Diabetes Knowledge in College Students

Abstract

ABSTRACT DIABETES KNOWLEDGE IN COLLEGE STUDENTS by Adam Yates Master of Arts in Psychology: Psychological Science Option California State University, Chico Fall 2010 Type 2 diabetes is an epidemic in the United States and many parts of the world, especially in the Latino community who are 2.5 times more likely than white, non-Hispanics to develop the disease. Research has shown that risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes are obesity, heredity, and sedentary lifestyle along with others. However, limited research has been conducted studying whether or not a person’s general knowledge of diabetes has an effect on the development of diabetes in their life. In this study 338 college students from CSU Chico completed a questionnaire assessing their knowledge of diabetes, its prevalence in their families, and BMI (Body Mass Index). It was found that more Latino college students had relatives with diabetes. Latino college students knew significantly less about diabetes than white, non-Hispanic students and Latino college students had significantly higher BMI’s than white, non-Hispanics students. Implications for the results indicate that Latino college students are at high risk viii for developing type 2 diabetes and that immediate action in needed to prevent this. Possible explanations of these results are discussed as well as suggestions for future research.