TY - JOUR
T1 - Does social support mediate the relationship among neighborhood disadvantage, incivilities, crime and physical activity?
AU - Soltero, Erica G.
AU - Hernandez, Daphne C.
AU - O'Connor, Daniel P.
AU - Lee, Rebecca
N1 - Funding Information:
Health Is Power (HIP) was supported by the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute ( R01 CA109403 ).
PY - 2015/3/1
Y1 - 2015/3/1
N2 - Objective: Neighborhood disadvantage (ND), incivilities, and crime disproportionately impact minority women, discouraging physical activity (PA). Social support (SS) is a cultural tool promoting PA in minority women. Socially supportive environments may promote PA in disadvantaged neighborhoods, yet few studies have investigated the mediating role of social support among minority women. This study examined SS as a mediator among ND, incivilities, crime, and PA. Methods: The Health Is Power study aimed to increase PA in African American and Hispanic Latina women (N= 410) in Houston and Austin, TX. ND and crime data were taken from the National Neighborhood Crime Study. Incivilities were measured using the Pedestrian Environment Data Scan (PEDS). SS was measured using the Family and Friend Support for Exercise Habits scale and physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Linear regression analysis was used to examine SS as a mediator following the Baron and Kenny method. Results: ND was negatively associated with PA and SS. SS was not a mediator as it was not significantly associated with ND, crime, and incivilities (F(3,264)=2.02, p>.05) or PA (F(1,266)=3.8 p=052). Conclusion: ND significantly discourages PA and limits SS. Future research should focus on developing strategies to overcoming these negative environmental factors.
AB - Objective: Neighborhood disadvantage (ND), incivilities, and crime disproportionately impact minority women, discouraging physical activity (PA). Social support (SS) is a cultural tool promoting PA in minority women. Socially supportive environments may promote PA in disadvantaged neighborhoods, yet few studies have investigated the mediating role of social support among minority women. This study examined SS as a mediator among ND, incivilities, crime, and PA. Methods: The Health Is Power study aimed to increase PA in African American and Hispanic Latina women (N= 410) in Houston and Austin, TX. ND and crime data were taken from the National Neighborhood Crime Study. Incivilities were measured using the Pedestrian Environment Data Scan (PEDS). SS was measured using the Family and Friend Support for Exercise Habits scale and physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Linear regression analysis was used to examine SS as a mediator following the Baron and Kenny method. Results: ND was negatively associated with PA and SS. SS was not a mediator as it was not significantly associated with ND, crime, and incivilities (F(3,264)=2.02, p>.05) or PA (F(1,266)=3.8 p=052). Conclusion: ND significantly discourages PA and limits SS. Future research should focus on developing strategies to overcoming these negative environmental factors.
KW - Crime
KW - Environmental barriers
KW - Incivilities
KW - Neighborhood disadvantage
KW - Physical activity
KW - Social support
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.12.030
DO - 10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.12.030
M3 - Article
C2 - 25562756
AN - SCOPUS:84921340849
VL - 72
SP - 44
EP - 49
JO - Preventive Medicine
JF - Preventive Medicine
SN - 0091-7435
ER -