ASPO Abstracts
I don't feel like moving": Mediating role of Depression in Risk Factors of Physical Inactivity
Category: Cancer Health Disparities, Lifestyles Behavior, Energy Balance & Chemoprevention
Conference Year: 2018
Abstract Body:
Objective. Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for cancer. While Americans have become more physically active in the past two decades, only 49% of Americans currently meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for aerobic physical activity. Even more troublesome are the high obesity rates among African Americans in the US partly due to physical inactivity. In addition to high rates of obesity, African Americans are also uniquely exposed to racial discrimination and segregated neighborhoods that can decrease health behaviors and increase risk for depression. However, this group continues to be overlooked in the research community. Thus, the current study seeks to examine how perceived racial discrimination and perceived neighborhood problems impact depression and physical activity. Methods. The participants were a community sample of African Americans (n = 362) recruited from a large southern mega-church who were asked to complete a self-report questionnaire related to perceived neighborhood problems (e.g., litter on the streets, graffiti), perceived neighborhood safety (e.g., “I look over my shoulder when walking down the street”), depression (CES-D), physical activity (IPAQ) and sedentary behaviors (e.g., time spent watching TV or on the computer). Results. Structural equation modeling showed that higher levels of racial discrimination and neighborhood problems were related to higher levels of depression; and higher levels of depression were related to less physical activity and greater sedentary behavior. Further, indirect effects showed that depression fully mediated the effect of racial discrimination and neighborhood problems on physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Conclusion. The results supported the hypothesis that depression mediates the relationship between individual and neighborhood level stressors and health behaviors. The implications highlight the need for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to consider the important role of mental health in cancer prevention.
Keywords: physical activity depression contextual risk factors