Nurse Faculty Scholars - Urban populations

Multilevel Correlates of Satisfaction with Neighborhood Availability of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

nfs — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:23:00 +0000

Published Date:

Sat, 2009-08-01 (All day)

Background Little is known about influences on perceptions of neighborhood food environments, despite their relevance for food-shopping behaviors and food choices. Purpose This study examined relationships between multilevel factors (neighborhood structure, independently observed neighborhood food environment, individual socioeconomic position) and satisfaction with neighborhood availability of fruits and vegetables. Methods The multilevel regression analysis drew on data from a community survey of urban adults, in-person audit and mapping of food stores, and the 2000 Census. Results Satisfaction with neighborhood availability of fruits and vegetables was lower in neighborhoods that were further from a supermarket and that had proportionately more African-American residents. Neighborhood poverty and independently observed neighborhood fruit and vegetable characteristics (variety, prices, quality) were not associated with satisfaction. Individual education modified relationships between neighborhood availability of smaller food stores (small grocery stores, convenience stores, liquor stores) and satisfaction. Conclusions Individual-level and neighborhood-level factors affect perceptions of neighborhood food environments.

Urban Hypertensive African American Grandparents: Stress, Health, and Implications of Child Care

nfs — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:23:54 +0000

Published Date:

Thu, 2007-05-31 (All day)

Because stress is a major factor in hypertension, research on parenting stressors and lifestyle behaviors of grandparents with hypertension is important. This study describes urban African Americans caring for grandchildren and examines effects of perceived parenting stressors on hypertension self-management. Hypertensive African American grandparents (N = 49) residing in a large Midwestern city participated in the study. Structured interviews collected descriptive data and the Index of Parental Attitudes (IPA). Participants' ages ranged from 30 to 82 years, were mostly female (77%), and had from 1 to 6 grandchildren. Participants were sedentary (51%), cigarette smokers (47%), and obese (67%). Mean systolic blood pressure was 157 and mean diastolic blood pressure was 89. IPA scores averaged 12.7, with scores ≥ 30, indicating high levels of parental stress. Some participants (8.4%) had clinically stressful relationships with their grandchildren. The correlation between blood pressure and parental stress was not statistically significant, with a significant negative correlation found between participants' ages and diastolic blood pressure. The correlation between the number of hours spent caregiving and age produced a statistically significant relationship.

Severe Fatigue and Depressive Symptoms in Lower-Income Urban Postpartum Women

nfs — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:43:49 +0000

Published Date:

Sun, 2009-08-09 (All day)

The purpose of this study was to identify whether severe postpartum fatigue at 1 and 3 months postpartum was associated with depressive symptomatology at 6 months in lower-income urban women. A convenience sample of 43 lower-income postpartum women completed the Modified Fatigue Symptoms Checklist and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression scale at 1, 3, and 6 months postpartum. Participants who were severely fatigued at both 1 and 3 months postpartum were significantly more likely to exhibit depressive symptomatology at 6 months. Fatigue and depressive symptoms were moderately to strongly correlated at 1 (r = .68), 3 (r = .74), and 6 (r = .70) months postpartum (p = .001). Severe fatigue and depressive symptomatology often co-exist for months after childbirth. Future research should examine whether interventions to targeting severe postpartum fatigue in lower-income urban women may also effectively reduce depressive symptoms.