The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71644

Robin Toft Klar, DNSc, Nursing, Fitchburg State College, 160 Pearl Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420, 978-665-3035, toftklar@yahoo.com

Objectives. This descriptive, correlational study examined the relationship among social support behaviors, social network members, and community situational influences on the use of health promotion behaviors by urban women. Methods. Data from telephone surveys of 47 women stratified according to crime area determined health promotion behaviors, social support behaviors, and network size. Observational and secondary data assessed the community situational influences of options available, demand characteristics, and aesthetics. Options available included grocery stores, convenience stores, houses of worship, formal fitness programs, athletic fields, and pools/ponds. Demand characteristics analyzed were tobacco advertisements, liquor stores, bars/taverns, alcohol advertisements, unemployment rate, and per capita income. Aesthetics consisted of housing vacancy rates, crime incidence, and parks/open spaces. Results. Practicing health responsibility while living in a low crime area approached significance (p = .07). There was a significantly greater report of guidance (p = .05) and emotional support (p = .02) offered to women living in the low crime area. Sibling was the network member perceived as able to create conflict (p = .01). Friend was the network member who created conflict (p = .05). There was a statistically significant difference between options available and crime area (p < .0001), demand characteristics and crime area (p < .0001), and aesthetics and crime area (p < .0001). Conclusions. These findings provide evidence of the disparities in social support available, network members active, and community situational influences active for urban women practicing health promotion behaviors.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will identify components active within community situational influences.
• Participants will describe the social support behaviors and network members that influence urban women's engagement in health promotion behaviors.

Keywords: Community-Based Health Promotion, Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.