Behavior-Specific Social Support for Healthy Behaviors Among African American Church Members: Applying Optimal Matching Theory

• Published in: Health education & behavior Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 193 - 205
• Main Authors: Thrasher, James F., Campbell, Marci Kramish, Oates, Veronica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA Sage Publications 01.04.2004; SAGE Publications; Sage; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Access to Information; Adolescent; Adult; Adults; African Americans; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer; Churches; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal carcinoma; Colorectal Neoplasms - diagnosis; Colorectal Neoplasms - prevention & control; Correlation; Diet; Dietetics; Eating Habits; Exercise; Female; Gender Differences; Health Behavior; Humans; Male; Mass Screening; Medical sciences; Medical screening; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; North Carolina; Physical Activities; Physical Activity Level; Physical fitness; Prevention and actions; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Religion; Screening Tests; Self Efficacy; Social Support; Social Support Groups; North Carolina; social support; colorectal cancer screening; diet; adults; physical activity; African American; Church; Healthy subject; Health; Theory; Negroid; Religion; Social behavior; Social interaction; Behavior; Public health; Life style; Social support
• ISSN: 1090-1981; 1552-6127
• DOI: 10.1177/1090198103259184

This study used data from 850 African Americans to test optimal matching theory (OMT). OMT predicts that 1) the most important dimensions of social support depend on the controllability of the behavior and 2) different network members often provide support across health behaviors. Data were gathered on social support source for physical activity, healthy diet, and colorectal cancer (CRC) screening; perceived levels of informational, instrumental, and emotional support specific to these behaviors; self-efficacy around the behaviors; and engagement in the behaviors. Within individuals, the primary support source varied considerably across the behaviors under consideration. Multivariate models regressing behaviors on dimension-specific support indicated partial support for OMT: Informational support was associated with a healthy diet and CRC screening; instrumental support was associated with a healthy diet and CRC screening; and emotional support was associated with CRC screening and, among women, physical activity. Implications of the findings are discussed in terms of developing more effective interventions.