Abstract PO-076: Social support, diet, and physical activity among Latina breast cancer survivors

Abstract

Abstract Background: The American Institute for Cancer Research and the American Cancer Society recommendations for diet and physical activity are less likely to be followed by minority cancer populations, such as Latina breast cancer survivors, compared to non-Hispanic White women. Moreover, Latinas are also more likely to suffer from other comorbidities, such as diabetes, which could be alleviated by improved diet and physical activity (PA). Social support is one potential mechanism that can encourage a healthy lifestyle. Studies to date have been inconsistent in showing that higher levels of social support among cancer survivors is associated with higher levels of PA and healthy eating and most of these studies were conducted in majority White populations. Purpose: This study examines the associations between social support from different social support sources with PA and diet behaviors in Latina breast cancer survivors. We hypothesized that higher levels of social support would be associated with higher levels of PA and healthier eating. Method: Latina breast cancer survivors (n=85; M age = 55.47, SD =9.63) of mostly Dominican heritage with a history of breast cancer (stages 0-III) completed the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support scale, which measures social support from friends, family, and a significant other. Physical activity was assessed via a 7-day physical activity recall and dietary intake was measured via three 24-hour dietary recalls. In this cross-sectional analysis, associations between social support, dietary intake (calories, fruit/vegetable intake, fat, and energy density), and PA (moderate, hard, very hard, and moderate-to-vigorous PA activity levels) were examined using bivariate correlations. Linear Regression Models tested whether statistically significant correlations (p<.05) held with covariates of age, income, education, and acculturation. Results: There were no significant associations between social support and PA. More social support from all three types of networks were each associated with a low energy density diet controlling for covariates: (family β =-.02, p=.003), friends (β =-.01, p=.01), significant other (β =-.014, p=.012). Further, a low-energy density diet was associated with a higher Healthy Eating Index score in post-hoc analyses (r=-.27, p=.01). Higher caloric intake was only associated with more social support from a significant other (r=.36, p<.001) and remained controlling for covariates (β=21.53, p=.03). Total fruit and vegetable (F/V) and fat intake were not associated with any of the social support variables controlling for covariates. Conclusions: Findings suggest that having social support from family, friends, or a significant person may contribute to a low-energy density diet, which was associated with a higher quality diet. Citation Format: Amanda M. Marin-Chollom, Pam Koch, Ann Ogden Gaffney, Isobel Contento, Hanjie Shen, Dawn Hershman, Heather Greenlee. Social support, diet, and physical activity among Latina breast cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2021 Oct 6-8. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-076.