%0 PDF %T How do Health Behaviors, Stress and Coping Influence Weight Status During Periods of Transition?. %A Boulos, Rebecca. %8 2017-04-14 %R http://localhost/files/3j333d56s %X 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. These 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. %[ 2022-10-11 %9 Text %~ Tufts Digital Library %W Institution