Ivan H C Wu1, Larkin L Strong2, Nga T Nguyen3, Dalnim Cho4, Jemima John5, Lorna H McNeill6. 1. Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Health Disparities Research, Houston, TX;, Email: ihwu@mdanderson.org. 2. Assistant Professor, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Health Disparities Research, Houston, TX. 3. Senior Statistical Analyst, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Biostatistics, Houston, TX. 4. Instructor, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Health Disparities Research, Houston, TX. 5. Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Health Disparities Research, Houston, TX. 6. Associate Professor and Chair, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Health Disparities Research, Houston, TX.
Abstract
Objectives: In this study, we examined how racial discrimination and neighborhood perceptions relate to physical activity and sedentary behavior mediated through depression symptoms. Methods: Data were from the first year of a longitudinal cohort study, Project Creating a Higher Understanding of cancer Research and Community Health (CHURCH), based on a convenience community sample of church-attending African Americans collected between April 2012 and March 2013 (N = 370) in Houston, Texas. Measures included racial discrimination, perceived neighborhood problems and vigilance, depression (CES-D), physical activity (IPAQ-short), and sedentary behavior. Results: Main effects from the structural equation model showed that racial discrimination (b = .20, p < .01) was related to greater depression symptoms. The same pattern emerged for neighborhood problems, but the effect was not significant (b = .20, p = .07). Further, depression symptoms were related to less physical activity (b = -.62, p = .03) and greater sedentary behavior (b = .64, p < .01). Indirect effects showed that depression mediated the relationship between racial discrimination and neighborhood problems on physical activity and sedentary behavior. Conclusions: Depression symptoms are an important mechanism by which racial discrimination and perceived neighborhood problems impact physical activity and sedentary behavior.
Objectives: In this study, we examined how racial discrimination and neighborhood perceptions relate to physical activity and sedentary behavior mediated through depression symptoms. Methods: Data were from the first year of a longitudinal cohort study, Project Creating a Higher Understanding of cancer Research and Community Health (CHURCH), based on a convenience community sample of church-attending African Americans collected between April 2012 and March 2013 (N = 370) in Houston, Texas. Measures included racial discrimination, perceived neighborhood problems and vigilance, depression (CES-D), physical activity (IPAQ-short), and sedentary behavior. Results: Main effects from the structural equation model showed that racial discrimination (b = .20, p < .01) was related to greater depression symptoms. The same pattern emerged for neighborhood problems, but the effect was not significant (b = .20, p = .07). Further, depression symptoms were related to less physical activity (b = -.62, p = .03) and greater sedentary behavior (b = .64, p < .01). Indirect effects showed that depression mediated the relationship between racial discrimination and neighborhood problems on physical activity and sedentary behavior. Conclusions: Depression symptoms are an important mechanism by which racial discrimination and perceived neighborhood problems impact physical activity and sedentary behavior.
Authors: Brooks Yelton; Daniela B Friedman; Samuel Noblet; Matthew C Lohman; Michelle A Arent; Mark M Macauda; Mayank Sakhuja; Katherine H Leith Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-01-28 Impact factor: 3.390