Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Patrick J. Dunn

Abstract

Obesity and substance use are two significant public health issues among Native American adolescents. Despite much evidence linking obesity and substance use during adolescence to several long-term health conditions and increased morbidity and mortality, evidence describing the relationship between current substance use and obesity among Native American adolescents is lacking. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate associations between current substance use – specifically alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco products – and obesity among Native American high school students, when adjusted for sex, soda consumption, and physical activity. Rosenstock’s health belief model served as the theoretical foundation for this investigation which used a cross-sectional study design to investigate these associations among Native American high school students using data from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Chi-Square Tests of Independence determined that there was a significant relationship between obesity and sex (χ²(1) = 6.206, p = .013) and current physical activity and sex (χ²(1) = 7.567, p = .006) while a two-step hierarchical binary logistic regression determined that the odds of being obese were 25.6% more likely for males than females (95% CI [.072-.902]). The results of this study can be used to provide a better understanding of the impact of specific adolescent behaviors on health among Native American adolescents, foster collaboration among healthcare providers and school district personnel who prioritize obesity prevention interventions among Native American adolescents, and develop new or enhance existing programs designed to discourage substance use among Native American adolescents.

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