- Denton, Texas, United States
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Sleep is a major determinant of health, serving as a restorative function.1 Yet, approximately one-third of all Americans report suboptimal sleeping habits.2 Suboptimal sleep durations are associated with adverse health outcomes, such as... more
Sleep is a major determinant of health, serving as a restorative function.1 Yet, approximately one-third of all Americans report suboptimal sleeping habits.2 Suboptimal sleep durations are associated with adverse health outcomes, such as an increased for mortality.3,4 Both longer and shorter sleep duration was associated with a higher risk for all-cause, cancer, and CVD-related mortality.3,4 Both short (≤5 h) and long (≥10 h) sleep duration increased the risk for all-cause mortality among cancer survivors when compared to those who reported sleeping an average of 7 h per night.5 What remains to be determined is whether the relationship between sleep duration and mortality differ by cancer sites. Our study examined the association between sleep duration and all-cause, cancer, and CVD mortality by different cancer sites.
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Background: No studies have compared the lifestyle behaviors between Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to that of the United States mainland. Documenting and addressing health disparities between these geographically and... more
Background: No studies have compared the lifestyle behaviors between Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to that of the United States mainland. Documenting and addressing health disparities between these geographically and culturally distinct areas are important public health objectives. Differences in health status between and among the United States mainland and territories merit systematic and careful analyses. Methods: Four key healthy lifestyle characteristics include tobacco use, body mass index, physical activity, and fruit/vegetable consumption. Data from the 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N=420,481) were used to examine United States mainland and territorial differences among the four key healthy lifestyle behaviors. Descriptive statistics were summarized with chi-square tests for independence and multiple adjusted logistic regression models were used to examine differences in health compliance rates while controlling for age, gender, income, an...
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PURPOSE: To examine the racial and ethnic differences among various types of sedentary behavior (SB) in a sample of sedentary office workers. METHODS: Study participants were recruited from five worksites in a large metropolitan city in... more
PURPOSE: To examine the racial and ethnic differences among various types of sedentary behavior (SB) in a sample of sedentary office workers. METHODS: Study participants were recruited from five worksites in a large metropolitan city in the United States (N = 149, 67% minority, 83% female) All participants sat for at least 5-hours during a typical workday. SB was measured using a 7-item modified version of the Sedentary Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ) and the two-item sedentary behavior questions assessed in the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Racial differences were examined with descriptive statistics as regression models. Statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05 with a two-sided test. RESULTS: Sedentary behavior ranged from a median of 0 minutes/day for viewing movies or videos to 60 min/ day for watching television and riding in or driving a vehicle. Total median time spent sitting during the weekday was 480 min/day, whereas total time spent sitting during the weekend was 270 min/day. Our adjusted models indicated statistically significant racial and ethnic differences for sitting while talking on the phone (p < 0.001), watching television (p = 0.042), riding in or driving a vehicle (p = 0.027), total sitting time during the weekdays (p = 0.008), and weekend (p = 0.012). Median scores were higher among Blacks than Whites for both sitting and talking on the phone and while watching television (Blacks = 73 and 131, Whites = 26 and 86 min/day). Total time spent sitting on the weekend was higher among Blacks than both Hispanics and Whites (Blacks = 541, Whites = 346, Hispanics = 306 min/day). However, both Blacks and Whites had higher median minutes spent in total sedentary time during the weekday than Hispanics. CONCLUSION: According to these data, racial and ethnic differences exist between various types of SB. Healthcare professionals should consider these differences when designing culturally tailored interventions designed to curve sedentary behavior. Supported by NIH Grants K01CA158000, R03NR010291, and CA016672
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Purpose: Despite convincing evidence that prolonged periods of sitting may influence critical biological mediators of cancer development, few studies assessed the relationship between time spent sitting and cancer-related biomarkers.... more
Purpose: Despite convincing evidence that prolonged periods of sitting may influence critical biological mediators of cancer development, few studies assessed the relationship between time spent sitting and cancer-related biomarkers. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 825 postmenopausal women who were enrolled in an ancillary study of the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study between February 1995 and July 1998. Plasma levels of biomarkers were measured at the third annual visit. The time spent sitting per day was categorized as quartiles (Qs) and analysis of covariance was used to assess the relationships between sedentary time and cancer biomarkers. Results: No clear linear patterns were observed between the time spent sitting and levels of biomarkers; however, these relationships were modified by race, physical activity level, and exogenous estrogen use. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels among black women were higher than those of white women acros...
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BackgroundIn the United States, patients who have breast cancer experience significant economic burden compared with those who have other types of cancers. Cancer‐related economic burden is exacerbated by adverse treatment effects.... more
BackgroundIn the United States, patients who have breast cancer experience significant economic burden compared with those who have other types of cancers. Cancer‐related economic burden is exacerbated by adverse treatment effects. Strategies to resolve the economic burden caused by breast cancer and its adverse treatment effects have stemmed from the perspectives of health care providers, oncology navigators, and other subject‐matter experts. For the current study, patient‐driven recommendations were elicited to reduce economic burden after 1) breast cancer and 2) breast cancer‐related lymphedema, which is a common, persistent adverse effect of breast cancer.MethodsQualitative interviews were conducted with 40 long‐term breast cancer survivors who were residents of Pennsylvania or New Jersey in 2015 and were enrolled in a 6‐month observational study. Purposive sampling ensured equal representation by age, socioeconomic position, and lymphedema diagnosis. Semistructured interviews a...
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... Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw-Hill. Oman, R., Vesely, S., McLeroy, K., Harris-Wyatt, V., Aspy C., Rodine, S., et al. (2002). ... Raheem J Paxton, MS, PhD is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii at the... more
... Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw-Hill. Oman, R., Vesely, S., McLeroy, K., Harris-Wyatt, V., Aspy C., Rodine, S., et al. (2002). ... Raheem J Paxton, MS, PhD is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii at the University of Hawaii-Manoa. ...
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Background: Evidence linking lifestyle factors and risk for prostate cancer is neither clear or consistent and novel analytic techniques may help clarify the complex associations between lifestyle characteristics and risk for prostate... more
Background: Evidence linking lifestyle factors and risk for prostate cancer is neither clear or consistent and novel analytic techniques may help clarify the complex associations between lifestyle characteristics and risk for prostate cancer. Methods: This prospective study utilized data from 12216 (Median age = 63 years) African American men from the Multiethnic Cohort, a large cohort study over-sampled for ethnic minorities in Hawaii and Los Angeles that began in 1993. Adjusted latent class analysis was used to create homogenous groups of African Americans based on 21 indicators including dietary intake and other lifestyle behaviors such as physical activity, body mass index, and sedentary behavior. Results: Four lifestyle patterns were identified that differed by demographic and lifestyle characteristics indicating that the clustering algorithm converged properly. Adjusted Cox regression analyses stratified by smoking status indicated that among former smokers in a cluster charac...
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Background Few studies have examined the real-time and dynamic relationship between lifestyle behaviors and treatment-related symptoms. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the associations of daily physical activity and... more
Background Few studies have examined the real-time and dynamic relationship between lifestyle behaviors and treatment-related symptoms. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the associations of daily physical activity and sedentary behavior with symptom burden, pain interference, and fatigue among patients who were undergoing active cancer treatment. Methods A total of 22 (mean age = 57 years; 73% women; 55% Black) cancer patients were recruited from a local hospital and reported a daily diary of physical activity, sedentary behavior, symptom burden, pain interference, and fatigue over 10 days. Adjusted mixed-effects models were used to examine all associations. Results Body mass index moderated the relationship between physical activity and symptom burden (γ = 0.06, P < .01) and physical activity and fatigue (γ = 0.09, P < .05). On days where physical activity was higher than average, symptom burden and fatigue scores were lower among patients who had lower body mass index values. Also, age moderated the relationship between sedentary behavior and symptom burden (γ = −0.04, P < .05); on days where patients sat more, symptom burden was lower among patients who were younger than the average age. Conclusions Overall, these data indicate that treatment-related symptoms vary daily within cancer patients and that physical activity may alleviate treatment-related symptoms for leaner patients. Larger samples and objective assessments of physical activity and sedentary behavior are needed to validate our results. Implications for Practice Oncology nurses may be in the best position to promote physical activity during treatment as a strategy to manage symptom burden.
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Several studies have examined the relationship between smoking and mortality in cancer survivors. However, few have reported the relationships in several cancer sites (i.e., bladder, non-melanoma skin, uterine, melanoma, and lymphoma),... more
Several studies have examined the relationship between smoking and mortality in cancer survivors. However, few have reported the relationships in several cancer sites (i.e., bladder, non-melanoma skin, uterine, melanoma, and lymphoma), and limited data exist on the dose-response relationship between number of cigarettes smoked per day or duration of smoking cessation and mortality. Cancer survivors (N = 35,093, 61% female, mean age = 47 years old) from the National Health Interview Survey with linked data retrieved from the National Death Index served as our study participants. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to assess associations between smoking status, all-cause, and disease-specific mortality. After a median follow-up of 13 years, 11,066 deaths occurred. Survivors who reported smoking at study entry had a 73%, 75%, 85% higher risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality, respectively when compared to nonsmokers. Former smokers had a 31% and 37% higher risk of all-cause and cancer mortality, respectively when compared to nonsmokers. The observed relationships appeared to differ by the number of cigarettes smoked (i.e., ≥ 10 per day), especially for breast, cervix, lung, prostate, uterine and non-melanoma skin cancer survivors. Those who continued smoking post diagnosis were at greatest risk of all-cause and cancer mortality, but the associations varied substantially by cancer site. These data provide sufficient evidence of the health hazards associated with smoking for cancer survivors and provide further support for public health strategies designed to curb smoking in this vulnerable population.
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Background: The study of physical activity in cancer survivors has been limited to one cause, one effect relationships. In this exploratory study, we used recursive partitioning to examine multiple correlates that influence physical... more
Background: The study of physical activity in cancer survivors has been limited to one cause, one effect relationships. In this exploratory study, we used recursive partitioning to examine multiple correlates that influence physical activity compliance rates in cancer survivors. Methods: African American breast cancer survivors (N = 267, Mean age = 54 years) participated in an online survey that examined correlates of physical activity. Recursive partitioning (RP) was used to examine complex and nonlinear associations between sociodemographic, medical, cancer-related, theoretical, and quality of life indicators. Results: Recursive partitioning revealed five distinct groups. Compliance with physical activity guidelines was highest (82% met guidelines) among survivors who reported higher mean action planning scores (P < 0.001) and lower mean barriers to physical activity (P = 0.035). Compliance with physical activity guidelines was lowest (9% met guidelines) among survivors who reported lower mean action and coping (P = 0.002) planning scores. Similarly, lower mean action planning scores and poor advanced lower functioning (P = 0.034), even in the context of higher coping planning scores, resulted in low physical activity compliance rates (13% met guidelines). Subsequent analyses revealed that body mass index (P = 0.019) and number of comorbidities (P = 0.003) were lowest in those with the highest compliance rates. Conclusion: Our findings support the notion that multiple factors determine physical activity compliance rates in African American breast cancer survivors. Interventions that encourage action and coping planning and reduce barriers in the context of addressing function limitations may increase physical activity compliance rates.
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ABSTRACT Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors are major contributors to chronic diseases and premature mortality. Although the benefits of physical activity have been documented, no study has systematically evaluated the... more
ABSTRACT Physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors are major contributors to chronic diseases and premature mortality. Although the benefits of physical activity have been documented, no study has systematically evaluated the feasibility and satisfaction of different physical activity routines designed for workplace settings. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to develop and evaluate six different types of 15-min physical activity routines. Based on pilot testing, we developed six different physical activity routines designed for the 15-min break during the workday, and 12 dimensions were used to evaluate each routine. The dimensions were as follows: appropriateness of work attire, benefit, challenge, complexity, confidence, effort (i.e., physical), embarrassment, enjoyment, fatigue, flexibility, likability, and sweat (i.e., perspiration). Before completing the ratings, participants received definitions of each dimension. Ninety-four full-time employees participated in six routines (i.e., aerobic dance, ballet, Booster Break, circuit training, muscle strengthening, and yoga) and rated their experiences using a 5-point Likert scale immediately after each session. All routines received some favorable ratings and seemed acceptable as a workplace activity. Circuit training and aerobic dance ranked highest on challenge, complexity, effort (i.e., physical), embarrassment, fatigue, and sweat, and low on work attire appropriateness. Booster Break ranked relatively high on benefit, confidence, likability, and work attire appropriateness; moderate on fatigue; and low on sweat and embarrassment. Circuit training and aerobic dance routines were the most challenging and appropriate for workforces with employees who are physically active and/or prefer challenges. For workforces with a diversity of preferences, abilities, or new to physical activity routines, the Booster Break is recommended because it was rated favorably on all dimensions. Future research is recommended to replicate these findings and improve the implementation effectiveness of work break routines.
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Research Interests: Breast Cancer, Medicine, Healthcare, Disability, Activities of Daily Living, and 15 moreHumans, Chronic Disease, Female, Confirmatory factor analysis, Construct Validity, Male, Aged, Middle Aged, Convergent Validity, Adult, Geriatric Assessment, Cross Sectional Studies, Disabled Persons, Disability Evaluation, and Medical and Health Sciences
Purpose:To examine the relationships between spiritual health locus of control (SHLOC) and satisfaction with life in African American (AA) breast cancer survivors (BCS).Methods:A total of 118 AABCS completed a mailed survey. Logistic... more
Purpose:To examine the relationships between spiritual health locus of control (SHLOC) and satisfaction with life in African American (AA) breast cancer survivors (BCS).Methods:A total of 118 AABCS completed a mailed survey. Logistic regression models were used to examine relationships among variables of interest.Results:Annual income and SHLOC were significantly associated with life satisfaction. In unadjusted analyses, high overall SHLOC increased the odds (odds ratio [OR] = 2.8) of being satisfied with life. The adjusted relationships between SHLOC and life satisfaction differed by income level. Among survivors with lower incomes, high spiritual life/faith and God’s grace subscale scores increased the odds of life satisfaction, when compared to those with higher incomes.Conclusions:Our data indicated that high overall SHLOC was significantly related to higher odds of life satisfaction. Further, SHLOC may serve as a resource to bolster life satisfaction, especially in low-income AA BCS.
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Introduction: Older adults (≥ 60 years old) report prolonged periods of sedentary behavior. Sedentary behavior is a potential health hazard for this priority population. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the published literature to... more
Introduction: Older adults (≥ 60 years old) report prolonged periods of sedentary behavior. Sedentary behavior is a potential health hazard for this priority population. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the published literature to document the relationships among sedentary behaviors and twelve health outcomes ranging from mental health to mortality. Methods: Major databases were searched from 2013 to 2019; 27 relevant articles were found and evaluated. In addition, we compared our findings to a previously published review. Results: Higher levels of sedentary behavior were related to an increased risk of all-cause mortality and adversely associated with metabolic syndrome, triglycerides/high density lipoprotein cholesterol/blood glucose, HBA1C/glucose intolerance, waist circumference, and obesity/overweight when compared to those with lower levels of sedentary behavior. Findings for blood pressure, cancer, and mental health (e.g., dementia, mild cognitive impairment, psychological well-being) were insufficient to draw conclusions or had inconsistent results. Because some sedentary behaviors were protective for mental health, we recommend a taxonomy of sedentary behaviors for older adults to provide insights into these seemingly discrepant findings. Some of our findings were similar to a prior review while other findings were different. Conclusion: This systematic review identified the health outcomes that were sufficiently, insufficiently, or not affected by sedentary behavior. To advance the field, we recommend better methodological quality. To improve the overall health and wellbeing of older adults, future studies should evaluate interventions to decrease health-compromising and increase health-promoting sedentary behaviors among older adults.
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Research Interests: Psychology, Quantitative Psychology, Health Psychology, Breast Cancer, Kinesiology, and 14 moreCancer Survivorship, Public Health, Population, African American, Predictive Validity, Construct Validity, Reliability, Psychosocial, Validity, Television Viewing, Neoplasms, Community Health and Preventive Medicine, Incremental Validity, and Sedentary Behavior
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HIV incidence has shifted racially and geographically in the United States and now represents higher proportions of African Americans living in the Rural South. Lower levels of HIV knowledge may be the culprit behind the increasing HIV... more
HIV incidence has shifted racially and geographically in the United States and now represents higher proportions of African Americans living in the Rural South. Lower levels of HIV knowledge may be the culprit behind the increasing HIV rates observed in the Rural South. The purpose of this study was to investigate the individual and joint correlates of HIV knowledge in a sample of rural African Americans. Baseline data from a faith-based anti-stigma intervention (Project FAITHH, N= 210) was used to assess associations between sociodemographic characteristics, spirituality, stigma, and HIV knowledge scores. Associations were examined with recursive partitioning. Statistical significance was determined at P< 0.05 with a two-sided test. Recursive partitioning revealed five distinct groups based on the data. HIV knowledge scores were highest among participants who attended some college (P < 0.001) with lower levels of individual stigma (P < 0.001). HIV knowledge scores were lowest among less educated individuals (P < 0.001) who had lower levels of perceived community stigma (P = 0.002). Future interventions designed to improve HIV knowledge in rural African Americans should consider tailoring content to those who have the greatest deficits in HIV knowledge, which may be based on perceived community stigma and education levels.
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ABSTRACT A breast cancer diagnosis can lead to life-altering biopsychosocial changes and challenges for breast cancer survivors (BCS). Particularly salient is body image perception and its associated biopsychosocial ramifications. This... more
ABSTRACT A breast cancer diagnosis can lead to life-altering biopsychosocial changes and challenges for breast cancer survivors (BCS). Particularly salient is body image perception and its associated biopsychosocial ramifications. This manuscript examined the impact of breast cancer on women’s body image, including women of color and lesbians. The information was contextualized through the application of feminist theory principles. Interventions and implications for breast cancer survivors (BCS) were discussed utilizing feminist theory.
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Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the dynamic association between lifestyle factors and both positive and negative effect in middle-aged African Americans. Methods Study participants (N = 69, Mean age=51 years, 80% female)... more
Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the dynamic association between lifestyle factors and both positive and negative effect in middle-aged African Americans. Methods Study participants (N = 69, Mean age=51 years, 80% female) were recruited from two African American churches in the Deep South. Participants completed daily surveys on positive and negative effect, physical activity, sedentary behavior, diet quality, and sleep quality daily for up to 10-days. Mixed-effect models were used to examine associations between the variables of interest. Results On days that participants were more active, they experienced higher mean positive effect (P = .015) and lower mean negative effect (P = .028) scores. Conversely, more time spent sitting in lagged models (i.e., T-1) was associated with higher mean negative effect (P = .001) and lower mean positive effect (P = .040) scores. In lagged models, better sleep quality was associated with higher positive effects (P = .007) scores bu...
Research Interests: Demography and Medicine
It is recommended that researchers who use mixed modal methods for data collection compare their impact on outcome measures. The purpose of this study was to examine the physical activity and fruit/vegetable consumption behaviors of a... more
It is recommended that researchers who use mixed modal methods for data collection compare their impact on outcome measures. The purpose of this study was to examine the physical activity and fruit/vegetable consumption behaviors of a multiethnic sample of adults, comparing participants who continued a telephone survey and those who transitioned from a telephone to a web-based survey for a follow-up data collection point. This longitudinal study used a random sample of 700 Hawaii residents (63.3% Female; Mean age=47, SD=17.1). At baseline, participants completed a computer-assisted telephone interview assessing the stage, behavior, and decisional balance of both physical activity and fruit/vegetable consumption. For the three-month follow-up survey, participants were given the option of completing the survey either on the web or by phone. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was computed for related physical activity scales and fruit/vegetable consumption variables to comp...
Research Interests: Psychology, Influence, Research Design, Physical Activity, Health, and 15 moreConsumer, Questionnaire, Eating Behavior, Mixed Mode, Data Collection, North America, Activity, Online survey, Phone, Consumption Behavior, Internet, Konsumverhalten, consumption sociology, Comparison of methods, and Agricultural product
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More than 67% of people diagnosed with cancer in the United States are alive five years after receiving the diagnosis; but even if they are cancer free, the effects of the disease and its treatment will remain with them for the rest of... more
More than 67% of people diagnosed with cancer in the United States are alive five years after receiving the diagnosis; but even if they are cancer free, the effects of the disease and its treatment will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Distress, which can be of a psychological, social, physical, or spiritual nature, is common among cancer survivors. Spiritual distress is a broad concept that is not necessarily associated with any specific religious beliefs, practices, or affiliations. Both religious and nonreligious people may have a strong sense of spirituality and may experience spiritual distress at various points throughout cancer survivorship. But clinicians often neglect to explore the spiritual components of distress, and despite the well-established association between spiritual well-being and quality of life, few of the instruments designed to assess the care needs of cancer survivors address spiritual needs. Through a composite clinical case, this article illustrates how nurses can incorporate into practice evidence-based recommendations for assessing and managing spiritual distress in cancer survivors.
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Purpose: Cancer-related fatigue is the most discomforting symptom among women with a history of breast cancer. Black women are more likely to experience risk factors for cancer-related fatigue, like physical inactivity and obesity, yet... more
Purpose: Cancer-related fatigue is the most discomforting symptom among women with a history of breast cancer. Black women are more likely to experience risk factors for cancer-related fatigue, like physical inactivity and obesity, yet cancer-related fatigue studies have not explicitly focused on Black women. This cross-sectional analysis assesses cancer-related fatigue and physical activity among Black female breast cancer survivors. Methods: In May and July of 2012, 266 members of the Sisters Network, Inc completed an online survey on: demographics, cancer history and treatment, fatigue using the 13-item Function Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) Fatigue Scale, and engagement in ≥150 minutes per week of physical activity (CDC guideline). Multiple linear regression assessed relationships between fatigue and physical activity. Results: The average participant was 54 (SD=9) with a FACIT score of 13.63, indicating “severe fatigue”. Fatigue was greater (p=0.02) among the 56...
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ObjectiveApolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) genotype has been implicated as a moderating factor in cognitive function studies. Although prior studies have suggested that vitamin C is associated with better cognitive function in elders, link... more
ObjectiveApolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) genotype has been implicated as a moderating factor in cognitive function studies. Although prior studies have suggested that vitamin C is associated with better cognitive function in elders, link between the two has been mixed. Limited data exist as to whether the APOE4 genotype influences these associations. Therefore, this study sought to determine whether the association between vitamin C and cognition in a rural community dwelling cohort differs by the APOE4 genotype.Design and ParticipantsData were analyzed on 582 participants (n=183 men; n=399 women) from a rural community-based cohort. Cognition was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status and The Executive Interview. APOE genotyping was ascertained by standard methods. The relation between vitamin C supplementation and cognition were analyzed first with ANOVA and then ANCOVA with age, gender, education as covariates. Analyses were initially run in the full sample and then split by APOE4 presence (yes/no).ResultsOverall, Vitamin C supplementation was associated with significantly better immediate memory (p=0.04), visuospatial skills (p=0.002), language (p=0.01), and global cognitive functioning (p=0.006). Among APOE4 non-carriers, vitamin C supplementation was positively associated with immediate memory (F[1,392] =6.7, p=0.01), visuospatial skills (F[1,391]=10.6, p=0.001), language (F[1,392]=13.0, p<0.001), attention (F[1,386]=7.9, p=0.005, and global cognition (F[1,382]=11.0, p=0.001. However, there was no significant link between vitamin C supplementation and cognition among APOE4 carriers.ConclusionVitamin C supplementation was found to be positively associated with cognition among this rural-dwelling community-based sample; however, the associations appeared to differ by APOE4 status. These data may suggest that targeted genotype-specific cognitive enhancement studies are needed to clarify the potential benefits of vitamin C supplementation.
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The 15-minute work break provides an opportunity to promote health, yet few studies have examined this part of the workday. We studied physical activity and sedentary behavior among office workers and compared the results of the Booster... more
The 15-minute work break provides an opportunity to promote health, yet few studies have examined this part of the workday. We studied physical activity and sedentary behavior among office workers and compared the results of the Booster Break program with those of a second intervention and a control group to determine whether the Booster Break program improved physical and behavioral health outcomes. We conducted a 3-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial at 4 worksites in Texas from 2010 through 2013 to compare a group-based, structured Booster Break program to an individual-based computer-prompt intervention and a usual-break control group; we analyzed physiologic, behavioral, and employee measures such as work social support, quality of life, and perceived stress. We also identified consistent and inconsistent attendees of the Booster Break sessions. We obtained data from 175 participants (mean age, 43 y; 67% racial/ethnic minority). Compared with the other groups, the consiste...
Research Interests: Program Evaluation, Health Promotion, Quality of life, Social Support, Medicine, and 15 moreHumans, Female, Male, Exercise, Body Mass Index, Texas, Middle Aged, Adult, Public health systems and services research, Randomized Controlled Trial, Pedometer, Self report, Logistic Models, Sedentary Lifestyle, and Sedentary Behavior
Few studies have examined the associations among family, friend, and coworker social support for physical activity. It is important to know the sources of social support that facilitate and promote physical activity among fulltime working... more
Few studies have examined the associations among family, friend, and coworker social support for physical activity. It is important to know the sources of social support that facilitate and promote physical activity among fulltime working adults. We analyzed the associations among family, friend, and coworker social support for physical activity and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among participants in a worksite study. This study was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 144 participants from four worksites in a large, southwestern city in the United States. The intervention for the worksite study was Booster Breaks (a physical activity routine of 15 minutes) practiced daily to break-up prolonged sitting time. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regressions were conducted using SPSS version 20. Age was inversely associated (p = 0.001), and social support from friends (p = 0.04) and coworkers (p = 0.003) were positively associated with physical activity in t...
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BackgroundThe health action process approach (HAPA) is a relevant model for understanding physical activity (PA), yet it has not been examined in cancer survivors or minorities. In this study, we assessed the HAPA in African American... more
BackgroundThe health action process approach (HAPA) is a relevant model for understanding physical activity (PA), yet it has not been examined in cancer survivors or minorities. In this study, we assessed the HAPA in African American breast cancer survivors using covariance modeling.MethodsA total of 304 African American breast cancer survivors (mean age = 54 years) participated in a Web‐based survey assessing demographic and medical characteristics as well as constructs of the HAPA. A two‐step covariance modeling approach was used to assess the structural relationships among the constructs.ResultsThe hypothesized measurement model fit the data; however, general severity was not significantly associated with the remaining constructs. General severity was removed, and the fit did not change significantly. The final adjusted model provided a reasonable fit to the data and accounted for significant variance in intentions (49%) and PA (42%). Action (β = 0.1, p < 0.01) and coping (β =...