Public Health Applied Learning Presentations
Maintaining Mental and Physical Well-Being in Undergraduate Students During the First Phase of COVID-19 Social Isolation
COVID-19 has caused widespread unrest among college students in the United States. An anonymous survey was distributed using social media and yielded responses from May to July 2020 regarding undergraduate students’ (n=575) self-perceived stress levels and coping mechanisms. Preliminary data showed that 37 percent of the undergraduate students had high levels of anxiety during social distancing, and coping mechanisms were primarily cognitive activities over physical activity.
Evaluating Dietary Intake: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Fruit Consumption and the Effects of External Cues
Approximately 64 percent of Worcester State University students consume only one to two servings of fruit
and vegetables per day, instead of the recommended five servings. This study aims to evaluate the adequacy of
the dietary intake of a group of WSU students and implement an evidence-based strategy to improve student
consumption in the WSU dining halls.
Obesity Prevalence and Parents’ Perceptions of Eating Behaviors in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are two times more likely to be obese, resulting in a prevalence
of 31.8 percent. The purpose of this cross-sectional study is to assess obesity prevalence, food selectivity, and
sensory-over responsivity in ASD children ages three to eight years-old within the Worcester and Hampshire
counties. We will also evaluate the eating habits among these children that may be associated with obesity.
Health Sciences News
