Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, 2369 Public Health Building (255), College Park, MD 20742, USA.
J Behav Med. 2012 Apr;35(2):179-89. doi: 10.1007/s10865-011-9338-4. Epub 2011 Apr 13.
Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in the United States and have significant behavioral origins. African Americans suffer a disproportionate burden of chronic disease relative to other US racial/ethnic groups. Previous research supports an association between both general and religious social support and health behaviors that impact the risk of chronic disease. The present study examined the relative contributions of these constructs to a variety of health behaviors in a national probability sample of African American men and women (N = 2,370). A telephone interview assessing fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and current cigarette use was completed by participants. Results showed that several dimensions of religious social support predicted fruit and vegetable consumption, moderate physical activity, and alcohol use over and above the role of general social support. Findings highlight the unique role of religious support in this population in the context of health behaviors. Implications for health promotion interventions are discussed.
慢性疾病是美国死亡和残疾的主要原因，且具有显著的行为学起源。非裔美国人所承受的慢性疾病负担与其他美国种族/族裔群体不成比例。先前的研究支持一般社会支持和宗教社会支持与影响慢性疾病风险的健康行为之间存在关联。本研究在一个全国性的非裔美国男性和女性的概率样本（N=2370）中，调查了这些结构对各种健康行为的相对贡献。参与者通过电话采访完成了关于水果和蔬菜摄入、身体活动、饮酒和当前吸烟情况的评估。结果表明，宗教社会支持的几个维度可以预测水果和蔬菜的摄入、适度的身体活动和饮酒，而一般社会支持的作用则超过了这些维度。研究结果突出了在健康行为背景下宗教支持在这一人群中的独特作用。讨论了对健康促进干预的影响。
