The Health Status of African American College Students: A Literature Review

African American college students represent 1.3 million of the 14 million students currently enrolled in postsecondary institutions in the United States, but research specifically investigating or addressing the health status of these young people is rare. The author reviews the literature that has examined components of the social, mental, and physical health of African American college students. This literature review indicates a need for more information and for further research that specifically addresses health behaviors and practices of African American and other minority students. Health educators must recognize the importance of knowing about and understanding the mechanisms that support unhealthy as well as healthy behaviors in different cultural and ethnic groups.