Date of Award

Fall 12-2021

Level of Access Assigned by Author

Open-Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Food Science and Human Nutrition

Advisor

Jade McNamara

Second Committee Member

Mona Therrien

Third Committee Member

Kate Yerxa

Abstract

It is well documented that disparities exist in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among sexual minority (SM) youth and adults compared to their heterosexual peers, and among college undergraduate students compared to all young adults. Yet, no studies have been conducted to date examining HRQOL, diet quality, or weight dissatisfaction at the intersection of SM and college undergraduate student status. In 2020, a cross-sectional convenience sample of college undergraduate students (N=690) from the University of Maine and Rutgers University completed an online survey consisting of items assessing demographic variables, HRQOL, diet quality, and weight dissatisfaction. Of this sample, 23.9% (n=165) of students identified as SM. Compared to their heterosexual peers, SM students experienced more days per month having poor mental health (14.5 ± 9.8 vs. 8.5 ± 8.7 days, p

Included in

Food Science Commons

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