Examination and Promotion of Health Behaviors Among Clergy in a Faith-Based Setting
Open Access
- Author:
- Webb, Benjamin Lee
- Graduate Program:
- Kinesiology
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- March 03, 2014
- Committee Members:
- Melissa Jean Bopp, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Steriani Elavsky, Committee Member
Kurt David Johnson, Committee Member
Jenny Trinitapoli, Committee Member - Keywords:
- physical activity
health
clergy - Abstract:
- Physical activity (PA) is associated with numerous health benefits and faith-based organizations (FBOs) are positioned to promote PA to a large segment of the population. Clergy are the spiritual and administrative leaders of FBOs and their health and behaviors may influence the health environment of FBOs. This dissertation identified factors associated with self-efficacy for providing PA counseling and PA counseling behavior among clergy. After controlling for other significant variables, self-efficacy for PA counseling contributed significantly to the explanation of PA counseling in a group format (e.g., during sermons). Clergy PA behavior was positively associated with self-efficacy for PA counseling and PA counseling behavior. This dissertation also evaluated the effectiveness of Walking in Faith, a web-based PA intervention that was culturally-tailored for clergy. There was a significant effect of the intervention on some psychosocial, PA behavior, and PA counseling outcomes. Subsequently, focus group discussions were conducted in the churches of clergy that participated in the Walking in Faith study. Congregants believed that the roles for clergy in health promotion are to provide sponsorship of programs, provide informational support (e.g., increase awareness about health-related issues), and serve as role models of positive health behaviors. Congregants indicated that clergy could influence their health and behaviors by providing informational support and by serving as role models of positive health behaviors. This dissertation affirmed that the health behaviors of clergy could impact the health environment of FBOs. It also demonstrated that web-based PA interventions have the potential to modify clergy PA behavior. Targeting the health behaviors of clergy could lead to broad dissemination of public health initiatives to promote PA.