Social and cultural processes that impact physical activity among South Asian Americans managing hypertension: A mixed methods study

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Project Summary (Abstract) South Asian Americans are disproportionately affected by hypertension and cardiovascular disease. To reduce this health disparity, interventions should target modifiable health behaviors, e.g., physical activity. The proposed F31 application combines a dissertation research project with broader training in cultural influences on preventive health behaviors of South Asian Americans. The research project will employ a sequential exploratory mixed methods design to investigate the social and cultural predictors of physical activity among South Asian Americans with uncontrolled hypertension who participated in a culturally-tailored, community health worker intervention. The first aim will examine dimensions of culture, social relationships, and motivation as determinants of change in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and, subsequently, hypertension status. This will be accomplished by conducting a secondary quantitative analysis of data collected from 158 South Asians participants randomly-assigned to the intervention arm. The second aim will provide an in-depth qualitative analysis of cultural influences, experienced within the social (family) context, on physical activity among South Asian Americans. Data will be collected by through family interviews, coded and analyzed in conjunction with the quantitative findings. The broader fellowship training plan is designed to include components that will inform the studies and increase research skills: (1) increasing knowledge of South Asian American health; (b) strengthening skills in quantitative statistical methods and interpreting qualitative data; and (c) continuing practice in research dissemination, facilitated by producing manuscripts and conference presentations. This research and training will take place at the Graduate Center, City University of New York. The study team includes mentors with relevant and diverse expertise led by Dr. Tracey Revenson, primary sponsor, a renowned health psychologist who applies a socio-ecological perspective studying adjustment to chronic. Dr. Nadia Islam, a co-sponsor, is a medical sociologist who develops culturally relevant community- linkage models to South Asian communities as director of the cardiovascular disease and diabetes research track for the NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health, an NIMHD-funded National Research Center of Excellence. Dr. Tyrel Starks, another co-sponsor, is a clinical psychologist with experience conducting longitudinal analyses on health behavior intervention data; and, Dr. Cheryl Carmichael, a collaborator, is a social psycholgist with expertise in relationship science. Together, the project, training plan, and mentorship team will provide skills necessary to advance the applicant toward the long-term goal of becoming a health psychology/behavioral medicine research scientist with a focus on translational research that can reduce health disparities.