ERIC Number: EJ767227
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 6
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0744-8481
EISSN: N/A
Alternative Medicine and Herbal Use among University Students
Johnson, Susan K.; Blanchard, Anita
Journal of American College Health, v55 n3 p163-168 Nov-Dec 2006
In this study, the authors investigated the predictors of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and herbal supplement use among university students. They investigated demographic factors, trait affectivity, symptom reports, and individuals' worries about modernity as potential contributors to use of CAM and herbals. The authors surveyed 506 undergraduates at a large southeastern state universityand administered the following questionnaires to participants in a group setting: a CAM survey, an herbal use survey, a negative affect (NA) and positive affect (PA) scale, Modern Health Worries scale, and the Subjective Health Complaint scale. Overall, 58% of the participants had used at least one type of CAM, and 79% of the students had used at least one herbal substance in the past 12 months. A hierarchical regression determined that increased age, female gender, flu-like symptoms, musculoskeletal symptoms, pseudoneurological symptoms, and modern health worries were significantly related to students' CAM use. Herbal use was related to increased age, musculoskeletal, pseudoneurological, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Descriptors: Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Measures (Individuals), Medicine, Predictor Variables, College Students, Student Characteristics, Correlation, Surveys, Affective Behavior, Age Differences, Gender Differences, Physical Health
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A