A culturally tailored community gardening approach to increasing physical activity and psychological health among African American women: A pre-post feasibility study

Canton, Imani

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/124315 Copy

Description

Title

A culturally tailored community gardening approach to increasing physical activity and psychological health among African American women: A pre-post feasibility study

Author(s)

Canton, Imani

Issue Date

2024-04-19

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Aguiñaga, Susan

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Aguiñaga, Susan

Committee Member(s)

• Schwingel, Andiara
• Glover, Troy D.
• Hernandez, Rosalba
• Singleton, Chelsea

Department of Study

Kinesiology & Community Health

Discipline

Kinesiology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• community-based research
• mental health
• chronic disease
• health disparities

Abstract

Evidence indicate that physical activity (PA) and psychological health are associated with chronic disease prevention. However, due to a variety of systemic factors, African American women (AA) engage in low levels of PA and are at an increased risk of experiencing high levels of psychological distress. Interventions designed to increase PA levels and psychological health among AA women should be culturally tailored and in addition to addressing intrapersonal factors that influence health behaviors, they should also address interpersonal and community-level factors that influence their health behaviors. Community gardening, with a Black history knowledge (BHK) component, may be an effective culturally tailored intervention to increase PA and improve psychological health because it can address multiple levels of influence (i.e., intrapersonal, interpersonal, and community-level) and increase its cultural saliency through the addition of a complementary culturally, historically relevant education component. As a result, we tested the feasibility of “Tending to Our Roots to Increase Our Wellness (TRIOWell),” an 8-week culturally tailored community gardening intervention, to increase PA and psychological health among middle-aged AA women. In this 8-week, single group pre-post feasibility study, participants (n =11) were middle-aged AA women, between the ages of 45 and 64 years, low active, and had not gardened in the past two gardening seasons. The women were 50.8  6.4 years, with 72.8% having at least a Bachelor’s degree, and 63.6% were employed full-time. There were three aims for this study, and chapters two through four each report on one aim, along with findings from that aim. The first two aims are based on quantitative analyses and aim three is based on a qualitative analysis. The aims were: 1) examine pre-post changes in device-assessed and self-reported total daily PA levels among middle-aged AA women in an 8-week culturally-tailored community gardening intervention and feasibility outcomes, 2) examine pre-post changes in psychological health among middle-aged AA women in an 8-week culturally-tailored community gardening intervention, and 3) explore perceptions of PA, Black history knowledge, health and health behaviors, and the social implications of community gardening amongst middle-aged AA women who participated in an 8-week culturally tailored community gardening intervention. Findings from aim one demonstrated an increase in daily step count from pre-to postintervention (baseline median = 4938l.91 steps per day; post-intervention median = 5819.38 steps per day; r = 0.53; P = 0.028). Effect sizes revealed a moderate increase in device-assessed light PA (r = 0.45) and a small increase in device-assessed total PA (r = 0.29). Both self-reported leisure and total PA had small increases (r=0.17). There was also a small decrease in daily moderate-to-vigorous PA (r = -0.16). Sixty-seven percent (6/9) of women indicated that they would recommend this program to family/friends. Secondary outcomes revealed that gardening activities were characterized as a moderate intensity PA, device-assessed fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption increased from pre to postintervention (median 82-unit increase; r = 0.51; P=.016), and effect sizes revealed a small increase in self-reported green leafy vegetable consumption (r = 0.25). There were no effects on self-reported berries or other vegetables consumption. In aim two, effect sizes revealed a small decrease in perceived stress scores (r = -0.2), depression (r=-0.14), and self-efficacy (r = -0.35). There were no effects on anxiety or life satisfaction. Sixty-seven percent (6/9) of women indicated that they would recommend this program to family/friends. Aim three qualitative findings revealed the emergence of three major themes: 1) Preparing for and actively making behavior changes, 2) Newfound opportunity for community engagement and camaraderie, and 3) Opportunities to reconstruct and enrich: Feedback for intervention components. Findings indicate that an 8-week culturally tailored community-gardening intervention may be a feasible approach to increase device-assessed step count and FV consumption, with moderate effects on device assessed light PA, and small effects on device assessed total PA, stress, depression, and self-reported green leafy vegetable consumption among middle-aged AA women. Future studies should be adequately powered and conducted among a larger sample size to demonstrate effectiveness of community gardening on these outcomes. Interestingly, there was a small negative effect on self-efficacy and device assessed moderate-to-vigorous PA and there were no effects on anxiety and life satisfaction. It is possible that the length of the intervention was too short to elicit larger effect sizes in anxiety and life satisfaction and that the intervention should have rigorously targeted increases in moderate-to-vigorous PA and self-efficacy. These findings warrant further investigation. Lastly, gardening activities were classified as a moderate intensity PA, which suggests that gardening could be promoted as a form of PA to reach PA guidelines among middle-aged AA women. Qualitative analyses revealed that community gardens may be an effective community-based and public health approach to preparing middle-aged AA women to increase their PA levels and FV consumption and influence middle-aged AA women to actively make health behavior changes. Opportunities for AA women to socialize are needed and social capital may be produced via community gardens amongst AA women. BHK is generally accepted as a novel approach to culturally tailor a community gardening intervention, though refinement is necessary before future implementation among a larger sample. Fitbits were acceptable amongst many women to influence increases in PA, but a variety of PA trackers should be offered. Weekly phone calls may not be necessary to retain AA women in a community gardening intervention that targets middle-aged AA women.

Graduation Semester

2024-05

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2024 Imani Canton

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