Published In

Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Summer 2013

Subjects

Mental depression -- United States, Public health -- Research -- Citizen participation, African Americans -- Mental health, African Americans -- Health and hygeine, Transcultural medical care

Abstract

Background

African-Americans are less likely than non-Hispanic Whites to find antidepressants acceptable or seek care for depression.

Objective

To develop and pilot-test a culturally-tailored, community-based, psycho-educational wellness and exercise promotion program to reduce depressive symptoms in African-Americans.

Methods

Participants were African-Americans with moderate depressive symptoms, who were interested in exercise, but were not exercising regularly. They attended a 6-week psycho-educational group program during which they set personal activity goals and learned depression self-management skills. We conducted pre- and post-intervention surveys and post-intervention feedback sessions.

Results

21 African-Americans participated in the intervention. The program had excellent attendance and satisfaction. We found a large reduction in depressive symptoms, with mean Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores dropping from 14.8 to 7.1 (p

Conclusions

This pilot-study offers promising preliminary evidence to inform further research on the use of community-based, culturally tailored wellness programs to address depression.

Description

Copyright © The Johns Hopkins University Press. This article first appeared in Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, Volume 7, Issue 2, pages 145-152.

May be found at http://muse.jhu.edu/journal/318

DOI

10.1353/cpr.2013.0017

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/17302

Download

Share

COinS