title: Dietary and physical activity behaviors of adults with developmental disabilities and their direct support professional providers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People with developmental disabilities lead more sedentary lifestyles, consume poorer diets, as well as have higher rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease when compared to members of the general population. Direct support professionals play a large social role in the lives of their clients with developmental disabilities, and thus have the ability to influence the health behaviors of their clients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The overall purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the dietary and physical activity behaviors of direct support professionals and their clients with developmental disabilities, as well as to assess how direct support professionals facilitate the health behaviors of their clients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A statewide random sample of direct support professionals (n = 398) completed an online survey about their own dietary/physical activity behaviors and these same health behaviors of their adult clients with developmental disabilities. Pearson/Spearman correlations were used to examine the relationship between the health behaviors of direct support professionals and their clients with developmental disabilities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Small-to-moderate correlations (ρ or r = 0.127-0.333) between direct support professionals' and clients' behaviors existed for all dietary and physical activity health behaviors except for participation in some sort of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each week (ρ = 0.098, p = 0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Direct support professionals appear to play a role in the dietary/physical activity behaviors of their clients; however, future research on this topic should also include other key members of the social networks of adults with developmental disabilities such as family members, roommates, and day-habilitation providers.
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University College of Public Health, 1841 Neil Ave., Cunz Hall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: leserka@miamioh.edu.
authors.forename: Kendall A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Leser
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University College of Public Health, 1841 Neil Ave., Cunz Hall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Phyllis L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Pirie
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University College of Public Health, 1841 Neil Ave., Cunz Hall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Amy K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ferketich
authors.affiliation: The Nisonger Center at the Ohio State University, 1581 Dodd Drive, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Havercamp
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University College of Public Health, 1841 Neil Ave., Cunz Hall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Ellen
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wewers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers; D002658:Developmental Disabilities; D004032:Diet; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Developmental disability; Direct support professionals; Health promotion; Nutrition; Physical activity