Bopp Melissa, Wilcox Sara, Laken Marilyn, Hooker Steven P, Parra-Medina Deborah, Saunders Ruth, Butler Kimberly, Fallon Elizabeth A, McClorin Lottie
Dept of Kinesiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
J Phys Act Health. 2009 Sep;6(5):568-77. doi: 10.1123/jpah.6.5.568.
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.
参与体育活动有诸多益处，尤其是在面临健康差异的种族群体中。与基于信仰的组织合作能够采用更符合文化特点的方法来改变健康行为。
“健身八步走”是一项基于信仰的行为改变干预措施，旨在促进非裔美国人教会成员的体育活动。采用准实验设计来检验干预组（n = 72）和对照组（n = 74）之间的差异。在基线、3个月和6个月时评估健康指标（静息血压、体重指数、腰臀比、空腹血糖）、心理社会指标（体育活动自我效能感、社会支持、愉悦感、自我调节、抑郁）以及行为变量（体育活动、饮食）。重复测量协方差分析用于检验两组随时间的变化情况。
在3个月时，干预组在体重指数、腰围和社会支持方面的改善明显优于对照组。在6个月时，干预组在臀围、腰臀比、收缩压和抑郁症状方面的改善明显优于对照组。干预组（36%）和对照组（58%）均出现了显著的人员流失。
本研究是在实际环境中进行的，为如何为非裔美国人提供具有文化针对性且有可能推广的体育活动干预项目提供了见解。
