Asenso Jr, E., Harden, S., & Trotter, S. (2020, April 1–4). Evaluation of E.A.S.Y – A Group Dynamics-Based Healthy Lifestyle Program for Undergrad Students w/ Ethnic Minority Backgrounds [Abstract Presentation]. Society of Behavioral Medicine Conference, San Francisco, CA, United States.
Objective:
Young adults from ethnic minority backgrounds have a higher risk and burden of chronic conditions that can be prevented and modified by a healthy lifestyle. College is a critical time within the lifespan to initiate healthier behaviors, such as increasing physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake and decreasing sugar-sweetened beverage intake. In this study, a one group, pragmatic pretest-posttest study design was used to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of a culturally sensitive, group dynamics-based intervention for ethnic minority undergraduate students (EMUS).
Participants:
Fifty-one EMUS were recruited from a large public university.
Methods:
Participants completed baseline and post-intervention surveys. The intervention included small group GRITTM exercise training twice a week for 8 weeks, three different educational seminars on physical activity, nutrition and self-efficacy, and activities based on group dynamics-based principles. Primary outcomes were feasibility, participant satisfaction, and physical activity and secondary outcomes were dietary behaviors. Feasibility data were analyzed by assessing the reach and adherence of the program through participation data, attendance tracking, retention, and self-report data on the level of engagement in the program. Physical activity data were analyzed using self-reported pre- and post-intervention data via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Dietary data were analyzed using self-report data via the Dietary Screener Questionnaire and Beverage Questionnaire-15.
Results:
Participants (N = 51) were primarily female (75%), African-American (51%) or Hispanic/Latinos (41%) and underclassmen (63%; i.e., not a junior or senior). 78% of participants were retained and reported high levels of program satisfaction. No significant increase in MET-minutes from baseline to post-intervention (p =.246), but the change in the proportion of participants who reached the “high” levels of physical activity was significant (23% to 50%; p =.034). Reduction in sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) consumption (p =.192) and proportion of participants consuming more than 8 fl. oz./day of SSB (p = .66) was not significant.
Conclusion:
Results for feasibility and satisfaction of this culturally sensitive, group dynamics-based intervention were promising, but there were limitations for establishing efficacy; suggestions for future work are described. This study adds to the limited data on group-dynamics based interventions for EMUS and warrants further study with more robust study designs.
Emmanuel Asenso Jr, MPH, OMS-III, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
