BACKGROUND: African Americans are less likely than non-Hispanic Whites to find antidepressants acceptable or seek care for depression. OBJECTIVE: To develop and pilot test a culturally tailored, community-based, psychoeducational wellness and exercise promotion program to reduce depressive symptoms in African Americans. METHODS: Participants were African Americans with moderate depressive symptoms who were interested in exercise but were not exercising regularly. They attended a 6-week psychoeducational group program during which they set personal activity goals and learned depression self-management skills. We conducted pre- and postintervention surveys and postintervention feedback sessions. RESULTS: Twenty-one African Americans participated in the intervention. The program had excellent attendance and satisfaction. We found a large reduction in depressive symptoms, with mean Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores dropping from 14.8 to 7.1 (p < .0001), and increases in exercise and depression self-efficacy and behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study offers promising preliminary evidence to inform further research on the use of community-based, culturally tailored wellness programs to address depression.
BACKGROUND: African Americans are less likely than non-Hispanic Whites to find antidepressants acceptable or seek care for depression. OBJECTIVE: To develop and pilot test a culturally tailored, community-based, psychoeducational wellness and exercise promotion program to reduce depressive symptoms in African Americans. METHODS:Participants were African Americans with moderate depressive symptoms who were interested in exercise but were not exercising regularly. They attended a 6-week psychoeducational group program during which they set personal activity goals and learned depression self-management skills. We conducted pre- and postintervention surveys and postintervention feedback sessions. RESULTS: Twenty-one African Americans participated in the intervention. The program had excellent attendance and satisfaction. We found a large reduction in depressive symptoms, with mean Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores dropping from 14.8 to 7.1 (p < .0001), and increases in exercise and depression self-efficacy and behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study offers promising preliminary evidence to inform further research on the use of community-based, culturally tailored wellness programs to address depression.
Authors: Lisa A Cooper; Junius J Gonzales; Joseph J Gallo; Kathryn M Rost; Lisa S Meredith; Lisa V Rubenstein; Nae-Yuh Wang; Daniel E Ford Journal: Med Care Date: 2003-04 Impact factor: 2.983
Authors: Christina Nicolaidis; Vanessa Timmons; Mary Jo Thomas; A Star Waters; Stephanie Wahab; Angie Mejia; S Renee Mitchell Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2010-06-17 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Hector M González; William A Vega; David R Williams; Wassim Tarraf; Brady T West; Harold W Neighbors Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 2010-01
Authors: Bernadette A Fausto; Solaleh Azimipour; Lisa Charles; Christina Yarborough; Keyla Grullon; Emily Hokett; Paul R Duberstein; Mark A Gluck Journal: J Appl Gerontol Date: 2021-05-03