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252 Psychosocial factors influencing the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle among African American adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 April 2024

Carrie R. McCoy
Affiliation:
Division of Preventive Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Ashya Burgess
Affiliation:
Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Rochester, Minnesota
Clarence Jones
Affiliation:
Med - Hue-Man Partnership, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Monisha Richard
Affiliation:
Volunteers of America, Inc., Minneapolis,
Minnesota Jamia Erickson
Affiliation:
Thrivent Financial, Inc., Rochester, Minnesota
Irene G. Sia
Affiliation:
Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Mark L. Wieland
Affiliation:
Division of Community Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
Chyke A. Doubeni
Affiliation:
Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota Center for Health Equity and Community Engagement Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota Division of Community Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
LaPrincess C. Brewer
Affiliation:
Division of Preventive Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota Center for Health Equity and Community Engagement Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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Abstract

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OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted established social support networks (faith-based, community, family, friends), resulting in unprecedented health-related, financial, and employment challenges among African Americans (AAs). This study explores the psychosocial influences of the pandemic on the health and wellness of AAs. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The FAITH! (Fostering African-American Improvement in Total Health!) Program, an academic-community partnership with AA churches, shifted focus to COVID-19 prevention in AA communities. Funded by the Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translation Sciences, this cross-sectional study recruited AA adults from FAITH!-affiliated churches and social media to complete a survey exploring the personal impact of the pandemic from hardships (e.g., food and housing insecurity, paying utilities) on healthy lifestyle (HL). The primary outcome was difficulty maintaining a HL during the pandemic. Logistic regression (odds ratios and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs)) was used to examine the associations between difficulty maintaining a HL and factors including COVID-19 hardships and mental health. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Participants (N=169, 71.4% female, 41.4% essential workers) had a mean age [SD] of 49.4 [14.9] years. Over half (91/169, 54%) reported difficulty maintaining a HL. Those reporting unemployment (OR 2.3; 95% CI [1.2,4.4]; p=0.008), difficulty paying rent (OR 4.1; 95% CI [2.1,8.6]; p<0.001), or food/utilities (OR 5.5; 95% CI [2.7,11.5]; p<0.001) all had greater odds of difficulty maintaining a HL. High stress (≥5/10, scale 1-10) was associated with difficulty maintaining a HL (OR 4.1; 95% CI [2.1,8.5]; p<0.001) compared to AAs with low stress. Negative mental health (depression (OR 3.4; 95% CI [1.0,13.7]; p<0.001), anger (OR 2.5; 95% CI [0.5,18.9]; p=0.005), and nervousness (OR 4.1; 95% CI [1.1,19.5]; p=0.003) was associated with difficulty maintaining a HL compared to AAs with positive mental health. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Our study findings revealed that COVID-19 hardships, stress, and negative mental health impacted the ability of AAs to maintain a HL. These issues should be considered in the design and implementation of community-based health programs to promote healthy living during future public health emergencies.

Type
Health Equity and Community Engagement
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. The Association for Clinical and Translational Science