Obesity and U.S. military spouses: An examination of risk perception and health behavior

Date

2011-11-29

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Kansas State University

Abstract

Obesity in the U.S. has become a national epidemic. The military, in particular Military spouses are not exempt from the challenging issue of obesity. Understanding risk perception and health behavior is key to reducing the obesity epidemic, however insufficient research has been conducted among U.S. military spouses to understand their perceived risk and health behaviors. This quantitative study was conducted among 291 military spouses using the Extended Parallel Process Model and Social Cognitive Theory as the conceptual frameworks. The results indicated that perceived susceptibility of obesity and obesity related illness among overweight and obese military spouses while reinforcing both response and self-efficacy is the focal area for communication. Key barriers to weight loss and health goals were identified and the setting of health goals is identified as important. The researcher provides a digital intervention recommendation to address the findings of this study.

Description

Keywords

Risk, Military spouses, EPPM, Social cognitive theory, Obesity

Graduation Month

December

Degree

Master of Science

Department

Department of Journalism and Mass Communications

Major Professor

Joye C. Gordon

Date

2011

Type

Thesis

Citation