Abstract
The influence of church environments on healthy eating and physical activity was explored through in-depth interviews with rural adults aged 50-70 (n = 60). Data were analyzed using a constant comparative approach, with an emphasis on noting similarities and differences between African American and predominantly white churches. Findings suggest that church-based nutrition and exercise programs were rare, and existing recreational facilities were geared toward younger members. The majority of church leaders did not talk about nutrition or physical activity, but social support from church friends for healthy eating and physical activity was fairly common. Despite barriers to establishing healthy environments in church settings, churches are rich in social support that could be tapped to promote healthy behavior.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Atkinson, M. J., Boltri, J. M., Davis-Smith, M., Seale, J. P., Shellenberger, S., & Gonsalves, D. (2009). A qualitative inquiry into the community and programmatic dimensions associated with successful implementation of church-based diabetes prevention programs. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 15(3), 264–273.
Boehmer, T. K., Lovegreen, S. L., Haire-Joshu, D., & Brownson, R. C. (2006). What constitutes an obesogenic environment in rural communities? American Journal of Health Promotion, 20(6), 411–421.
Boeije, H. (2002). A purposeful approach to the constant comparative method in the analysis of qualitative interviews. Quality & Quantity, 36, 391–409.
Bopp, M., Lattimore, D., Wilcox, S., Laken, M., McClorin, L., Swinton, R., et al. (2007). Understanding physical activity participation in members of an African American church: a qualitative study. Health Education Research, 22(6), 815–826.
Campbell, M. K., Demark-Wahnefried, W., Symons, M., Kalsbeek, W. D., Dodds, J., Cowan, A., et al. (1999). Fruit and vegetable consumption and prevention of cancer: the Black Churches United for Better Health project. American Journal of Public Health, 89(9), 1390–1396.
Campbell, M. K., Hudson, M. A., Resnicow, K., Blakeney, N., Paxton, A., & Baskin, M. (2007). Church-based health promotion interventions: evidence and lessons learned. Annual Review of Public Health, 28, 213–234.
Chatters, L. M. (2000). Religion and health: public health research and practice. Annual Review of Public Health, 21, 335–367.
Darmon, N., & Drewnowski, A. (2008). Does social class predict diet quality? American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 87(5), 1107–1117.
DeHaven, M. J., Hunter, I. B., Wilder, L., Walton, J. W., & Berry, J. (2004). Health programs in faith-based organizations: are they effective? American Journal of Public Health, 94(6), 1030–1036.
Drayton-Brooks, S., & White, N. (2004). Health promoting behaviors among African American women with faith-based support. The Association of Black Nursing Faculty Journal, 15(5), 84–90.
Drewnowski, A., & Specter, S. E. (2004). Poverty and obesity: the role of energy density and energy costs. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 79(1), 6–16.
Glaser, B. (1965). The constant comparative method of qualitative analysis. Social Problems, 12(4), 436–445.
Hermstad, A. (2007). Behavioral and psychosocial correlates of the nutrition environment in rural southwest Georgia. Unpublished master’s thesis. Atlanta, GA: Emory University.
Jackson, J. E., Doescher, M. P., Jerant, A. F., & Hart, L. G. (2005). A national study of obesity prevalence and trends by type of rural county. Journal of Rural Health, 21(2), 140–148.
Kegler, M. C., Escoffery, C., Alcantara, I., Ballard, D., & Glanz, K. (2008). A qualitative examination of home and neighborhood environments for obesity prevention in rural adults. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 5, 65.
Larson, N. I., Story, M. T., & Nelson, M. C. (2009). Neighborhood environments: disparities in access to healthy foods in the U.S. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 36(1), 74–81.
Liese, A. D., Weis, K. E., Pluto, D., Smith, E., & Lawson, A. (2007). Food store types, availability, and cost of foods in a rural environment. Journal of American Dietetic Association, 107(11), 1916–1923.
Matthews, A. K., Berrios, N., Darnell, J. S., & Calhoun, E. (2006). A qualitative evaluation of a faith-based breast and cervical cancer screening intervention for African American women. Health Education & Behavior, 33(5), 643–663.
McLeroy, K. R., Bibeau, D., Steckler, A., & Glanz, K. (1988). An ecological perspective on health promotion programs. Health Education Quarterly, 15(4), 351–377.
Miles, M., & Huberman, A. (1994). Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (2005). The 2005 Report to the Secretary: Rural Health and Human Services Issues Retrieved Aug, 2008, from ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/NAC2005.pdf.
Patterson, P. D., Moore, C. G., Probst, J. C., & Shinogle, J. A. (2004). Obesity and physical inactivity in rural America. Journal of Rural Health, 20(2), 151–159.
Patton, M. (2002). Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Peterson, J., Atwood, J. R., & Yates, B. (2002). Key elements for church-based health promotion programs: outcome-based literature review. Public Health Nursing, 19(6), 401–411.
Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. (2008). US religious landscape survey - religious affiliation: diverse and dynamic. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center.
Resnicow, K., Jackson, A., Blissett, D., Wang, T., McCarty, F., Rahotep, S., et al. (2005). Results of the healthy body healthy spirit trial. Health Psychology, 24(4), 339–348.
Richards, L. (2002). Using N6 in Qualitative Research. Melbourne, Australia: QSR International Pty Ltd.
Roozen, D. A. (2007). American Congregations 2005. Retrieved December 2008, from http://fact.hartsem.edu/products/index.html.
Sallis, J. F., Cervero, R. B., Ascher, W., Henderson, K. A., Kraft, M. K., & Kerr, J. (2006). An ecological approach to creating active living communities. Annual Review of Public Health, 27, 297–322.
Sanderson, B., Foushee, H. R., Bittner, V., Cornell, C. E., Stalker, V., Shelton, S., et al. (2003). Personal, social, and physical environmental correlates of physical activity in rural African-American women in Alabama. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 25(3 Suppl 1), 30–37.
Sanderson, B., Littleton, M., & Pulley, L. (2002). Environmental, policy, and cultural factors related to physical activity among rural, African American women. Women and Health, 36(2), 75–90.
Sharkey, J. R., & Horel, S. (2008). Neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation and minority composition are associated with better potential spatial access to the ground-truthed food environment in a large rural area. Journal of Nutrition, 138(3), 620–627.
Story, M., Kaphingst, K. M., Robinson-O’Brien, R., & Glanz, K. (2008). Creating healthy food and eating environments: Policy and environmental approaches. Annual Review of Public Health, 29, 253–272.
U.S. Census Bureau (2000). Census 2000 Demographics Profile Highlights [database] Retrieved February 2008, from http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en.
Wilcox, S., Castro, C., King, A. C., Housemann, R., & Brownson, R. C. (2000). Determinants of leisure time physical activity in rural compared with urban older and ethnically diverse women in the United States. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 54(9), 667–672.
Williams, R. M., Glanz, K., Kegler, M. C., & Davis, E., Jr. (2009). A study of rural church health promotion environments: Leaders’ and members’ perspectives. Journal of Religion and Health.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank members of the EPRC's Community Advisory Board for their guidance in the design and implementation of this research and the Southwest Georgia Cancer Coalition for coordinating data collection. We also wish to thank our interviewers and study participants for their valuable contributions to this research.
Funding
This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement Number U48 DP 000043 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kegler, M.C., Escoffery, C., Alcantara, I.C. et al. Perceptions of Social and Environmental Support for Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in Rural Southern Churches. J Relig Health 51, 799–811 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-010-9394-z
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-010-9394-z