title: Characterizing Stressors and Modifiable Health Risk Factors Among Homeless Smokers: An Exploratory Pilot Study.
abstract: This pilot study was conducted to explore the associations between stressors related to homelessness and modifiable health risk factors (poor diet, insufficient physical activity, and overweight/obesity) and to provide direction for future research. Participants (N = 57) were homeless adults enrolled in a smoking cessation program. Analyses were conducted to characterize the sample as well as the relations between relevant stressors (discrimination, chronic stress, and fear and mistrust) and health risk factors. Inadequate daily consumption of fruits, vegetables, and fiber was common. High-fat diet and insufficient physical activity were also prevalent, and the majority of participants were overweight/obese. Participants commonly endorsed discrimination, fear of victimization, mistrust of others, and several other stressors. Greater endorsement of stressors was associated with a high-fat diet. Results suggest that lifestyle interventions and policy changes may be warranted in homeless shelters to attenuate the potential effects of stressors on high-fat dietary consumption among smokers.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Dallas, TX, USA The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Simmons Cancer Center, Dallas, TX, USA Darla.Kendzor@UTSouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Darla E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Kendzor
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Psychology, The University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Lorraine R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Reitzel
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Dallas, TX, USA The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Simmons Cancer Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Businelle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019548:Crime Victims; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods*; D063508:Social Discrimination / Q000523:psychology; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: diet; health behavior; health disparities; homeless; obesity; physical activity/exercise