Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationThe main aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of an innovative health prevention program, the Healthy and Fit Adults Program (HFAP). The HFAP consists of five sessions designed after an effective evidence-based family skills training intervention, the Strengthening Families Program, which uses Bandura's (1986) Social Cognitive Theory in order to increase protective factors against health risk behaviors. The HFAP intervention included two elements (reflecting on gratitude and expressive writing as the vehicle to reflect on gratitude) as means to improve healthy behaviors. It was hypothesized that those participating in the HFAP would increase health protective factors against obesity (physical activity) and decrease health risk factors for obesity (excessive weight and depression). This study employed a quasi-experimental design (no treatment comparison and treatment groups) in order to assess the impact of the HFAP on the health behaviors of 48 voluntary participants ages 31 to 45. Standardized measures included self-reported scales to measure physical activity (IPAQ), gratitude (GQ-6), and depression (CES-D) as well as objective measures (pedometer and BMI). Data were collected and analyzed using parametric and nonparametric tests (RM-ANOVAS, ANCOVA, Paired Samples t test, Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Tests, Spearman Correlation Coefficient). Results showed statistically significant increases in self-reported gratitude as well as a significant decrease in depression scores within the experimental group from pretest to posttest. Self-reported physical activity measured in METs also increased significantly within the experimental group from pretest to posttest. These results were only statistically significant when baseline differences between groups were not accounted for. When baseline differences were considered (ANCOVA), the differences in main outcomes (physical activity in METs and steps, gratitude, BMI, and depression) between comparison and treatment groups from pretest to posttest were not statistically significant. There was, however, a statistically significant moderate negative correlation between levels of gratitude and depression among participants. In this study, reflecting and practicing gratitude seemed to contribute to healthier psychological self-perceptions of participants (i.e., improved gratitude and decreased depression). Findings are discussed and suggestions for future research and interventions aiming to prevent obesity among adults are provided