title: Social engagement and chronic disease risk behaviors: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although engagement in social networks is important to health, multiple different dimensions exist. This study identifies which dimensions are associated with chronic disease risk behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data on social support, loneliness, and neighborhood social cohesion from 5381 participants, aged 45-84 from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for individual characteristics and all social engagement variables, social support was associated with lower smoking prevalence (PR=0.88, 95% CI: 0.82, 0.94), higher probability of having quit (PR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.06) and a slightly higher probability of achieving physical activity recommendations (PR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.06). Neighborhood social cohesion was associated with very slightly higher probability of achieving recommended (PR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.05) or any regular (PR=1.0, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.04) physical activity, and a higher probability of consuming at least five daily fruit and vegetable servings (PR=1.05, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.09).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both social support and neighborhood social cohesion, a less commonly considered aspect of social engagement, appear to be important for chronic disease prevention interventions and likely act via separate pathways.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing, 525 N Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: lsamuel@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing, 525 N Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: cdennis4@jhu.edu.
authors.forename: Cheryl R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Dennison Himmelfarb
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Room W6009, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: mszklo@jhsph.edu.
authors.forename: Moyses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szklo
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, 10945 Le Conte Avenue, Suite 2339, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health, 10945 Le Conte Avenue, Suite 2339, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Electronic address: tseeman@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: Teresa E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Seeman
authors.affiliation: Rutgers School of Public Health, RWJMS Research and School of Public Health Bldg., 683 Hoes Lane West, Room 205, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. Electronic address: sandra.echeverria@rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Echeverria
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan, School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA. Electronic address: avd37@drexel.edu.
authors.forename: Ana V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Diez Roux
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014675:Vegetables
keywords: Neighborhood social cohesion; Physical activity; Smoking; Social engagement; Social support