Abstract 971: Understanding health beliefs and readiness for lifestyle change in young, low-income African American men

In the context of health preventive behaviors, apart from issues related to HIV and AIDS, studies about alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and violence, young African American men are one of the least understood and most underserved populations in the US. Mostly due to lack of insurance they are known to have limited access to health care, and rarely engage in preventive health care or preventive health behaviors. Yet we know that as a group, just some short years later, they will present with high rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and smoking related diseases and many will prematurely die. In addition, recent research suggests high levels of undiagnosed depression in this group of men and links this to their lack of control and stressful lives. In fact many argue that maladaptive behaviors such as drug use and unprotected sexual activity are indeed ways of self medicating such depression. Generally, African-Americans in low-income neighborhoods experience high levels of chronic stress due to oppressive social and economic conditions. In addition, the neighborhoods in which many of these young men reside are crowed, have high levels of violence, are poorly maintained, and generally do not offer opportunities for good nutrition or safe daily activities. With emergent clarity about the associations between socioeconomic status, chronic stress, and depression in the development of chronic disease, we need to direct more efforts toward developing culturally specific interventions that actively and respectfully engage these young men as partners and move them along to a more health conscious lifestyle. Using community based participatory research methods we worked in partnership with a group of young African American men between ages 18 to 30, recruited from community sites in a low income urban southern California community. Using theoretical sampling and triangulation for respondent selection, we conduct exploratory Grounded Theory-based interviews (N=15) and validation focus groups exploring men9s knowledge, beliefs, practices and barriers related to lifestyle changes, chronic disease, stress, and prevention. In a follow-up survey based on socio-ecological theory and our qualitative results we then explored feasibility and logistics for future preventive interventions. Results indicate a general lack of knowledge about health and the health consequences of various types of behaviors that were highly prevalent; low perceived vulnerability to disease at present and for the future; high levels of stress, stressful life events and undiagnosed depression; as well as low perceived control over their life circumstances. Men also shared with us a surprisingly high level of interest in preventive interventions if delivered respectfully and in the context of their commitment to finding ways to improve their lives. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 971.