Yolanda M. Powell-Young

Household income and spiritual well-being but not body mass index as determinants of poor self-rated health among african American adolescents

Yolanda M. Powell-Young — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:19:47 PDT

Very little is known about predictors of subjective health status among African American adolescents. This study was designed to determine whether selected anthropometric, psychological, lifestyle behavioral, and structural variables predicted poor self-rated general health in a cross-sectional nonclinical sample of 310 female African American adolescents, 14-18 years old. The odds of reporting poor self-rated health were 2-3 times greater for African American teens from lower socioeconomic households when compared to teens residing in higher socioeconomic households and for those reporting infrequent participation in activities that promote spiritual well-being compared to those who participate more frequently in activities that enhance spiritual health. Findings indicate that socioeconomic level and engagement in behaviors that enhance healthy spirituality appear to be the most salient predictors of self-rated health. In addition to biodiversity considerations that influence perceptions of health status, culturally focused interventions should integrate variables shown to influence self-rated health among African American teens. These inclusions may inform a more integrated understanding of health, health outcomes, and health disparities in this vulnerable population. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health.

The mediating effect of global self-worth on physical activity in African-American adolescent females

Yolanda M. Powell-Young — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:44:41 PST

Having an excess of body fat has been identified as a predictor for participatory frequency in physical activity, a behavior that influences the development and persistence of obesity. However, the psychological factors that contribute to this pathway have not been as easily identified. This is particularly significant for population subgroups that are not only uniquely impacted by obesity-related morbidities but who are underrepresented in research as well. This study sample consisted of African-American adolescent females (N = 310), from 14 to 18 years of age, who were recruited from the urban South. Data obtained from self-reported and demographic questionnaires, as well as from anthropometric measurements, were analyzed to explore the mediating effect of global self-worth between BMI and physical activity. Mediation analysis revealed that 2% of the influence that BMI exerts on how frequently African-American adolescent females engaged in physical activity can be attributed to global self-worth.

Self-Report Height and Weight Accuracy and Overweight Misclassification Among African American Adolescents

Yolanda M. Powell-Young et al. — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:44:40 PST

A Systematic Review of Strategies that Increase the Recruitment and Retention of African American Adults in Genetic and Genomic Studies

Vanessa A. Johnson et al. — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:44:38 PST

Background: The National Institutes of Health mandates the inclusion of ancestrally diverse populations into federally funded biomedical and clinical trials research. However, low participation of ethnic minorities in genetics- genomics research continues to be one of the most difficult aspects of conducting human subjects research. Objective: This systematic review was conducted to document effective recruitment strategies that increase participation in genetics- genomics studies. Methods: Extensive literature search strategies were employed to locate and appraise relevant literature reporting original data in which strategies to recruit African American adults into genetics-genomics research studies had been evaluated. Results: Six studies published up to July, 2011 were included. Informal recruitment strategies for initial contact appeared to have a more positive impact on increasing recruitment and participation numbers than formal mailings of letters and postcards. Another key stratagem identified was participant-recruiter like-ancestry. Other methods such as monetary incentives and support of the research project by community leaders were not as effective. Conclusions: Some strategies bolstered recruitment rates while others did not. More research is needed to determine the efficacy of recruitment strategies with African Americans.

The validity of self-report weight and height as a surrogate method for direct measurement

Yolanda M. Powell-Young — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:44:37 PST

Bland-Altman analysis used to determine the extent of bias, agreement, and precision between self-report and the "gold standard" of actual weight and height measurement revealed significant discrepancies between methods. Use of self-report data by health care providers and researchers should be made based on the clinical situation, patient safety, and research goals.