Clustering of risk behaviours among African American adults

Abstract

Objectives: Individuals may engage in more than one risk behaviour at any given time. The extent to which risk behaviours cluster among African American adults has been largely unexplored. This study examined the prevalence and clustering of three risk behaviours among African American church members: smoking; low moderate-to-vigorous intensity leisure time physical activity (leisure MVPA); and low fruit and vegetable consumption. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: African Methodist Episcopal churches in South Carolina. Method: Participants self-reported leisure MVPA, fruit and vegetable consumption and smoking. The prevalence of single and multiple risk behaviours was computed. To examine whether risk behaviours clustered, a series of hierarchical log-linear models (SAS CATMOD) were fitted to the observed counts. Results: Of the 1123 participants, 7.0% smoked, 56.0% engaged in <150 minutes/week of leisure MVPA and 76.8% consumed <5 servings/day of fruit and vegetables; 11.8% of the sample had no risk behaviours, 39.5% had one, 45.7% had two and 2.9% had all three. The most common risk behaviour cluster was low leisure MVPA and low fruit and vegetable consumption (42.1%). Results from the log-linear models showed dependence among low fruit and vegetable consumption and low leisure MVPA, independent of smoking status. Conclusions: Church members who engaged in low levels of leisure MVPA were more likely to have low fruit and vegetable consumption, regardless of smoking status. These findings suggest that these two behaviours should not be considered in isolation from one another when developing behaviour change interventions; interventions targeting both behaviours may be more effective.

Predictors of Change in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in a Faith-Based Intervention With African American Adults

“…Similar to our predictor findings, cross-sectional studies have found a positive association between fruit and vegetable consumption, social support 23,25 , and exercise 25,26 in African Americans. There is cross-sectional evidence that risk behaviors, namely physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption, may cluster in such a way that individuals with low physical activity also have low fruit and vegetable intake 55 . Perhaps engaging in one healthy behavior (i.e.…”

The Clustering of Lifestyle Behaviours in New Zealand and their Relationship with Optimal Wellbeing

“…The selection of lifestyle behaviours has varied in both the international [8,[14][15][16][17] and national [12,13] clustering literature. Nonetheless, most of the lifestyle behaviours investigated in these studies were chosen due to their explicit associations with chronic disease (e.g.…”

“…Nonetheless, most of the lifestyle behaviours investigated in these studies were chosen due to their explicit associations with chronic disease (e.g. lack of physical activity, inadequate fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol consumption, and smoking) [8,[12][13][14][15][16][17]. Few studies have, however, explored the clustering of other lifestyle behaviours-including sedentary behaviour, sleep, or sugar consumption-which are not only associated with health [18][19][20] but also wellbeing [5,21].…”

Multiple Behavior Change Among Church Members Taking Part in the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition Program

“…lack of PA, poor nutrition, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption) are responsible for a majority of chronic diseases 5 , and often times, risk behaviors cluster 6,7 . Bambs and colleagues 8 found that only 1.4% of African Americans in their sample met the American Heart Association Ideal Health Behavior Index, defined as being a non-smoker, having a body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m 2 , being very physically active, and consuming ≥3 fruits and vegetables per day.…”

“…PA) are more likely to engage in the other (i.e. favorable dietary behaviors) 7,12–15 . Because these behaviors are often related, it seems reasonable to believe that individuals changing one behavior may also try to change the other.…”