# Latent Class Analysis of Cancer Risk Behaviors Among College Students on Guam: A Pacific Islands Cohort of College Students Study (PICCS)

## TL;DR

This study identifies clusters of cancer risk behaviors among college students in Guam, revealing patterns that could inform targeted health interventions.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is the use of latent class analysis to identify distinct behavioral clusters of cancer risk factors specific to Guam’s college students.

## Key findings

- Three distinct classes of cancer risk behaviors were identified among 577 college students in Guam.
- All classes showed high prevalence of low fruit/vegetable intake, with differences in tobacco use, physical inactivity, and mental health risks.
- Class 3 exhibited the lowest rates of several risk factors compared to the other classes.

## Abstract

This study aims to explore how cancer-related risk factors cluster among college students in Guam. Using the 2021–2022 Pacific Islands Cohort of College Students data, we conducted a latent class analysis (LCA) to organize the sample into classes based on clustering cancer risk factors, including tobacco use, binge drinking, low fruit/vegetable intake, physical inactivity, betel nut use, overweight/obesity, depression, and anxiety. Among the 577 college students surveyed, results show a high prevalence of low fruit/vegetable intake, overweight/obesity, depression, and anxiety. The LCA identified three classes, each defined by different clustering cancer risk behaviors. All classes showed high prevalence of low fruit/vegetable intake. Class 1 had the highest rates of tobacco use, betel nut use, and binge drinking. Class 2 had the highest rates of physical inactivity, depression, and anxiety. Class 3 had the lowest rates of betel nut use, overweight/obese, depression, and anxiety when compared with Classes 1 and 2. The clustering of risk behaviors highlights the need for targeted interventions and prevention strategies among Guam’s youth, aiming to address these behaviors and potentially reduce cancer risk in the region.