8 Steps to Fitness: a faith-based, behavior change physical activity intervention for African Americans

Physical activity (PA) participation offers many benefits especially among ethnic groups that experience health disparities. Partnering with faith-based organizations allows for a more culturally tailored approach to changing health behaviors. 8 Steps to Fitness was a faith-based behavior-change int...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of physical activity & health 2009-09, Vol.6 (5), p.568-577
Main Authors: Bopp, Melissa, Wilcox, Sara, Laken, Marilyn, Hooker, Steven P, Parra-Medina, Deborah, Saunders, Ruth, Butler, Kimberly, Fallon, Elizabeth A, McClorin, Lottie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
African Americans
Aged
Blood Glucose
Blood Pressure
Body Weights and Measures
Diet
Exercise - physiology
Exercise - psychology
Female
Humans
Male
Mental Health
Middle Aged
Physical Fitness - physiology
Physical Fitness - psychology
Religion
Self Efficacy
Social Support
Socioeconomic Factors
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Summary:Physical activity (PA) participation offers many benefits especially among ethnic groups that experience health disparities. Partnering with faith-based organizations allows for a more culturally tailored approach to changing health behaviors. 8 Steps to Fitness was a faith-based behavior-change intervention promoting PA among members of African American churches. A quasi-experimental design was used to examine differences between the intervention group (n = 72) and comparison group (n = 74). Health (resting blood pressure, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, fasting blood glucose), psychosocial (PA self-efficacy, social support, enjoyment, self-regulation, depression), and behavioral variables (PA, diet) were assessed at baseline, 3- and 6-months. Repeated measures ANCOVAs tested changes across time between groups. At 3-months, the intervention group showed significantly more favorable changes in body mass index, waist circumference and social support than the control group. At 6-months, the intervention group showed significantly more favorable changes in hip circumference, waist to hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, and depressive symptoms. There was notable attrition from both the intervention (36%) and the comparison group (58%). This study was conducted in a real-world setting, and provided insight into how to deliver a culturally-tailored PA intervention program for African Americans with a potential for dissemination.
ISSN:1543-3080
1543-5474
DOI:10.1123/jpah.6.5.568