Investigating Socioeconomic Disparities in the Potential Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Environments of Churches

Bernhart, John A; Valley, Elizabeth A La; Kaczynski, Andrew T.; Wilcox, Sara; Jake‐Schoffman, Danielle E.; Peters, Nathan A.; Dunn, Caroline; Hutto, Brent

doi:10.1007/s10943-018-0687-y

Cited by 5 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Specifically, it is highly reliable for a broad range of questions across 5 out of the 7 church environment domains: indoor opportunities for physical activity, food preparation equipment, type of kitchen, media assessment, and outdoor opportunities for physical activity [24]. A scoring protocol was developed [25], and used to measure indoor PA opportunities (14 items total), outdoor PA opportunities (9 items total), and HE opportunities (15 items total). Indoor physical activity opportunities refer to presence of fellowship halls/rooms, free weights, rubber bands for stretching, yoga mats, stationary exercise machines, activity/aerobic equipment, active gaming equipment, exercise videos, TV/DVD player, stereo/sound system, sports sets/equipment, bicycles/tricycles/rollerskates/scooters/skateboards, stairs, and PA promotion signage.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Objective Church Environment Audits and Attendee Perceptions of Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Supports within the Church Setting

Wende

Kaczynski

Bernhart

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Interventions in faith-based settings are increasingly popular, due to their effectiveness for improving attendee health outcomes and behaviors. Little past research has examined the important role of the church environment in individual-level outcomes using objective environmental audits. This study examined associations between the objectively measured physical church environment and attendees’ perceptions of physical activity (PA) and healthy eating (HE) supports within the church environment, self-efficacy for PA and HE, and self-reported PA and HE behaviors. Data were collected via church audits and church attendee surveys in 54 churches in a rural, medically underserved county in South Carolina. Multi-level regression was used to analyze associations between the church environment and outcomes. Physical elements of churches were positively related to attendees’ perceptions of church environment supports for PA (B = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.05) and HE (B = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.09) and there was a significant interaction between perceptions of HE supports and HE church environment. Self-efficacy and behaviors for PA and HE did not show an association with the church environment. Future research should establish a temporal relationship between the church environment and these important constructs for improving health. Future faith-based interventions should apply infrastructure changes to the church environment to influence important mediating constructs to health behavior.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(everything necessary for use is present and nothing prevents use) and "Is it in good condition?" (looks clean and maintained) [25]. Positive ratings for usability and condition were assigned a score of 0.5 and negative ratings assigned a score of -0.5.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Objective Church Environment Audits and Attendee Perceptions of Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Supports within the Church Setting

Wende

Kaczynski

Bernhart

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…As part of the larger FAN study, 31 data collection activities were conducted from June to October 2016 and included surveys of health behaviors and perceptions of attendees 31 and audits of the on-site church environment. 20,35 The current study reports on a third activity, windshield surveys of church neighborhood environments, completed from September to October 2016. Windshield surveys provide researchers and practitioners with a reliable and inexpensive method to assess the potential PA environments surrounding churches and other community resources.…”

Section: Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…19 For example, churches often provide a common meeting place for community members, as well as equipment, facilities, and other resources for public use. [20][21][22] In addition, compared with other organizations sharing messages to promote health, faith-based settings often appeal to members' values and beliefs by cultural and spiritual tailoring aspects of physical health to spiritual health. These characteristics have contributed to researchers successfully partnering with churches to develop and implement effective interventions focused on improving health behaviors, including PA, among members.…”

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confidence: 99%

Assessing the Walkability Environments of Churches in a Rural Southeastern County of the United States

Bernhart

Wende

Kaczynski

et al. 2019

Journal of Public Health Management &Amp; Practice

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Context: Churches can serve as important health promotion partners, especially in rural areas. However, little is known about the built environment surrounding churches in rural areas, including how these environments may impact opportunities for physical activity (PA) and may differ by neighborhood income levels. Objective: This study described walkability around churches in a rural county and examined differences in church walkability between high-, medium-, and low-income neighborhoods. Design: As part of the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition study, trained data collectors conducted a windshield survey of adjacent street segments within a half-mile of churches. Setting: Churches (N = 54) in a rural southeastern county in the United States. Main Outcome Measure: A summary walkability score (eg, presence of sidewalks, safety features, low traffic volume) was created with a possible range from 0 to 7. Analysis of variance was used to assess differences in walkability of churches by neighborhood income levels. Results: Walkability scores ranged from 0 to 6 (M = 2.31, SD = 1.23). Few churches had sidewalks, shoulders or buffers, or amenities nearby. In contrast, most churches had low traffic volume and no environmental incivilities. While not statistically significant, churches in low-income neighborhoods scored higher for walkability than churches in medium-and high-income neighborhoods.Conclusions: This study used low-cost environmental audits to analyze walkability in a sample of churches in a rural area and examined differences by neighborhood income. While churches may improve reach of people living in underserved and rural communities, a lack of environmental supports may limit effective PA promotion activities. Partnerships focused on improving existing areas or providing alternative PA opportunities for church and community members may be needed, especially in African American communities.

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“…20 Concerns about safety or other problems (eg, poor maintenance) can deter park use. 21 Given many churches in low-income settings have access to outdoor spaces such as parks, 22 they can play a role in addressing park barriers by mobilizing parishioners to advocate for park improvements. 23 To our knowledge, no study has evaluated how churchgoing Latinx populations use parks near their churches and potential facilitators or barriers to using them, particularly for PA.…”

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confidence: 99%

Church Contextual Factors Associated With Latinx Physical Activity and Park Use

Perez

Cohen

Seelam

et al. 2022

Family &Amp; Community Health

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Churches can be important settings for promoting physical activity (PA) among Latinx populations. Little is known about what factors across the church context—social, organizational, and physical (outdoor spaces)—are associated with Latinx PA to inform faith-based PA interventions. This study investigated associations of church contextual factors with Latinx PA. We used cross-sectional data from a Latinx adult sample recruited from 6 churches that each had a nearby park in Los Angeles, California (n = 373). Linear or logistic regression models examined associations of church PA social support, PA social norms, perceived quality and concerns about the park near one's church, and church PA programming with 4 outcomes: accelerometer-based moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and self-reported adherence to PA recommendations, use of the park near one's church, and park-based PA. Park quality and concerns were positively associated with using the park near one's church. Church PA programming was positively associated with park-based PA. None of the factors were related to accelerometer-based MVPA or meeting PA recommendations. Findings suggest targeting church PA programming and nearby parks may be key to improving Latinx park use. Church and local parks department partnerships may help enhance park conditions to support churchgoing Latinx PA and health.

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Investigating Socioeconomic Disparities in the Potential Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Environments of Churches

Cited by 5 publications

References 54 publications

Objective Church Environment Audits and Attendee Perceptions of Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Supports within the Church Setting

Objective Church Environment Audits and Attendee Perceptions of Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Supports within the Church Setting

Assessing the Walkability Environments of Churches in a Rural Southeastern County of the United States

Church Contextual Factors Associated With Latinx Physical Activity and Park Use

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