC.)--THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA, 1992.

School code: 0043.