Frans de Waal: The Age of Empathy: Nature’s Lessons for a Kinder Society
American Journal of Health Behavior 35(1): 3-14 Objective: To examine associations between menthol cigarette smoking and nicotine dependence, quit attempts, and physical and mental health. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2007 Florida Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and a follow-up survey among current smokers (N = 3396). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: In multivariate analyses, menthol cigarette smoking was associated with women, African American and Hispanic race/ethnicity, and greater mental distress. Conclusions: Women, racial/ethnic minorities, and individuals reporting a greater frequency of mental distress are more likely to smoke menthol versus nonmenthol cigarettes. Implications for public health policy and cessation interventions are discussed.
American Journal of Health Behavior 35(1): 15-27 Objectives: To explore the link between low self-control during adolescence and health problems in early adulthood. Methods: Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we examined the relationship between varying levels of self-control and the likelihood of being diagnosed with a variety of physical and brainbased health conditions. Results: Results from logistic regression analyses indicated that subjects with lower levels of self-control had significantly higher odds of being diagnosed with 9 of the 10 health outcomes. Conclusions: Targeting the development of selfcontrol in childhood and adolescence may be valuable in preventing future health problems.
American Journal of Health Behavior 35(1): 28-39 Objectives: To examine relationships between a wide range of socioeconomic factors, race/ethnicity, and adolescent risk behaviors. Methods: The Youth Asset Study (N = 1111) was used to examine multivariate relationships between sexual initiation, alcohol use, tobacco use, and drug use and 8 socioeconomic factors. Results: Socioeconomic factors beyond income and parental education (eg, wealth) were associated with some health behaviors depending upon gender. However, we did not find that a wider range of factors helped us better understand racial/ethnic disparities. Conclusions: Even the more comprehensive set of socioeconomic factors considered may not accurately capture the underlying construct of adolescent SES.
American Journal of Health Behavior 35(1): 40-50 Objective: To predict retention of African American women 6 months after initiating a community walking program. Methods: Demographics, health status, cancer-related health behaviors, and network membership data from baseline wellness questionnaires of 1322 African American women participating in the walking program were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models. Results: Seventy-eight percent (n = 1032) of African American women were retained at 6 months. Network membership was the primary predictor of retention. Conclusions: Women affiliated with our comprehensive network, which provides ongoing cancer awareness, screening, and prevention programs to reduce cancer health disparities, were more likely to accomplish the first major milestone of the program.
American Journal of Health Behavior 35(1): 51-59 Objectives: To test for differences in stress-induced cardiovascular functioning among hypertensive and normotensive African American (AA) smokers. Methods: Participants (n = 35) were exposed to both stress and neutral mood inductions. Results: Repeated measures analyses of covariance produced a significant group x mood condition interaction for systolic blood pressure (P = .048), but not for diastolic blood pressure (P > .05). The most notable finding was that AA hypertensive smokers showed selectively greater elevations in their systolic responses compared with normotensive controls following the laboratory-induced stressor. Conclusions: Implications to an elevated risk of future cardiovascular disease among AA hypertensive smokers are discussed.
American Journal of Health Behavior 35(1): 60-70 Objective: To examine the interactive effects of exercise identity (EI) and outcome expectations (OE) on constraints, constraint self-regulation, and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). Methods: Surveyed a convenience sample of middle-aged and older adults (N = 271) at a metropolitan park agency in the Midwest. Results: The final reduced model predicted 24% of the variance in LTPA, including an indirect effect of EI x OE through intrapersonal constraints. Conclusion: Results suggest that these social cognitive factors are useful in understanding low to high-intensity LTPA and have implications for LTPA programs for adults aged 50 and older.
American Journal of Health Behavior 35(1): 71-80 Objectives: To determine whether self-reported exercise duration and intensity matched accelerometer data in sedentary endometrial cancer survivors and age-matched controls. Methods: Participants were asked to wear an accelerometer and self-report exercise bouts, duration, and intensity for one week. Self-reported duration was compared with accelerometer data. Results: Selfreported exercise-bout duration matched accelerometer duration 93% for survivors and 99% for controls. Self-reported exercisebout intensity matched accelerometer intensity 70% for survivors and 66% for controls. There were no significant differences between groups. Conclusions: Sedentary endometrial cancer survivors and controls self-reported duration and intensity of physical activity consistent with accelerometer data.
American Journal of Health Behavior 35(1): 81-91 Objective: To compare the correlates of personal versus intergenerational leisure-time physical activity of parents using the theory of planned behavior. Methods: Participants were parents (n=126) with children between the ages of 2 and 12 years, and they completed a baseline questionnaire exploring intergenerational and personal activity. Results: Perceived behavioral control and behavioral frequency were higher in intergenerational than personal activity. Affective attitude was higher for personal activity, and subjective norm was more important in intergenerational than personal intention. Conclusion: Future interventions may benefit from some specific targeting toward intergenerational or personal activity.
American Journal of Health Behavior 35(1): 92-104 Objectives: To investigate associations of overweight status and perception with trajectories of psychological distress in adolescents. Methods: Longitudinal data for 6970 Chinese adolescents were included. The multivariate curve-of-factor latent growth curve models were adopted to examine trajectories of psychological distress symptoms and associations with overweight status and perception. Results: After controlling for actual overweight status, psychological distress symptoms were weakly but significantly associated with overweight perception (gamma = 0.08 for boys and gamma = 0.10 for girls, P < 0.05) and misperception (gamma = 0.06 for boys and gamma = 0.09 for girls, P < 0.05). Discussion: Our findings help understanding associations of overweight perception and psychological well being of adolescents.