A latent class analysis of cancer risk behaviors among U.S. college students.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to understand how cancer risk behaviors cluster in U.S. college students and vary by race and ethnicity.


METHODS
Using the fall 2010 wave of the National College Health Assessment (NCHA), we conducted a latent class analysis (LCA) to evaluate the clustering of cancer risk behaviors/conditions: tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, alcohol binge drinking, and overweight/obesity. The identified clusters were then examined separately by students' self-reported race and ethnicity.


RESULTS
Among 30,093 college students surveyed, results show a high prevalence of unhealthy diet as defined by insufficient fruit and vegetable intake (>95%) and physical inactivity (>60%). The LCA identified behavioral clustering for the entire sample and distinct clustering among Black and American Indian students.


CONCLUSIONS
Cancer risk behaviors/conditions appear to cluster among college students differentially by race. Understanding how risk behaviors cluster in young adults can lend insight to racial disparities in cancer through adulthood. Health behavior interventions focused on modifying multiple risk behaviors and tailored to students' racial group could potentially have a much larger effect on cancer prevention than those targeting any single behavior.
Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: joseph-kang@northwestern.edu.
Joseph
J
Kang
Department of Economics, Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Christina Czart
CC
Ciecierski
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Emily L
EL
Malin
Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Allison J
AJ
Carroll
Department of Mathematical Sciences, Yeshiva University, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Marian
M
Gidea
Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Lynette L
LL
Craft
Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Bonnie
B
Spring
Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: b-hitsman@northwestern.edu.
Brian
B
Hitsman
D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000208:ethnology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054525:Minority Health / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057185:Sedentary Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D064424:Tobacco Use / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult
American College Health Association–National College Health Assessment; Cancer risk behaviors; College students; Latent class analysis; Racial disparities