Use of Mind-Body Therapies Among Young Adults Aged 18-24 Years: Findings From the 2012 National Health Interview Survey.


Author: Upchurch DM1, Gill M2, Jiang L3, Prelip M4, Slusser W5

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California. Electronic address: upchurch@ucla.edu.

<sup>2</sup>Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California. Electronic address: moniquegill@ucla.edu.

<sup>3</sup>Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California. Electronic address: linghuijiang@ucla.edu.

<sup>4</sup>Department of Community Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, California. Electronic address: mprelip@ucla.edu.

<sup>5</sup>UCLA Chancellor's Office - Healthy Campus Initiative, Los Angeles, California. Electronic address: wslusser@mednet.ucla.edu.
Conference/Journal: J Adolesc Health.
Date published: 2018 Jun 30
Other:
  Pages: S1054-139X(18)30140-X   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.03.014. [Epub ahead of print]   ,  Word Count: 271  
    PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence, patterns, and satisfaction of use of mind-body therapies (MBTs) in a nationally representative sample of young adults (ages 18-24 years).



METHODS: Young adults interviewed in the 2012 National Health Interview Survey were analyzed (n = 3,286). Individual types (e.g., mindfulness) and a combined measure of use of any MBT were assessed. Reasons for and satisfaction with use was also investigated. Design-based F tests and logistic regression were used; all analyses were weighted and stratified by gender.



RESULTS: Overall, 14.6% of young adults used MBT in the past year (9.6% of men and 19.1% of women, p < .001). Among men, higher levels of education, greater numbers of health conditions, and healthy behaviors were associated with greater odds of MBT use. Among women, Latina and black women had lower odds of use (vs. white). Higher education, greater mental distress, and greater numbers of health conditions and healthy behaviors were associated with greater odds of use. While both men and women reported stress reduction and general wellness as top reasons for use, men also reported the use to improve athletic performance.



CONCLUSIONS: Young adulthood is a critical period in the life course when individuals are establishing lifestyle and health behaviors that can be enduring. Because stress is a persistent problem, and many MBTs can be helpful with management of stress and anxiety, young adult may be underutilizing these modalities. Public health and educational strategies for greater engagement in MBT among young adults are warranted.



Copyright © 2018 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.



KEYWORDS: Complementary and alternative medicine; Mind–body therapies; Stress reduction; Young adults



PMID: 29970333  DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.03.014