Society for Prevention Research meeting features new research on issues affec...( Leading researchers in prevention sc...),Health

Leading researchers in prevention science will meet, May 27-30, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Embarcadero Center to present new findings on a wide variety of health challenges facing youth and families. More than 700 researchers will present the latest findings during the meeting.

Study Author: Keng-Yen Huang, Ph.D., New York University

Childhood obesity is a major public health concern in the United States. Several studies have documented that childhood overweight is associated with behavioral problems. However, few studies have looked at behavior problems among children who are overweight. This study addresses three questions: (1) What is the prevalence of being overweight across the elementary school period in four racial/ethnic groups in the US (White, Black, Latino and Asian) and among children of immigrant families? (2) Is childhood overweight associated with behavior problems? (3) Does this association vary by racial/ethnic group or immigrant status?

This study used a large, nationally representative sample of 17,565 families. The study found that for White and Asian children, and for children from immigrant families, childhood overweight was associated with higher behavioral problems. This association was not found among Black or Latino children.

Study Author: Keryn Pasch M.P.H., Ph.D., University of Minnesota.

The purpose of this study was to determine if parenting practices or exposure to outdoor alcohol advertising was a better predictor of early adolescent alcohol-use factors (including behavior, intentions, norms and attitudes). This study, conducted from 2001-2005, included 2592 Chicago students who completed self-report surveys which included items on alcohol use and parenting pract
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