American Journal of Health Studies

Blackout Rage Gallon (BORG): A Call For Action and Research on the Trendy Drink

2026-04-27T18:58:48+00:00

“Blackout Rage Gallon” (known as BORG) is a trendy social drink among the nation’s college students. BORG is a drink that consists of water, liquor, flavorings, electrolytes, vitamin supplements, and / or caffeine that is mixed inside of a plastic gallon container and given a humorous name (usually a pun on the word BORG), which is written on the container. Although BORG is growing in popularity, including on social media, there is a relative lack of published research on the topic. Given the popularity of BORG, and how it is presented online as a harm reduction strategy, this paper serves as a call to campus health professionals to include BORG in health education materials, and also as a call for researchers to further explore BORG and its impact on students’ wellbeing.

Determinants of Female College Students’ Likelihood of Accepting Self-sampling for Cervical Cancer Prevention

2026-03-05T13:15:42+00:00

Cervical cancer screening (CCS) including Human Papillomavirus self-sampling test (HPVSST) offers opportunities for the early detection of malignancy or lesions before onset of symptoms when treatment of cancer is most effective. Self-sampling can increase CCS in college students, however, female students’ attitudes toward HPVSST are understudied. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), we examined associations between psychosocial factors (attitude, subjective norm, perceived control) and college students’ likelihood of accepting self-sampling. Participants in survey group 1 (n=158) were not shown pictures of HPVSST materials before completing the survey and another group of participants in survey group 2 (n=159) completed the survey were shown an image of the materials. Independent variables included attitudes, subjective norms, perceived control and knowledge. Dependent variable was intention
for self-sampling. Multiple linear regression models and independent samples t-tests were used to analyze data. Women’s attitudes and perceived control were significantly associated with intention for self-sampling (p < 0.001) accounting for 51.5% of the variance in survey group 1 (Adjusted R² =.515) and 48.7% of the variance in survey group 2 (Adjusted R² =.487). Women who completed the survey without seeing HPVSST materials had significantly higher intention for accepting self-sampling than those who saw the pictures (M=8.02). Positive attitude, subjective norm, and knowledge were also significantly higher in the group who completed the survey without seeing the material (p < 0.001). Attitude and perceived control predict the likelihood of college women’s acceptance of HPV self-sampling, and future interventions can target those psychosocial factors.

Exploring the Health Beliefs of Older African Americans in a Faith-Based Health Education Program

2026-02-19T16:02:41+00:00

Medical mistrust among African Americans is rooted in a history of abuse by unethical researcher and personal and community experiences of discrimination in healthcare. This study explored the relationship between spirituality and health, and health care attitudes of older African Americans in a faith-based health education program in the northeastern United States. The Health Beliefs survey includes combined items from the Spiritual Locus of Control Scale and the Group-Based Medical Mistrust Scale. We collected data over four years of a faith-based dementia caregiver support program from new participants (N=56) in an annual 12-week Healthy Living program. Participants completed the survey during their first session in their first year of the program. This exploratory study analyzed survey responses using univariate statistics. Participants endorsed the importance of their relationship with God in staying healthy and reliance on God to remain in good health and showed more trust than distrust in the healthcare system. Results indicate a cultural shift in this community of older African Americans resulting from repeated exposure to messaging on self-advocacy in healthcare settings, importance of preventive screenings, and decreasing health risks through positive health practices. Health education programs must be designed to provide repeated health messaging stressing the importance of personal responsibility for adopting positive health practices, self-advocacy in healthcare settings, and active participation in the patient-provider partnership.

Physical Attractiveness, Occupational Status, and Gender

2026-02-03T10:20:28+00:00

Sexual behavior and relationship preferences among emerging adults are shaped by sociocultural cues such as physical attractiveness and occupational status, which interact with gender norms to influence decision-making. This study examined how perceived partner attractiveness and occupational status affect college students’ willingness to engage in sexual behaviors and their relationship preferences, with attention to gender differences. A cross-sectional sample of 285 undergraduate students viewed standardized photographs depicting individuals varying in attractiveness (high vs low) and occupational status (surgeon vs dishwasher). Participants rated their willingness to engage in five sexual behaviors and indicated preferred relationship types. Composite scores were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, and relationship preferences were examined using chi-square analyses. Results indicated that both attractiveness and occupational status significantly influenced sexual willingness and relationship preferences. Participants reported greater willingness to engage in sexual behaviors with attractive, high-status individuals, with moderate to large effect sizes (η² = .18-.36, p < .001). Notable sex differences emerged, with women demonstrating greater selectivity and reduced willingness toward unattractive or low-status partners, while men reported relatively higher willingness across all conditions (p < .05). Women were also more likely to prefer long-term relationships with high-status partners, whereas men showed a stronger preference for short-term relationships (p < .01). These findings highlight the role of perceived partner characteristics and gender norms in shaping sexual decision-making among emerging adults, suggesting that sexual health education should address social perceptions and relational dynamics alongside risk prevention.