246434 Psychological and family determinants of a sedentary life style among low-income women with young children

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Kaigang Li, PhD , Department of Health Policy, Management, & Behavior, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY
Janine Jurkowski, MPH, PhD , Department of Health Policy, Management, & Behavior, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY
Kirsten Davison, PhD , Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
Background: A sedentary lifestyle may result in negative physical and mental health outcomes. Previous studies have indicated that women with children were more sedentary than those without children and low-come women were more sedentary than higher income ones. So, low-income mothers/female guardians are particular vulnerable for sedentary living. Identification of its determinants helps to tailor interventions to low-income women with young children. Objective: This study examined the psychological and family determinants of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and television viewing among low-income mothers/female guardians of preschool-aged children. Methods: A self-administrated questionnaire was completed by 141 mothers/female guardians. The primary outcome measures were LTPA (<150 vs. ≥150 minutes per week) and television viewing time (minutes/day). Predictors included social support, family functioning, depression and perceived stress. Demographic factors (age, marriage, work status, education and race/ethnicity) were included as potential covariates. Results: Women watched TV on average 194.82 minutes/day (i.e., >3 hours). Additionally, 36% of women engaged in less than150 minutes LTPA per week. Greater perceived stress (r=.27, p<.001), greater depression symptoms (r=.36, p<.001), and lower family functioning (r=.25, p<.01) were associated with significantly higher television viewing among women. Similarly, women with less perceived stress (OR=0.36, p<.05), less depression symptoms (OR=0.85, p<.01) and greater social support (OR=1.36, p<.05) were more likely to engage in 150-minute LTPA weekly. There was no association between demographic factors and outcome variables. Conclusions: Findings suggest that health promotion efforts to promote an active lifestyle among low income women with young children should address psychological and family functioning factors.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Articulate the procedure in measuring psychological and family factors using validated scales Explain associations of psychological and family determinants with leisure-time physical activity and television viewing among low-income women Discuss health promotion efforts to improve an active lifestyle among low-income women

Keywords: Women's Health, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a postdoc fellow working on this project. I conceptualized and wrote the abstract.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.