Psychosocial mediators of physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption in the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition programme

Public Health Nutrition

Sara Wilcox¹  Meghan Baruth¹ 

关键词: Physical activity;    Fruit and vegetable consumption;    Mediation analyses;    Faith-based intervention;    Public health;   

DOI  :  10.1017/S1368980014002808

学科分类：卫生学

来源: Cambridge University Press

【 摘 要 】

AbstractObjectivePerforming and publishing mediator analyses, whether significant or null, provides insight into where research efforts should focus and will assist in developing effective and powerful behaviour change interventions. The present study examined whether self-efficacy, social support and church support mediated changes in leisure-time physical activity (PA) and fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption in a faith-based intervention.DesignA 15-month PA and F&V intervention, guided by the structural ecological model, targeted the social, cultural and policy influences within the church. Outcomes and mediators were measured at baseline and follow-up. Data were collected from 2007 to 2011. MacKinnon’s product of coefficients tested for mediation.SettingSixty-eight African Methodist Episcopal churches in South Carolina, USA.SubjectsFive hundred and eighty-two (PA) and 588 (F&V) church members.ResultsDespite the significant increases in PA and F&V consumption, none of the hypothesized mediators were significant mediators of change in PA or F&V consumption. When examining each path of the mediation model, the intervention did not change any of the hypothesized mediators. However, changes in some mediators were associated with changes in outcomes.ConclusionsAlthough there was no significant mediation, the association between changes in mediators and changes in PA and/or F&V consumption suggest that these variables likely play some role in changing these behaviours. Future studies should consider mediation analyses a priori, putting careful thought into the types of measures used and the timing of those measures, while also being cognizant of participant and staff burden. Finding a balance will be fundamental in successfully understanding how interventions exert their effects.

【 授权许可】

Unknown