Journal Article

Multiple Health Behaviors Engagement in an African American Cohort

Wu, Ivan H. C., John, Jemima C., McNeill, Lorna H., Wetter, David W., Cho, Dalnim, Escoto, Kamisha H., Strong, Larkin L., Nguyen, Nga T.

2019

Overview

We investigated class clustering patterns of four behaviors—physical activity, fruit and vegetable (F & V) intake, smoking, and alcohol use—in a faith-based African American cohort. Guided by socio-ecological models, we also examined the psychosocial and neighborhood social environmental factors associated with the clustering patterns. Participants were 1,467 African American adults recruited from a mega church in the metropolitan Houston, TX, in 2008-2009. They completed a survey and health assessment. Latent class analysis and multinomial regression analysis were conducted. Results supported a three-class model: Class 1 was characterized by low physical activity, low F & V intake, and low substance use (smoking and alcohol use). Class 2 was characterized by high physical activity, low F & V intake, and mild drinking. Class 3 seemed to be the healthiest group, characterized by high physical activity, moderate-to-high F & V intake, and low substance use. The probabilities of being included in Classes 1, 2, and 3 were. 33,. 48, and. 19, respectively. Participants in Class 1 (vs. Class 3) reported lower physical activity norm (p <. 001) and higher smoking norm (p =. 002) and lower neighborhood social cohesion (p =. 031). Participants in Class 2 (vs. Class 3) reported higher cancer risk perception (p <. 001), lower F & V norm (p =. 022), lower physical activity norm (p <. 001), higher smoking norm (p <. 001), and lower social cohesion (p =. 047). As health behaviors are clustered together, future interventions for African Americans may consider targeting multiple health behaviors instead of targeting a single health behavior. Interventions addressing social norm and neighborhood social cohesion may enhance multiple health behaviors engagement in this population.

• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc,SAGE Publications,SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subject: Adult / Adults / African Americans / Alcohol Drinking / Alcohol use / Alcoholic beverages / Behavior Standards / Black or African American - psychology / Cancer / Charities / Churches / Clustering / Cohesion / Community-Based Participatory Research / Comparative Analysis / Correlation / Drinking / Drinking behavior / Drug use / Eating Habits / Ecological models / Ecological studies / Educational activities / Environmental aspects / Environmental factors / Environmental Influences / Exercise / Female / Fruit / General Articles / Health Behavior / Health disparities / Health risks / Health Surveys / Healthy food / Humans / Intervention / Latent Class Analysis / Longitudinal Studies / Male / Neighborhoods / Physical activity / Physical Activity Level / Physical fitness / Psychosocial factors / Regression analysis / Religious beliefs / Religious cultural groups / Residence Characteristics / Risk / Risk perception / Smoking / Social agencies / Social Behavior / Social classes / Social cohesion / Social factors / Social Integration / Social norms / Statistical Data / Substance abuse / Substance use / Texas / Vegetables