title: Spirituality and social support on health behaviors of african american undergraduates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the role of spirituality and perceived social support as protective factors for preventing health-compromising behaviors among African American college students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred eleven African American college students completed a spirituality, perceived social support, and health behavior questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low spiritual well-being significantly increased the odds of smoking and alcohol use. Low perceived parental support increased the odds of alcohol use whereas low perceived support from friends decreased the odds of alcohol use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spirituality and perceived social support may serve as protective factors for smoking and alcohol use among African American college students.
authors.affiliation: Morgan State University, Department of Psychology, Baltimore, MD 21215, USA. jturnerm@morgan.edu
authors.forename: Jocelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turner-Musa
authors.forename: La'Shaunna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lipscomb
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000523:psychology; D001741:Black or African American