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Depressive symptoms in urban African‐American churchgoers in relation to self‐efficacy for healthy behaviors
Author(s) -
Surkan Pamela,
Chen Lenis,
Martins Paula,
Flamm Laura,
Gittelsohn Joel
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.25.1_supplement.971.37
Subject(s) - overweight , clinical psychology , depressive symptoms , body mass index , cronbach's alpha , depression (economics) , obesity , psychology , medicine , center for epidemiologic studies depression scale , gerontology , psychiatry , psychometrics , cognition , economics , macroeconomics
Overweight and obesity are at epidemic levels in the US, with especially high rates in African Americans. Given the associations between depression and many health behaviors, we sought to understand its relationship to antecedents overweight and body mass index (BMI). Using baseline data from a church‐based diabetes prevention program in Baltimore, Healthy Bodies Healthy Souls (N=133), we studied how depressive symptoms are related to self‐efficacy and behavioral intentions. The ten‐item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptoms. As dependent variables, we created self‐efficacy and behavioral intention scales related to healthy eating and engaging in physical activity (Cronbach's α=0.54 and 0.40, respectively). In adjusted regression models, higher depressive symptoms were associated with lower self‐efficacy for healthy eating and physical activity (β= −0.3, p<0.001). No relationship was observed between depressive symptoms and intentions to perform these behaviors (adjusted β= −0.009, p=0.8). Likewise, higher depressive symptoms were not associated with participant BMI. Results imply that depressive symptomatology may be a risk factor for low self‐efficacy related to healthy eating and physical activity. Given the lack of association with BMI, larger prospective studies are needed to assess actual health behaviors and to confirm these results. Grant Funding Source : American Diabetes Association