Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Melanie Smith

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a major public health concern, causing one in every four deaths in the United States. Despite availability of effective disease management, African Americans bear the burden of incidence and mortality as CVD prevails as the primary cause of disparities in life expectancy, stroke, and heart failure. This cross-sectional study investigated fast-food restaurant (FFR) availability and socioeconomic status (SES; income, occupation, and education) to predict CVD risk scores in African Americans residing in Jackson, Mississippi. The social construction of target populations theory was used to inform this study. Using hierarchical multiple linear regression, a secondary data analysis of 3,744 baseline records of African American adult participants in the Jackson Heart Study was conducted. Results showed that SES (median household income, education, and occupation), R2 = .150, F(14, 3607) = 28.365, p < .0005, predict CVD risk and attributes more than FFR availability, R2 = .003, F(6, 3711) = 64.936, p = .037, among the sample. FFR availability showed statistical significance within the 3-mile buffer at the moderate availability level and trended towards significance at the 3-mile-high availability level. The covariates of age and population density were significant in the analysis and males had a higher CVD score than females, M = .94 (SD = 1.14) vs. M = .91 (SD = 1.00). The overall findings can contribute to positive social change by extending our understanding of the influence of FFR availability on CVD health in African Americans living in the southern region of the United States.

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