Keeping the FAITH!: Psychosocial Factors and Healthy Lifestyle Among African-Americans During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Document Type
Article
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented disruption of social networks and negatively impacted social determinants of health (SDoH, e.g., economic stability, mental health, health care access) among African Americans. The FAITH! (Fostering African-American Improvement in Total Health!) Program, an academic-community partnership with African American churches, pivoted to pandemic-related impacts on health behaviors of African Americans. This exploratory, cross-sectional study examined associations between multilevel factors influencing difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle during the early pandemic phase, including mental/emotional health and COVID-19 hardships (e.g., job/food/housing insecurity, paying utilities). An online survey was distributed via FAITH!-affiliated churches and social media. Logistic regression (odds ratios [ORs], adjusted for age/gender) and associated 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) examined associations between difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle and multilevel factors. Greater than half of respondents reported difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle (N = 169, 54% [91/169]). Adjusted odds of having difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle were greater for those reporting mental/emotional health issues (high-stress OR 4.0; 95% CI [1.9,8.9], p < .001); occasional symptoms of depression (OR 3.7; 95% CI [01.9,7.7]; p < .001); anger (OR 2.5; 95% CI [1.2,5.4]; p = .044), and anxiety (OR 2.8; 95% CI [1.4,6.0]; p = .008)). COVID-19 hardships of job insecurity (OR 1.4.; 95% CI [0.7, 2,8]; p = .015), difficulty paying rent (OR 4.4; 95% CI [2.1,9.9]; p < .001) or difficulty paying for food/utilities (OR 5.4; 95% CI [2.6,11.7]; p < .001) were associated with difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Our study revealed the negative impact of mental/emotional health and COVID-19 hardships on maintaining a healthy lifestyle among African Americans. This could inform SDoH-focused lifestyle interventions during future public health crises.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Publication Info
Published in Health Promotion Practice, 2025.
APA Citation
McCoy, C. R., Burgess, A., Johnson, M. P., Jones, C., Richard, M., Erickson, J., Sia, I. G., Wieland, M. L., White, R. O., Weis, J., Abbenyi, A., Brockman, T. A., Doubeni, C. A., & Brewer, L. C. (2025). Keeping the FAITH!: Psychosocial Factors and Healthy Lifestyle Among African-Americans During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Health Promotion Practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399251370692
Rights
© 2025 Society for Public Health Education