Diabetes Risk Factor Knowledge Varies Among Multiracial College Students
Lorraine Laccetti Mongiello1, Nicholas Freudenberg2, Hollie Jones3
1School of Health Professions, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY, USA. lmongiel@NYIT.edu.
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
|July 15, 2015
Summary
Young adults have low awareness of type 2 diabetes risk factors. Many students underestimate their personal risk, highlighting a critical need for improved diabetes education to reduce future disease burden.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Disparities
Background:
- Type 2 diabetes disproportionately affects racial/ethnic minority groups compared to whites.
- Young adults' awareness of their elevated type 2 diabetes risk is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine risk knowledge and perception of type 2 diabetes among multiracial urban college students.
- To identify factors contributing to underestimation of personal diabetes risk.
Main Methods:
- Survey administered to 1579 multiracial urban college students.
- Assessed knowledge of diabetes risk factors and individual risk perception.
- Analyzed understanding of race as a risk factor and self-perceived risk among students with multiple risk factors.
Main Results:
- Students identified fewer than three out of ten type 2 diabetes risk factors.
- Racial/ethnic minority students showed low recognition of their race as a risk factor (Asian: 0.02%, Hispanic: 14.0%, Black: 22.8%).
- Among students with three or more risk factors, only 39% perceived their risk, and these individuals had lower knowledge scores.
Conclusions:
- Young adults possess limited knowledge regarding type 2 diabetes risk factors.
- Lack of information contributes to underestimation of personal diabetes risk among college students.
- There is an urgent need to enhance type 2 diabetes risk awareness in young adults to mitigate future disease prevalence.
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