title: Receiving Support, Giving Support, Neighborhood Conditions, and Waist/Hip Ratios.
abstract: Obesity is a major health problem in the USA, and as a result, it is important to identify the factors that help people keep their body weight within healthy limits. The purpose of this study was to see whether receiving support at church and giving support at church buffer (i.e., moderate) the effects of living in rundown neighborhoods on a key marker of obesity-waist/hip ratios (WHR). The data are provided from a recent nationwide survey of people age 18 and older (N = 1456). The findings reveal that giving support to fellow church members tends to offset the effects of living in dilapidated neighborhoods on WHR. In contrast, receiving support from coreligionists does not appear to perform a similar stress-moderating function. The theoretical underpinnings of providing support at church are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2029, USA. nkrause@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.affiliation: University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ironson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012067:Religion; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Giving emotional support; Neighborhood; Obesity; Receiving emotional support
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