title: Understanding Multiple Behavioral Risk Factors for Cancer in Rural Women.
abstract: To examine the demographic and health-related factors associated with risk behaviors that have been linked to cancer including smoking, high BMI, and low physical activity.
  
  
  
  A secondary analysis was conducted using data from Rural Families Speak about Health, a multistate, epidemiologic study of rural American women and their families (N = 444).
  
  
  
  Validated measures for various demographic and health-related items including tobacco use, BMI, physical activity, and depression were used.
  
  
  
  Of the total sample with complete data (n = 399), the mean age was 32 years and the majority were White (64%), married (67%), had a high school education or higher (73%), and had an annual household income of less than $40,000 (90%). Regarding cancer risk behaviors, 36% of the sample were smokers, 39% reported low levels of physical activity, and 45% had a calculated BMI over 30. Thirty-five percent of participants reported engaging in two or more risk behaviors. There were significant differences in income, perceived health status, and depression depending on the number of risk behaviors reported.
  
  
  
  Understanding combinations of risk behaviors can assist nurses and other health professionals in tailoring multiple health behavior change interventions to prevent cancer among rural women.
authors.affiliation: Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Devon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Noonan
authors.affiliation: Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Latefa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dardas
authors.affiliation: Social Work Program, Tarleton State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bice-Wigington
authors.affiliation: Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sloane
authors.affiliation: Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benjamin
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University College of Nursing, East Lansing, Michigan.
authors.forename: Seung Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Leigh Ann
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Simmons
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: cancer prevention; chronic disease; multiple behavioral risks; rural; women's health