Date of Conferral

2020

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Lee S. Caplan

Abstract

Elevated BMI (overweight and obesity) is a common health-related issue and affects more than half of the lupus population. Weight issues lead to additional health-related issues, such as heart disease and disabilities in the lupus population. To address the shortage of research focusing on this specific issue in the lupus population, one approach is a novel outlook on how neighborhood factors have the capability of determining or altering behaviors, such as physical activity, healthy eating, and healthy social relationships. Another variable to consider is depression and its capability of altering interactions, relationships, self-esteem, or even the inflammatory state of the body. These variables have potential to be driving forces of elevated BMI. The objectives of this study were to determine whether associations exist between (a) neighborhood factors and elevated BMI and (b) depression and elevated BMI. Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model was the theoretical framework for this study, and ordinal logistic regression was employed on secondary data from the Georgians Organized Against Lupus cohort study. The findings revealed that neighborhood factors did not predict BMI and depression did significantly predict BMI among individuals with lupus in Georgia (p < .05). The significance remained when adding covariates for age, gender, and race to the model (p < .05); however, the statistical significance ceased when adding education level and ethnicity to the model (p > .05). The findings of the current study contribute to social change through the promotion of new or altered policies and interventions geared toward improving psychological health and eliminating depression among individuals with lupus to improve health outcomes, specifically BMI.

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