Relationship between cancer-related distress and diet behavior among low -income cancer survivors: Implications for dietary behavior change.
Item
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Title
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Relationship between cancer-related distress and diet behavior among low -income cancer survivors: Implications for dietary behavior change.
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Identifier
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AAI3231984
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identifier
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3231984
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Creator
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Mohabir, Sunita.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Anderson J. Franklin
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Date
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2006
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Clinical | Psychology, Behavioral | Health Sciences, Nutrition
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Abstract
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Continued advances in the early detection and treatment of cancer have led to increased survivorship among people diagnosed with cancer. As a result, researchers are turning to the study of health behaviors to better understand whether gains can be made from healthier lifestyles. The current study explored the relationship between cancer-related distress and diet behavior among low-income cancer survivors as a first step in guiding inquiries into whether cancer-related distress can act as a facilitator of diet behavior change. This study explored levels of cancer-related distress reported by low-income cancer survivors and racial/educational differences in levels of distress. This study also explored levels of adherence to a low-fat diet consisting of five daily servings of fruits and vegetables and racial/educational differences in dietary adherence. Two hypotheses were tested to examine whether a positive linear or curvilinear relationship would be found between cancer-related distress and diet indicating a facilitating relationship between variables of distress and diet (positive linear) or that moderate levels of distress may be necessary to promote change (curvilinear).;Findings of the current study suggest that low-income cancer survivors had higher levels of cancer-related distress compared to recently diagnosed cancer patients and those with advanced disease. Additionally, adherence to dietary recommendations was better than that reported by the general population, and as good or better than samples of primarily white, moderate-income cancer survivors. Neither a linear nor curvilinear relationship between cancer-related distress and diet was supported in this study suggesting that factors other than cancer-related distress may be predictors of dietary behavior. Future studies should consider the role of diet in regulating affect and examine other social learning constructs such as response efficacy, self efficacy and readiness of participants to make diet changes.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
