title: Barriers and Facilitators of Healthy Diet and Exercise Among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors: Implications for Behavioral Interventions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study uses qualitative methods to identify barriers to and facilitators of exercise and healthy eating among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors (survivors currently aged 18-39 years and diagnosed with cancer anytime in their lives), as reported by survivors and their primary supporters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survivors (M(age) = 27.6 years, SD = 6.6 years) had completed active cancer therapy. Survivors and supporters (i.e., nominated by survivors as someone who was a main source of support) attended separate focus group sessions (five survivor focus groups, five supporter focus groups) and were asked to complete a self-reported questionnaire assessing demographic and cancer history and engagement in exercise and healthy eating.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 25 survivors and 19 supporters participated. The three overarching themes identified were barriers to exercise and healthy eating (e.g., lack of resources, negative thoughts and feelings, negative social and environmental influences), facilitators of exercise and healthy eating (e.g., cognitive motivators, tools for health behavior implementation, social relationships), and intervention implications (e.g., informational needs, desire for social support).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AYA cancer survivors and their supporters identified barriers to and facilitators of healthy lifestyle behaviors, which should be considered when designing interventions to improve the long-term health of survivors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah. ; Department of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute , Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Yelena P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: College of Social Work, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Jaehee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McClellan
authors.affiliation: College of Social Work, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Jonghee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: College of Social Work, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grahmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute , Salt Lake City, Utah. ; Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Anne C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Kirchhoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Avery
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holton
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah , Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adherence; health behaviors; healthy lifestyle; qualitative; social support