Correlates of Health-Related Behaviors in Older African American Adults: Implications for Health Promotion

Purpose. Health promotion policy frameworks, recent theorizing, and research all emphasize understanding and mobilizing environmental influences to change particular health-related behaviors in specific settings. The workplace is a key environmental setting. The Checklist of Health Promotion Environments at Worksites (CHEW) was designed as a direct observation instrument to assess characteristics of worksite environments that are known to influence health-related behaviors. Methods. The CHEW is a 112-item checklist of workplace environmental features hypothesized to be associated, both positively and negatively, with physical activity, healthy eating, alcohol consumption, and smoking. The three environmental domains assessed are (1) physical characteristics of the worksite, (2) features of the information environment, and (3) characteristics of the immediate neighborhood around the workplace. The conceptual rationale and development studies for the CHEW are described, and data from observational studies of 20 worksites are reported. Results. The data on CHEW-derived environmental attributes showed generally good reliability and identified meaningful sets of variables that plausibly may influence health-related behaviors. With the exception of one information environment attribute, intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.80 to 1.00. Descriptive statistics on selected physical and information environment characteristics indicated that vending machines, showers, bulletin boards, and signs prohibiting smoking were common across worksites. Bicycle racks, visible stairways, and signs related to alcohol consumption, nutrition, and health promotion were relatively uncommon. Conclusions. These findings illustrate the types of data on environmental attributes that can be derived, their relevance for program planning, and how they can characterize variability across worksites. The CHEW is a promising observational measure that has the potential to assess environmental influences on health behaviors and to evaluate workplace health promotion programs.

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Comprehensive Health Literacy and Health-Related Behaviors Within a General Japanese Population: Differences by Health Domains

Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/1010539518806806 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 30 (8) ◽

pp. 717-726 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Eiko Goto ◽

Hirono Ishikawa ◽

Kazuhiro Nakayama ◽

Takahiro Kiuchi

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Disease Prevention ◽

Exercise Behavior ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Related Behaviors ◽

Health Domains ◽

Comprehensive Health ◽

Prevention And Health Promotion ◽

Health Related

The present study aimed to explore how different health-related domains of health literacy, as measured by the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire, were associated with health-related behaviors among a general population in Japan. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study of 1002 Japanese residents. Our questionnaire addressed socioeconomic status, health status, health-related behaviors, and health literacy. Among the 3 health-related domains of health literacy (health care, disease prevention, and health promotion), a multivariate model revealed that the disease prevention domain was associated with exercise behavior and alcohol consumption. The health promotion domain was associated with dietary behavior and exercise behavior. There were strong correlations among all health-related domains of health literacy; however, there were different associations between health literacy and health-related behaviors depending on those domains. Additional research is needed to determine how and to what extent each domain of health literacy is related to what health behaviors and outcomes.

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Differences in Health-Related Behaviors and Body Mass Index Risk Categories in African American Women in College

Journal of the National Medical Association ◽

10.1016/s0027-9684(15)30236-4 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 103 (1) ◽

pp. 4-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Damian C. Stanziano ◽

Butler-Ajibade Phoebe

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

African American ◽

African American Women ◽

Body Mass ◽

American Women ◽

Health Related Behaviors ◽

Health Related ◽

Risk Categories

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Evaluating Experiences of Stress and Coping Among African American Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic to Inform Future Interventions

Health Education & Behavior ◽

10.1177/10901981211039148 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 109019812110391

Author(s):

Allison M. Sweeney ◽

Dawn K. Wilson ◽

Nicole Zarrett ◽

Asia Brown ◽

Mary Quattlebaum ◽

...

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Well Being ◽

Stress And Coping ◽

Qualitative Assessment ◽

Passive Coping ◽

Acute And Chronic Stress ◽

Health Related Behaviors ◽

Health Related ◽

And Coping

Background African American (AA) women experience disproportionate levels of chronic disease, which is theorized to be driven by greater exposure to acute and chronic stress. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has further exacerbated existing health disparities among AA communities. Understanding how AA women have experienced and responded to stress during the pandemic may help to inform how future interventions can better address physical and mental well-being in AA communities. Aims Drawing from stress and coping models and an ecological framework, the present study conducted a theory-based qualitative assessment of stress-related experiences during the pandemic among a cohort of AA women, including (1) sources of stress, (2) coping strategies, (3) perceptions of health-related behaviors, (4) the role of community, and (5) recommendations for future interventions. Method After completing a group-based physical activity intervention program during the COVID-19 pandemic, a cohort of AA women ( N =17, Mage= 49.3 ± 11.24) completed individual interviews. Sessions were conducted by phone, audiotaped, transcribed, and coded by independent raters ( rs = .71–.73). Themes were identified using deductive and inductive approaches. Results Among sources of stress directly related to the pandemic, being at home, getting sick, and homeschooling/parenting were the most frequently discussed themes. Participants engaged in active coping (problem and emotion-focused), with health behaviors, social support, and religion/spirituality, emerging as frequently discussed themes. Although some participants reported passive coping strategies (e.g., avoidance), this approach was less pronounced. Conclusions These qualitative results are used to guide suggestions for future interventions that jointly address stress and health-related behaviors in order to improve translation of research into practice and policy for future pandemics and disasters.

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Initial Findings of a Multicomponent School Health Intervention in Rural Appalachia: The Greenbrier CHOICES Project

Health Education & Behavior ◽

10.1177/1090198119897612 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

pp. 332-343

Author(s):

Emily Jones ◽

Luciana Zuest ◽

Sean Bulger ◽

Eloise Elliott ◽

Kibum Cho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Middle School ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Healthy Eating ◽

Health Interventions ◽

Dietary Behaviors ◽

School Based ◽

Health Related Behaviors ◽

Health Related ◽

Rural Appalachia

Background. Schools are an important setting for health promotion because they afford children and adolescents numerous opportunities to accumulate the recommended physical activity (PA) minutes and make other health-related decisions, including healthy eating. Unfortunately, there is little evidence of coordinated school-based health interventions in rural Appalachia. The Greenbrier Children’s Health Opportunities Involving Coordinated Efforts in Schools Project was a federally funded, 3-year, multicomponent school-based health intervention focused on PA, healthy eating, and weight management. Aims. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of Greenbrier Children’s Health Opportunities Involving Coordinated Efforts in Schools on adolescent PA, dietary behaviors, and weight status. Method. Measures of PA, dietary behaviors, and body mass index were collected across 14 data points throughout the intervention (including a baseline in Year 1). Results. Participants included 4,633 randomly selected middle school students ( M = 2,289, F = 2,344) across the intervention. Baseline to Year 3 findings revealed a 12.8 percentage point increase in students achieving 60 minutes of daily PA. There were no significant differences in either dietary behavior or body mass index. Discussion. Findings provide evidence of the positive impact comprehensive school-based health interventions can have on middle school student health-related behaviors. Conclusion. Schools remain an ideal setting for health promotion. Initiatives targeting more than one level of influence on health-related behaviors are more likely to succeed.

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Engaging African American Pastors in COVID-19 Research During a Pandemic: Lessons Learned

Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling Advancing theory and professional practice through scholarly and reflective publications ◽

10.1177/15423050211062547 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 154230502110625

Author(s):

Traci Hayes ◽

LaWanda Baskin ◽

Tanya Funchess ◽

Samaria Lowe ◽

Susan Mayfield-Johnson

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

African American ◽

Global Health ◽

Information Sources ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Health Programs ◽

Faith Based ◽

African American Pastors ◽

Study Implementation ◽

Health Related

African American pastors are recognized as trusted information sources for their communities. The pastors willing to address health-related concerns such as preventing the spread of the coronavirus are invaluable for leading their congregation through relevant health programs. Underlining the importance of religion, spirituality, and faith-based leaders in addressing and furthering health promotion research, the article discusses lessons learned during the study implementation and the recommendations for engaging minority pastors in research during a global health pandemic.

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