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Objective: To examine coping strategies in relation to student experience of food insecurity during the transitionary period from high school to college., Participants: Freshmen undergraduates ( n  = 231) enrolled in one of two public universities during December of 2021, living in traditional student housing., Methods: Participants were emailed a link to a USDA 6-item food insecurity and coping strategies survey to investigate if students' degree of food insecurity correlates to coping strategies used. Questions were answered about experiences as a high school senior and college freshman. Data was analyzed with group comparison tests., Results: Food insecurity rates approximately doubled from students' high school experience to college. Students with lower food security during both their high school and college experience were significantly more likely to practice coping strategies., Conclusion: Improving education on utilization of available resources may help students obtain adequate nutrition, decreasing their need to rely on coping strategies.

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) hospitalizations and deaths have been in the forefront of healthcare and public health for the past two years. Despite widespread vaccinations campaigns, infection rates and serious illness and death remain high among immigrant and minority communities. There are many factors that increase the risk of hospitalization and death, including overall health of the individual as well as environmental and socioeconomic factors. Seven virtual listening sessions with 39 Asian American adults were conducted to assess acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines. Lack of access, confusion on eligibility, distrust of mass vaccination sites, and fear of long-term side effects were primary barriers to vaccine acceptance. Perspectives on the vaccines varied by ethnic groups, with Bangladeshi and Yemeni participants more likely to have negative views. Our findings show that while national statistics of the broad category "Asian" indicate higher COVID-19 vaccination rates than other minority groups, there are Asian ethnic groups that may not follow these trends. These groups are important to prioritize as they may be at increased risk for exposure and severe illness. However, these groups can be difficult to access for reasons such as language barriers and cultural norms. Information from these listening sessions was used to create resources and programs to clarify misconceptions and increase access to COVID-19 vaccines.

Asians are the fastest growing racial and ethnic group in the United States, and in Michigan, Asians represent 3.4% of the state's population. Asians have long been aggregated as a homogeneous group and stereotyped as a "model minority." Asians, however, are very diverse, and each subgroup has different values, histories, beliefs, and dialects. The diversity among populations and variations in chronic disease risks demonstrate the importance of disaggregating Asian American ethnicities with respect to health promotion, which must be culturally and linguistically tailored to make the biggest impact. This article describes our challenges and successes in health communication messaging with Asian Americans during the 4 years of our Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) Cooperative Agreement.

Asian Americans are at increased risk for nutrition-related chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes among Asian Americans in the United States is 16.7% compared to 11.3% among the general U.S. population. Genetic factors such as higher body fat and lower muscle mass result in a predisposition for the development of diabetes at a lower body mass index (BMI). Social determinants including food insecurity and physical environment may also impact risk and need further examination. This study investigated type 2 diabetes-related indicators and food insecurity and satisfaction with types and quality of foods provided through food box distributions with a focus on Asian American populations in Michigan. Data were collected via a survey implemented in partnership with community organizations that administer food box distributions. Nearly half of respondents were not aware that Asian Americans are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The mean BMI for overall study participants was 25.6 , and 61.8 % of participants had a BMI of ≥23 . Food insecurity was also negatively associated with BMI with study participants who were overweight reporting less food insecurity. Overall, participants reported being satisfied with both the types and quality of foods provided in the food boxes. Findings support the need for increased diabetes education and testing among Asian Americans and assessment of the types of culturally relevant foods offered by food distribution organizations.

As COVID-19 vaccines are readily available and most U.S. adults who are enthusiastic about the vaccine have received it, motivating those who have not been vaccinated to accept it has become a challenge. The purpose of this study was to understand the mechanisms behind COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Asian American ethnic groups, including how sociodemographic characteristics and racism predict COVID-19 and vaccine perceptions. The study also examined associations between social vulnerability and COVID-19 and vaccine perceptions. Social vulnerability is defined as the degree to which a community is able to prepare and respond to a natural or man-made disaster. This cross-sectional study used community-based survey data collected from April to September 2021. Study measures included demographics, perceptions of COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines, and racism-related experiences. The results showed that, compared to Non-Asians, East Asians reported that they had significantly more challenges accessing COVID-19 vaccines, and South Asians reported significantly higher safety concerns about COVID-19 vaccines. Our study also found that racism experience mediates the association between race/ethnicity and safety concerns about COVID-19 vaccines. Three Asian subgroups (East Asians, South Asians, and Southeast Asians) experienced more racism (compared to Non-Asians), and more experience of racism was related to greater safety concerns. Geographical Information System (GIS) maps revealed that residents of lower social vulnerability index (SVI) areas reported fewer unfairness perceptions and that higher SVI areas had lower vaccine accessibility and trust in public health agencies. Our study advances the understanding of racism, social vulnerability, and COVID-19 vaccine-related perceptions among Asian Americans. The findings have implications for policymakers and community leaders with respect to tailoring COVID-19 program efforts for socially vulnerable populations and Asian American groups that experience greater challenges regarding vaccine safety concerns and accessibility.

Introduction: We conducted a qualitative study to gather information on adolescent views of how a 20% tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) would affect adolescents' consumption of SSBs. The role of habit in consumption of SSBs was also explored., Methods: We held 3 focus groups with students from various racial/ethnic groups (N = 22) in grades 6 through 8 at a Michigan middle school. Data on demographic characteristics and beverage consumption were collected. Focus group discussions, guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, explored adolescent views of a 20% tax on SSBs and the tax's effect on adolescents' consumption of these beverages. Focus groups were recorded and recordings transcribed verbatim. Data were coded and analyzed using NVivo software., Results: Students understood the short- and long-term advantages and disadvantages of drinking SSBs. They understood that the opinions of those around them about SSBs might be affected by personal consumption. Students also understood the personal and economic effects of a 20% tax on SSBs, although the economics of a tax confused some. Students indicated that habit and environment could make reducing consumption of SSBs difficult, but they also gave suggestions, using habit and environment, to reduce consumption. Most students reported that they would decrease their consumption of SSBs if a 20% tax were implemented., Conclusion: Taxes on SSBs could be used, with other strategies, to reduce adolescents' high level of SSB consumption.