Physical Activity Clusters with Unhealthy Behaviors
Physical Activity & Alcohol Use
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Physical activity has been linked with reduced risk for many forms of substance use (e.g., tobacco and many illegal substances). A notable exception to this pattern involves alcohol use. Studies from adolescence through adulthood consistently link physical activity with greater risk for alcohol use. This association is particularly concerning during the transition into adulthood when increasing autonomy supports the formation of new health behavior habits. Both physical activity and alcohol use contribute to energy balance, a risk factor for many chronic conditions. We are interested in understanding how these behaviors are associated so we can develop physical activity prescriptions that offset any energy imbalance or disease risk created by alcohol use.
Our work on this problem has benefited from support from a pilot grant from the Methodology Center (P50 DA010075), the Prevention & Methodology training grant (T32 DA017629), the Population Research Center (P2C HD041025), and the ARRA: Tools for Articulating Within-Person Dynamic Models project (RC1 AG035645).
Publications - Physical Activity & Alcohol Use
2023 paper examining the feasibility & validity of long-term transdermal alcohol sensing
2022 paper reporting association between physical activity and alcohol use in rural cancer survivors
2021 editorial on changes in physical activity and substance use in teens during COVID-19 pandemic
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2020 review of research on physical activity, sedentary behavior, and alcohol and substance use in adolescents and emerging adults
2021 paper linking physical activity with increased alcohol use in golfers motivated by social status
2018 editorial on the need to understand the temporal dynamics of physical activity and alcohol use
2022 paper examining role of tobacco & cannabis use in moderating relations between physical activity & alcohol use (NHANES data)
2020 paper linking light physical activity with increased alcohol use in breast cancer survivors
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2016 paper linking alcohol use with poor sleep quality (but not duration)
2022 paper using sensors to measure changes in physical activity, sedentary behavior & transdermal alcohol concentrations in at-risk college students
2020 paper indicating that motives may moderate relations between physical activity and alcohol use in college students
2015 paper identifying a within-person association between physical activity and alcohol use across the adult lifespan
Physical Activity & Sun Safety
Physical activity has been called the "best buy in public health" because it has so many health benefits. For example, a recent study of over 1.4 million American adults revealed that physical activity reduces the risk for 13 cancers, including cancers of the breast, lung, digestive (colon, liver, rectum) and urinary (kidney, bladder) systems. Skin cancer is a significant exception because physical activity increases risk for sunburn and skin cancer. We have been exploring this specific risk as foundational work for developing a sun protection intervention.
Publications - Physical Activity & Sun Safety
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2021 paper reporting findings about golfers' interest in multilevel sun protection intervention components
2020 paper from the NCI's FLASHE dataset linking parents' physical activity and perception of physical activity-friendly environments with increased sunburn
2019 paper highlighting the prevalence of indoor tanning beds (carcinogens) in leading fitness facilties
2018 paper linking physical activity with indoor tanning