Date of Conferral

12-19-2024

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Harold Griffin

Abstract

This phenomenological study examines the lived experiences of Houston African American clergy regarding their roles and effectiveness in leading weight loss interventions within their faith-based communities. The research addresses the gap in peer-reviewed literature on the impact of Houston-area African American faith-based leadership on the success of weight loss initiatives. Grounded in the Transtheoretical Theory, the study explores clergy perceptions of decisional balance, self-efficacy, and processes of change to inform future health interventions. Ten purposive participants, meeting the inclusion criteria of being clergy leaders in Houston-based congregations with at least 50% African American membership, shared their insights. Data were collected via Zoom interviews and transcribed using services from Global Marketing Resource and TranscribeMe, then analyzed to address the research questions. Findings revealed that clergy recognized a need for increased focus on health and wellness in their congregations and identified training and interventions as critical components for success. Recommendations include establishing health ministry teams within congregations, studying health variations in other denominations, and adopting sustainable practices from churches with developed health ministries. This research highlights the necessity of equipping African American faith-based communities as health stewards, fostering healthier congregations and promoting positive social change.

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