Janelle Armstrong-Brown, assistant professor of public health studies, presented her research at the 142nd Annual American Public Health Association Conference.
Janelle Armstrong-Brown’s research presentation was titled, “The Examination of Neighborhood Factors Associated with Diet and Physical Activity Among African-American Men, 50 Years and Older.”
“Healthography: How Where You Live Affects Your Health and Well-Being” was the topic of the 142nd Annual Conference of the American Public Health Association (APHA) in New Orleans held Nov. 15-19.
The work of Armstrong-Brown, assistant professor of public health studies, focuses on the social determinants of health, specifically examining how where you live influences your health outcomes. Few studies have examined how neighborhood factors are associated with African-American men’s health behaviors. Armstrong-Brown’s research examined how neighborhood characteristics are associated with fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity among African-American men 50 years and older. The study found that as neighborhood poverty increased fruit and vegetable consumption decreased. An increase in the number of people in the neighborhood with a high school diploma was associated with a decrease in fruit and vegetable consumption. An increase in the percent of African-American residents in a neighborhood was associated with higher levels of physical activity. These results will be used to inform future research on mechanisms by which neighborhood influences health behaviors. Understanding these pathways can help to inform gender-specific interventions that focus on the social environment.
Armstrong-Brown was also selected to participate in the 8th Annual Research and Coaching Clinic sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through the New Connections program. This clinic was held in conjunction with the APHA from Nov. 14-15 in New Orleans. The Research and Coaching Clinic aims to increase the visibility and enhance the skill sets of early to mid-career researchers from underrepresented communities. Participation in the Research and Coaching Clinic is by invitation only. The coaching clinic offered three workshops including writing for publication; grant writing, and leadership training in which Armstrong-Brown participated. Additionally, sessions were held on how to use social media to promote research.