Health Behaviors Of Women Research Articles

Women with Family History of Breast Cancer: How Much Are They Aware of Their Risk?

The aims of this study are to assess knowledge of inheritance characteristics of breast cancer and risk reduction strategies and to determine risk perception and the factors affecting risk perception of women with family history. There is a gap in our understanding of risk perception and knowledge of genetic aspect of breast cancer and risk reduction strategies in women with a family history of breast cancer. The study design is descriptive cross-sectional study. Between January 2015 and 2016 at a training and research hospital in Turkey, 117 women who were the first- and second-degree relatives of breast cancer patients were included in the study. Perceived risk scale, cancer worry chart, and a knowledge assessment form were used to collect data. Of the women, 34.1% were first-degree relatives of a breast cancer patient, and knowledge score was 6.9±2.19 out of 11. Almost half of the women (41.9%) moderately worry about the chances of getting breast cancer, and half of the women (51.3%) ranked their perceived risk as moderate (26-50% out of 100%). There is a significant difference between the perceived risk and educational level, having genetic testing, and a significant relationship between the perceived risk and worry level of women. However, breast cancer screening behavior was not affected by risk perception. The knowledge of women regarding inheritance characteristics of breast cancer and risk reduction strategies was moderate, but still majority of women have moderate or higher level of risk perception and are worried about getting breast cancer. Therefore, interventions should be planned to reduce worry and to increase risk reduction strategies such as screening and other health behaviors in women at risk for breast-ovarian cancer.

Honoring Motherhood: The Meaning of Childbirth for Tongan Women.

The purpose of this ethnographic study was to describe the meaning of childbirth for Tongan women. In this qualitative descriptive study, 38 Tongan women, 18 from Tonga and 20 from the United States, who had given birth in the past year were invited to share their perceptions of childbirth. Themes were generated collaboratively by the research team. The overarching theme was honoring motherhood; other themes include using strength to facilitate an unmedicated vaginal birth, describing the spiritual dimensions of birth, adhering to cultural practices associated with childbearing, and the influence of the concept of respect on childbearing. Understanding the value Tongan women and their families place on motherhood can help nurses to give culturally sensitive nursing care. Tongan beliefs and cultural practices should be respected. Nurses should assess women's personal preferences for their care and advocate for them as needed. Sensitivity to stoicism is important, especially on pain control and patient education. Nurses should be aware of Tongan values regarding modesty and respect, and provide an appropriate care environment. A culturally competent nurse understands the importance of sociocultural influences on women's health beliefs and behaviors and generates appropriate interventions.

Dietary Patterns and Alcohol Consumption During Pregnancy: Secondary Analysis of Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

Large general population surveys show that heavy regular and episodic alcohol consumption are associated with lower intakes of fruits and vegetables, and higher intakes of processed and fried meat. This is of particular concern regarding pregnant women, as both alcohol intake and inadequate maternal nutrition are independently associated with adverse fetal outcomes. The current study aimed to determine associations between maternal dietary patterns and alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Women were participating in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, and provided details of alcohol consumption at 18weeks' gestation and diet at 32weeks' gestation (n=9,839). Dietary patterns were derived from the food frequency questionnaire data using principal components analysis. Associations between alcohol consumption and dietary patterns were determined using multiple linear regression, adjusted for various sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. After adjustment, drinking ≥1 unit/d during the first trimester (β=0.23 [95% CI: 0.08, 0.38]; p=0.002) and binge drinking (≥4 units in 1day) during the first half of pregnancy (β=0.14 [95% CI: 0.07, 0.21]; p<0.0001) were associated with greater adherence to the "Processed" dietary pattern (high intakes of processed meat and low intakes of fruit and vegetables). Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption (≤1 drink/d) during the first trimester was associated with greater adherence to the "Health conscious" dietary pattern (high intakes of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and fish) (β=0.09 [95% CI: 0.04, 0.14]; p<0.0001). Two important components of health behavior during pregnancy appear to be related: greater consumption of processed foods associated with heavier alcohol consumption, and healthier dietary choices associated with light-to-moderate alcohol intake. Potential synergistic effects of these behaviors may have implications for maternal and fetal health and warrant further investigation. A more holistic approach to addressing health behaviors in women of reproductive age is required.

Abstract P2-07-10: Breast health behaviors of women under 40 accessing the Avon breast health outreach program

Abstract Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and tends to be more aggressive when diagnosed in women &amp;lt;40 years. However, limited research exists on breast health behaviors of women &amp;lt;40. This study analyzes trends in breast health behaviors and diagnostic data among women &amp;lt;40 served by the Avon Breast Health Outreach Program (BHOP) which links medically underserved women to breast health education and screening services. Methods Confidential client intake records of female clients (n= 192,296) of Avon BHOP grantees continuously-funded from 2011-2015 were analyzed, along with breast cancer diagnosis data from a select number of clients (n=82) from January-March 2016. Results Approximately 7% of Avon BHOP clients from 2011-2015 were &amp;lt;40 years (n=12,872). Women &amp;lt;40 had a significantly lower odds of having been taught breast self-exam (BSE), knowing about mammograms before their visit, having had a clinical breast exam (CBE) in the past 2 years, and having had a mammogram in the past 2 years compared to women ≥40. Over 80% of women &amp;lt;40 reported being taught BSE and knowing about mammograms before their visit, compared to 94% among women ≥40. The percent who reported a CBE in the past 2 years increased by approximately 5% among both &amp;lt;40 and ≥40 women, to a high of 64.6% and 78.2%, respectively, in 2015. Reporting a mammogram in the past 2 years also increased by approximately 5% in both groups, to a high of 25.9% and 70.3%, respectively, in 2015. Women &amp;lt;40 had a significantly higher odds of having breast-related symptoms (OR=7.64) and a relative diagnosed with breast cancer (OR=1.23) compared to women ≥40. For women &amp;lt;40, the adjusted odds of having had a mammogram in the past 2 years were 1.34 times higher (p&amp;lt;0.001) among those who had a relative diagnosed with breast cancer compared to those who did not, while the odds were 1.09 (p&amp;lt;0.001) among women ≥40. From January-March 2016, 10 breast cancer cases in women &amp;lt;40 were reported by 7 Avon BHOP grantees; 38 cases were reported in women ≥40. Of the 10 diagnosed cases, the majority were Hispanic (70%) and 30% were Stage IV compared to 6% among women ≥40, however the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.096). Discussion In 2015 the American Cancer Society estimated that 4.2% of breast cancer cases were diagnosed in women &amp;lt;40. While the Avon BHOP diagnosis data is limited, the results nonetheless demonstrate a higher rate of breast cancer in this age group. Additionally, the association between being &amp;lt;40 and having a later stage diagnosis compared to those ≥40 appears to be a meaningful trend, and, while not significant in our preliminary data, we anticipate the finding to persist. While Avon BHOP clients &amp;lt;40 had a significantly lower odds of knowing about screening behaviors compared to ≥40, a large percentage had knowledge of breast health, and increasingly reported higher rates of screening behaviors. There was also a greater positive association between having a relative with breast cancer and having had a mammogram in the past 2 years in women &amp;lt;40 compared to ≥40. These findings suggest that Avon BHOP clients &amp;lt;40 increasingly understand their breast cancer risk and seek screening services accordingly. It is important to provide clear screening guidelines for this population. Citation Format: Gates-Ferris K, Bauer KM, Senter L. Breast health behaviors of women under 40 accessing the Avon breast health outreach program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-07-10.

Rethinking Preconception Care: A Critical, Women’s Health Perspective

Objectives Preconception care aims to provide care to reproductive aged individuals in order to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes. Given that preconception care is a public health priority, it is important to evaluate the evolution of this health paradigm and the promotion of preconception messages that are obtained by the public. We identified online preconception health messages, which were critically assessed through a women's health perspective. Methods We searched for "preconception care" on three major search engines. Websites were included if they were U.S.-based, provided content in English, and mentioned preconception care. Blogs and journal articles were excluded. The final sample included 52 websites. Using a content analysis approach, we assessed the presence of gender bias and identified other emergent themes. Results The majority of websites focused on preconception care for women only (67%). The recommendations centered on: (1) health behaviors for women (e.g., folic acid, drinking, smoking); (2) visiting healthcare providers; and (3) evaluating medical risks. Moreover, most content implied that women desired, or should desire, pregnancy. Overall, the messages used biomedical language and rarely mentioned other important health topics, such as social support and violence. Conclusions The primary messages presented on preconception care websites emphasized biomedical aspects of women's health. The current context of preconception care medicalizes this pre-pregnancy period by defining it as a biomedical condition requiring lifestyle changes and interventions. Additionally, the biases presented in these messages assumed women want and are capable of pregnancies and excluded an integral factor for heteronormative reproduction-men.

General self-efficacy level and health behaviours in women over the age of 45 years who have undergone osteoporosis treatment.

IntroductionContemporary people do not follow the civilisation development in every life domain, their lifestyle is not always healthy. Self-efficacy is the factor that plays an important role in undertaking actions towards struggling with the disease.The aim of the studyThe aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the general self-efficacy level and health behaviours as well as chosen sociodemographic features in women over the age of 45 years who have undergone osteoporosis treatment.Material and methodsThe study comprised 151 women over the age of 45 years. The research was conducted in 2016 in health care centres in Lublin, a city in south-eastern Poland. The Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) by R. Schwarzer, M. Jerusalem and Z. Juczyński and an original questionnaire were used as research tools. The obtained material was subjected to descriptive and statistical analysis. χ2 test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney Test and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient were all applied.ResultsThe analysis of obtained results showed that as much as 73.5% of the respondents showed very low and low generalised self-efficacy level. On the other hand, only 22.5% of the examined were characterised by high and very high generalised self-efficacy level. The longer the duration of osteoporosis treatment (rho = 0.251; p = 0.002) and the better the self-estimation of health status (rho = 0.473; p = 0.000), the higher the respondents’ generalised self-efficacy level. The women’s self-efficacy level declined with increasing ailments (rho = –0.190; p = 0.019).ConclusionsThe generalized self-efficacy level and the health behaviours are not satisfactory.

Exploring Spirituality Among African American Women: Implications for Promoting Breast Health Behaviors.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain understanding of the definition, meaning, and function of spirituality to African American women. Four categories emerged that add insight for nurses to develop innovative spiritual-based strategies to promote African American women's positive health behaviors. Implications for promoting breast health behaviors are described.

Gender-Based Violence in Rural Uttar Pradesh, India: Prevalence and Association With Reproductive Health Behaviors.

This study explores the prevalence of different forms of domestic violence and their impact on women's reproductive health behavior in rural Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. Data were collected as a part of a large household survey carried out in 2009-2010. A multistage stratified systematic sampling design was used. A total of 4,223 married women aged 15 to 49 years and 2,274 husbands of these women were interviewed. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate analyses. More than one third of married women in rural UP had experienced one or more forms of violence, such as verbal abuse, physical manhandling, and sexual abuse by their spouse. Nearly 47% of the women had experienced some form of violence during their last pregnancy. Significant associations were found between violence and incorrect reproductive health behaviors, pregnancy complications, poor birth preparedness, poor likelihood of institutional delivery, limited postnatal care, and limited spousal communication for family planning. After controlling for socio-economic variables in multivariate analysis, only pregnancy complications (odds ratio [OR] = 1.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.40, 1.85]) and lack of delivery preparedness (OR = 0.79, 95% CI = [0.68, 0.93]) were found to be significantly associated with violence. Husband's attitude and reporting of violence by their wives in different situations were not significantly associated. This study provides evidence of the association of violence on the reproductive health behavior of married women in rural India. The results argue for frontline health workers to identify and counsel pregnant women experiencing violence during antenatal check-up to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

Effect of Planned Follow-up on Married Women's Health Beliefs and Behaviors Concerning Breast and Cervical Cancer Screenings.

The objective of this study was to identify the effect of planned follow-up visits on married women's health beliefs and behaviors concerning breast and cervical cancer screenings. The study was conducted using the single-group pre-test/post-test and quasi-experimental study designs. The sample of the study included 153 women. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Health Belief Model (HBM) Scale for Breast Cancer Screening, the HBM Scale for Cervical Cancer Screening, and a Pap smear test. Data were collected using the aforementioned tools from September 2012 to March 2013. Four follow-up visits were conducted, nurses were educated, and telephone reminders were utilized. Friedman's test, McNemar's test, and descriptive statistics were used for data analyzing. The frequency of performing breast self-examination (BSE) at the last visit increased to 84.3% compared to the pre-training. A statistically significant difference was observed between the pre- and post-training median values in four subscales except for the subscale of perceived seriousness of cervical cancer under "the Health Belief Model Scale for Cervical Cancer and the Pap Smear Test" (p<0.001). The rate of performing BSE significantly increased after the training and follow-up visits. Also, the rate of having a Pap smear significantly increased after the follow-up visits.

Maternal Health Risk Assessment and Behavioral Intervention in the NICU Setting Following Very Low Birth Weight Delivery

Objectives To investigate whether maternal health risk assessment and behavioral intervention in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) improves women's health care seeking and health behaviors following the birth of a very low birth weight (VLBW) infant. Methods Using a quasi-experimental non-equivalent control group pretest/posttest design, 80 women who had given birth to a VLBW infant that was admitted to the NICU were enrolled into one of two cohorts: 40 into a 'Minimal Intervention' cohort, who received a single session risk assessment and health education pamphlets, and 40 into an 'Enhanced Intervention' cohort, who received five counseling sessions targeting identified risks. The proportion of women with specific health care seeking and health behaviors in the two cohorts were compared at baseline and 3- and 9-months post-intervention. Results Women in the Enhanced Intervention cohort were more likely to attend the postpartum visit (73 % vs. 48 %; p = 0.04), ingest folic acid daily (65 % vs. 19 %, p < 0.001), and correctly and consistently use a method of contraception (82 % vs. 63 %, p = 0.03) over the 9-month follow-up period. In multivariate analysis, the between-cohort differences in daily folic acid use (aOR = 3.45, 95 % CI 1.61-7.40) and correct and consistent use of a method of contraception (aOR = 1.46, 95 % CI 1.05-2.06) remained statistically significant at 9-months and the reduction in risk of unintended pregnancy nearly achieved statistical significance (aOR = 0.62, 95 % CI 0.12-1.0). Conclusions for Practice This study provides support for the implementation of maternal risk assessment and behavioral intervention in the NICU setting to promote women's positive health care seeking and health behaviors.

Maternal diet quality and nutrient intake in the gestational period: results from the delta healthy sprouts comparative impact trial.

BackgroundA woman’s diet while pregnant can play an important role in her reproductive health as well as the health of her unborn child. Diet quality and nutrient intake amongst pregnant women residing in the rural Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD) region of the United States is inadequate. The Delta Healthy Sprouts Project was designed to test the comparative impact of two home visiting programs on weight status, dietary intake, and health behaviors of women and their infants residing in the LMD region. This paper reports results pertaining to maternal diet quality and nutrient intake in the gestational period.MethodsThe experimental arm (PATE) received monthly home visits beginning in the second trimester using the Parents as Teachers curriculum enhanced with a nutrition and lifestyle behavior curriculum. The control arm (PAT) received monthly home visits using the Parents as Teachers curriculum only. Maternal diet was assessed via 24-h dietary recall at gestational months (GM) 4 (baseline), 6, and 8. Diet quality was computed using the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010).ResultsGestational period retention rates for PAT and PATE arms were 77 % (33/43) and 67 % (26/39), respectively. Significant effects were not found for time, treatment, or time by treatment for the HEI-2010 total or component scores, macro- or micronutrient intake or percentage of women meeting recommended nutrient intakes.ConclusionsPerhaps due to low participant enrollment and higher than expected rates of drop out and noncompliance, we were not able to demonstrate that the enhanced nutrition and lifestyle curriculum (PATE) intervention had a significant effect on diet quality or nutrient intake during pregnancy in this cohort of rural, Southern, primarily African American women.Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov, NCT01746394. Registered 5 December 2012.

Des inégalités sociales de santé moins marquées chez les femmes que chez les hommes : une question de mesure ?

Social inequalities in mortality are generally less pronounced for women than for men. Are women's health risks and behaviours more homogeneous, or does this pattern arise from a measurement issue inducing an under-estimation of these inequalities? This article reviews a number of studies covering different dimensions of health and different dimensions of social status. Their findings show that there are large social inequalities in health among women. The focus on the working careers, family histories and conciliation of multiple activities provides evidence of major social determinants of health to which women are widely exposed. This article highlights the need to broaden the notion of social inequality and to redefine the social categories, notably by considering the distinct trajectories of men and women and their different spheres of activity. It highlights that gender differences in health are themselves partly socially constructed, as suggested by the gender approaches in the social sciences.

Women's Health Behaviours and Psychosocial Well-Being by Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Model: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundCardiac rehabilitation (CR) is associated with significantly lower mortality and improved psychosocial well-being. However, women are less likely to participate than men. This trial tested whether participation in women-only CR results in better health behaviours and psychosocial outcomes than do other models. MethodsCardiac Rehabilitation for her Heart Event Recovery (CR4HER) was a single-blind randomized trial with 3 parallel arms. Low-risk cardiac patients were recruited from 6 sites in Ontario. Consenting participants completed surveys assessing health behaviours (physical activity, diet, medication adherence, smoking) and psychosocial well-being (social support, quality of life, depressive symptoms) and wore pedometers for 7 days. After intake assessment, eligible participants were randomized to mixed-sex, women-only, or home-based CR. Participants were mailed follow-up surveys and pedometers 6 months later. ResultsOne hundred sixty-nine patients were randomized, and 116 (68.6%) were retained. Self-reported physical activity increased among women in mixed-sex and women-only CR groups (per protocol and as treated, P < 0.05). Diet improved among women in women-only CR groups (as treated, P < 0.05). Quality of life improved among women in mixed-sex (per protocol and as treated, P < 0.05) and women-only CR groups (per protocol, P < 0.05; as treated, P < 0.01). After testing, women in the mixed-sex CR group had higher anxiety symptoms than did those in the women-only group (per protocol, P = 0.017), and those in the mixed-sex CR group had higher depressive symptoms than did those in the women-only group (as treated, P = 0.001). Analyses adjusted for confounding variables revealed no significant differences in any outcome by model. Post hoc equivalency tests were computed on a per-protocol basis, and all outcomes were equivalent by model. ConclusionsBehavioural and psychosocial outcomes were largely equivalent regardless of model; however, women-only programs may confer an advantage for anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Infant birthweight in the US: the role of preconception stressful life events and substance use.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships among preconception stressful life events (PSLEs), women's alcohol and tobacco use before and during pregnancy, and infant birthweight. Data were from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (n = 9,350). Data were collected in 2001. Exposure to PSLEs was defined by indications of death of a parent, spouse, or previous live born child; divorce or marital separation; or fertility problems prior to conception. Survey data determined alcohol and tobacco usage during the 3months prior to and in the final 3months of pregnancy. We used staged multivariable logistic regression to estimate the effects of women's substance use and PSLEs on the risk of having a very low (<1,500g, VLBW) or low (1,500-2,499g, LBW) birthweight infant, adjusting for confounders. Women who experienced any PSLE were more likely to give birth to VLBW infants (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10-1.66) than women who did not experience any PSLE. Compared to women who never smoked, women who smoked prior to conception (AOR = 1.31; 95% CI = 1.04-1.66) or during their last trimester (AOR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.56-2.52) were more likely to give birth to LBW infants. PSLEs and women's tobacco use before and during pregnancy are independent risk factors for having a lower birthweight baby. Interventions to improve birth outcomes may need to address women's health and health behaviors in the preconception period.

Assessment of selected health behaviors of women after breast cancer therapy

Abstract Introduction: Health is highly valued by individuals as well as whole social groups. Lifestyle, and related with this health behaviors are believed to be the main factors that largely determine its condition. Poland is a country, where the number of malignant cancer morbidity is systematically increasing. Breast cancer is the most common among women aged 45 years old. Despite the relative stability of the mortality outcomes the rate of it is still high. This situation is influenced by many factors, including the limited awareness of the value of health-related behaviors. Material and methods: The study included 70 women aged 45-75 years old. The study and control group consisted of: 36 women with breast cancer and 34 women without cancer in history. The specifically developed questionnaire and the Positive Health Behaviors Scale for Women developed by Hildt-Ciupińska were used in this study. IBM SPSS v. 21.0 was used for statistical analysis and non-parametric U-Mann Whitney test. Results: The study let determine the level of women's health behaviors. The analysis of the results showed that there are much anomalies in health-related behaviors in both studied groups. The lowest point scale values were reported in the "Physical activity" subscale. The highest values were reported in the "Safety behaviors" and "Caring body" subscale. The disappointing results in statements related with the prevention of cancer were the most alarmous. Conclusions: The introduction of health prevention awareness programs in the group of women over 45 years of age, may contribute to an increase in the frequency of health-promoting behaviors.

Racial/ethnic differences in identity and mental health outcomes among young sexual minority women.

Previous research suggests that sexual minorities are at greater risk for trauma exposure, mental health problems, and substance use. To date, few studies have examined racial/ethnic differences among sexual minorities in relation to health-related behaviors and outcomes. Furthermore, studies of racial/ethnic differences among young adult sexual minority women (SMW) are virtually nonexistent. The current study adds to the previous literature by exploring differences in trauma exposure, sexual identity, mental health, and substance use in a nonprobability national sample of young adult SMW. A total of 967 self- identified lesbian and bisexual women were recruited via the Internet using social networking sites to participate in a larger longitudinal study on young women's health behaviors. The present study included 730 (76%) White, 108 (10%) African American, 91 (9%) Latina, and 38 (4%) Asian women ages 18 to 25 years. Results revealed differences in socioeconomic variables, degree of outness to family, childhood sexual assault, and forcible rape, but not overall lifetime trauma exposure. Among mental health and health-related behavior variables, few differences between groups emerged. Our findings indicate that both researchers and clinicians should turn their attention to processes of resilience among young SMW, particularly young SMW of color.

Sexual Minority Women's Health Behaviors and Outcomes After Breast Cancer.

Sexual minority women (e.g., lesbians, bisexual women, and women who prefer a female partner) are a known risk population for overweight, obesity, and mental health problems. Our objective is to compare sexual minority women with breast cancer to a control sample of sexual minority women without cancer to identify differences in healthful lifestyle practices, weight, well-being and mental health. This is a cross-sectional study of 85 sexual minority women with a breast cancer history (cases) matched by age and partner status to 85 sexual minority controls without cancer. We compared self-reported physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, weight, quality of life, anxiety, and depression. Cases and controls had similar health behaviors, BMI, quality of life, anxiety, and depression. Of the weight-related behaviors, meeting the recommended guidelines of physical activity was significantly associated with lower likelihood of being overweight or obese, less depression, and better mental quality of life. Sexual minority women with breast cancer are similar to sexual minority women without cancer with respect to healthful behaviors, body weight, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Lifestyle interventions to reduce the risk of poor outcomes after cancer should be implemented in this population as well as in sexual minority women without cancer.

Effect of parity on healthy promotion lifestyle behavior in women

Background: Health-promoting lifestyle behaviors are not only for the prevention of a disease or discomfort, but are also behaviors that aim to improve the individual’s general health and well-being. Nurses have an important position in the development of healthy lifestyle behaviors in women.Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of parity on health-promoting lifestyle behaviors in women.Method/Design: This descriptive and cross-sectional survey was performed in Adana, Turkey. This study was conducted with 352 women. The questionnaire consisted of two parts; the first part consisted of questions that assessed the socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics, and the second part employed the “Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile Scale” (HPLP). Data analysis included percentage, arithmetic average, and ANOVA tests.Results: The results revealed that 24.1% of the women had no parity, 13.6% had one parity, 30.7% had two parities, 14.6% had three parities, and 17% had four and above parities. The mean total HPLP was 126.66±18.12 (interpersonal support subscale, 24.46±4.02; nutrition subscale, 21.59±3.92; self-actualization subscale, 24.42±4.30; stress management subscale, 18.73±3.81; health responsibility subscale, 21.75±4.31; and exercise subscale, 15.71±4.22).Conclusions: The health behavior of women was moderate. A statistically significant correlation was found between the number of parities and the Health Responsibility, Nutrition, Interpersonal Support, which is the subscale of the HPLP Scale.

Cortisol Stress Response in Men and Women Modulated Differentially by the Mu-Opioid Receptor Gene Polymorphism OPRM1 A118G.

Differences in stress reactivity may affect long-term health outcomes, but there is little information on how these differences arise. The stress axis is regulated by, in part, the endogenous opioid, beta-endorphin, acting on mu-opioid receptors. Persons carrying one or two copies of the G allele of the mu-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1 A118G) may have higher receptor binding for beta-endorphin compared with AA homozygotes that may contribute to individual differences in cortisol reactivity to stress, leading to a relative blunting of cortisol stress reactivity in G allele genotypes. We measured cortisol in 251 young adults (69 GA/GG vs 182 AA genotypes) exposed to mental arithmetic plus public speaking stress relative to a resting control day. Women had smaller cortisol responses than men (F=10.2, p=0.002), and women with GA or GG genotypes (N=39) had an absence of cortisol response relative to AA carriers (N=110) (F=18.4, p<0.0001). Male genotypes had no such difference in response (F=0.29). Cortisol response following mu-opioid receptor blockade using naltrexone in 119 of these subjects unmasked a greater tonic opioid inhibition of cortisol secretion in women (N=64), consistent with their blunted stress reactivity. Compared with men, women may have cortisol stress responses that are more heavily regulated by endogenous opioid mechanisms, and the OPRM1 GA/GG genotypes may affect females differentially relative to males. Diminished cortisol responses to stress may have consequences for health behaviors in women with GA/GG genotypes.

Constrained choices? Linking employees' and spouses' work time to health behaviors

There are extensive literatures on work conditions and health and on family contexts and health, but less research asking how a spouse or partners' work conditions may affect health behaviors. Drawing on the constrained choices framework, we theorized health behaviors as a product of one's own time and spouses' work time as well as gender expectations. We examined fast food consumption and exercise behaviors using survey data from 429 employees in an Information Technology (IT) division of a U.S. Fortune 500 firm and from their spouses. We found fast food consumption is affected by men's work hours—both male employees' own work hours and the hours worked by husbands of women respondents—in a nonlinear way. The groups most likely to eat fast food are men working 50 h/week and women whose husbands work 45–50 h/week. Second, exercise is better explained if work time is conceptualized at the couple, rather than individual, level. In particular, neo-traditional arrangements (where husbands work longer than their wives) constrain women's ability to engage in exercise but increase odds of men exercising. Women in couples where both partners are working long hours have the highest odds of exercise. In addition, women working long hours with high schedule control are more apt to exercise and men working long hours whose wives have high schedule flexibility are as well. Our findings suggest different health behaviors may have distinct antecedents but gendered work-family expectations shape time allocations in ways that promote men's and constrain women's health behaviors. They also suggest the need to expand the constrained choices framework to recognize that long hours may encourage exercise if both partners are looking to sustain long work hours and that work resources, specifically schedule control, of one partner may expand the choices of the other.