Evaluation of a Faith-based, Behavior-change Physical Activity Intervention for African Americans

Abstract

Physical Activity (PA) participation offers many benefits and protective effects for ethnic groups that experience health disparities. The Health-e-AME Physical-e-Fit program is a faith-based intervention promoting increased PA among members of African American churches. The 8 Steps to Fitness component of this program is a behavior and skill based class promoting lifestyle PA and healthy eating habits. Purpose: to evaluate a faith-based, behavior-change PA intervention tailored for African Americans. METHODS: The study used a quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design to detect differences between the intervention group (participants taking part in 8 Steps to Fitness n = 72) and a comparison group (sedentary or underactive adults n = 74). Physiological (resting blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio, fasting blood glucose), psychosocial (PA self-efficacy, social support, enjoyment, and self-regulation, and depression and stress), and behavioral variables (PA participation, weekly pedometer step counts, dietary habits) were assessed at baseline and 3 and 6 months. Repeated measures ANCOVAs tested Group x Time interactions on key outcome variables. Statistical mediation and moderation was tested using linear regression analyses. RESULTS: The sample was mainly female (80%), aged 52.2±3.3 years, and classified as obese, BMI 30.8±10.6 kg/m2. Response rates at the 3-month assessment were different for the intervention (83%) and comparison group (47%). At 3-months, significant Group x Time differences were found for body mass index(p<0.001). The Time x Group interaction for PA approached statistical significance (p=0.06). PA was found to partially mediate the relationship between intervention group and systolic blood pressure and the intervention group and hip measurement. No other outcomes were found to be significant. 6-month results are not yet available. CONCLUSION: This study found modest improvements in physiological, psychosocial and behavioral outcomes and was conducted in a real-world setting, allowing for greater dissemination of a culturally-tailored faith-based PA intervention for African Americans. Although the results of the study were promising, the differential rates of attrition limit the interpretation of the results.