How do Health Behaviors, Stress and Coping Influence Weight Status During Periods of Transition?.
Boulos, Rebecca.
2013
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Abstract:
Background: Health-promoting practices, such as eating a nutrient-rich diet and being
physically active, are considered proactive coping behaviors when they pre-emptively
reduce the amount of stress individuals experience. However, when people experience
stress they tend to cope by adopting health-defeating behaviors, such as consuming
energy-dense foods or becoming less active. ... read moreThese behaviors have weight implications.
This thesis explores the extent to which the relationships among proactive coping health
behaviors, stress, and coping behaviors influence body weight. Aims: This study
examines: 1) Associations between proactive coping health behaviors, stress, and weight
status among new immigrant (<10 years in the US) mothers and, 2) Effects of
relationships between and longitudinal changes in proactive coping health behaviors,
stress, and coping behaviors on weight status in college students. Methods: For aim 1,
cross-sectional data from the Live Well Immigrant Health Study (2008-2012; n=393) were
analyzed using ANOVA to compare differences in proactive coping health behaviors,
stress, and body mass index (BMI) by ethnic group (Haitian, Brazilian, Latino). Linear
regression models were used to evaluate stress and behavioral predictors of BMI. For aim
2, data were derived from the Tufts Longitudinal Health Study (TLHS) and analyzed
cross-sectionally (2004-2007; n=3,626) and longitudinally (1999-2007; n=342). For
cross-sectional analyses, a gender-stratified mediation/moderation model assessed the
mediating role of stress and moderating role of coping behavior in explaining BMIz. For
longitudinal analyses, for males and females separately, paired sample t-tests were used
to assess proactive coping health behaviors, stress, coping behaviors, and BMI.
Gender-stratified multivariate linear regression models identified behavioral predictors
of 3-year BMI change. Results: Among immigrant women in the Live Well study, 72% were
classified as overweight/obese. Haitians were more likely to be obese and had the
highest amount of perceived stress (P<0.001). There were no significant behavioral
predictors of BMI in Haitians. Brazilians reported the highest caloric intake yet were
most likely to be normal weight. Among Brazilians, sedentary time was positively
predictive of BMI (β=0.05, P=0.005). Among Latinos, stress was inversely
predictive of BMI (β=-0.192, P=0.07). In the TLHS we observed that
pre-matriculation males who exercised more had a higher BMIz (P<0.0001); this was
explained by higher levels of psychological stress and eating more to cope (P<0.05).
In longitudinal analyses, male BMI increased 0.5 kg/m2 (95%CI: 0.1, 0.9) and female BMI
decreased 0.4 kg/m2 (95%CI: -0.5, -0.2) over 3 years of follow-up. Males who maintained
physical activity saw a smaller change in their BMI, even if they reported eating more
to cope (β=-0.197, P<0.0001). We did not observe similar associations in
females. Conclusion: Among new immigrant mothers, there were significant ethnic
differences in proactive coping health behaviors and stress, and the relationship of
these variables to weight status. However, no single factor consistently predicted BMI.
Additional research in this area is warranted. Among pre-matriculation males, the
positive relationship between exercise and BMIz was explained by higher psychological
stress and eating more to cope. For males, maintaining physical activity over the 3
years attenuated the impact of eating more to cope with stress on BMI change. Overall,
findings suggest this novel mediation/moderation model may explain associations between
proactive coping health behaviors, stress, coping behaviors, and weight
status.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2013.
Submitted to the Dept. of Food Policy & Applied Nutrition.
Advisor: Christina Economos.
Committee: Raymond Hyatt, Robin Kanarek, and Edward Saltzman.
Keywords: Nutrition, and Psychology.read less - ID:
- 3j333d56s
- Component ID:
- tufts:20267
- To Cite:
- TARC Citation Guide EndNote
