“Chronic diseases impact public health by attributing to 43 million deaths globally, requiring ongoing medical treatment, limiting daily activities, and contributing to disability and rising healthcare costs. In the United States, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer are the leading causes of death, and the prevalence of these conditions is high as more than half
of adults have been diagnosed with at least one chronic disease and just under half are managing two or more.”
able 1.
Sociodemographic Characteristics.
| Variable | Total Sample n = 80 | Control Group n = 40 | Intervention Group n = 40 | Test Statistic | Effect Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (M ± SD) | 48.44 ± 17.03 | 45.73 ± 17.70 | 51.15 ± 16.09 | t(78) = 1.43, P = .155 | d = 0.321 |
| Gender | χ2(1) = 0.08, P = .775 | φ = .032 | |||
| - Female | 65 (81.3%) | 32 (80.0%) | 33 (82.5%) | ||
| - Male | 15 (18.8%) | 8 (20.0%) | 7 (17.5%) | ||
| Marital status | χ2(4) = 6.60, P = .158 | φ = .287 | |||
| - Married/Partnered | 35 (43.8%) | 12 (30.0%) | 23 (57.5%) | ||
| - Not married/Have a significant other | 13 (16.3%) | 8 (20.0%) | 5 (12.5%) | ||
| - Single/Other | 13 (16.3%) | 9 (22.5%) | 4 (10.0%) | ||
| - Divorced/Separated | 17 (21.3%) | 10 (25.0%) | 7 (17.5%) | ||
| - Widowed | 2 (2.5%) | 1 (2.5%) | 1 (2.5%) | ||
| Education | χ2(2) = 0.56, P = .754 | φ = .084 | |||
| - < HS/HS grad | 20 (25.0%) | 11 (27.5%) | 9 (22.5%) | ||
| - Some college | 33 (41.3%) | 17 (42.5%) | 16 (40.0%) | ||
| - College+ | 27 (33.8%) | 12 (30.0%) | 15 (37.5%) | ||
| Race | χ2(1) = 4.01, P = .045 | φ = .224 | |||
| - White | 58 (72.5%) | 33 (82.5%) | 25 (62.5%) | ||
| - Black/Other/Multiracial | 22 (27.5%) | 7 (17.5%) | 15 (37.5%) | ||
| Income | χ2(3) = 2.87, P = .413 | φ = .194 | |||
| - Under $30,000 | 36 (47.4%) | 21 (56.8%) | 15 (38.5%) | ||
| - $30,000 – $49,999 | 19 (25.0%) | 8 (21.6%) | 11 (28.2%) | ||
| - $50,000 – $100,000 | 12 (15.8%) | 4 (10.8%) | 8 (20.5%) | ||
| - Over $100,000 | 9 (11.8%) | 4 (10.8%) | 5 (12.8%) | ||
| Employment | χ2(3) = 1.93, P = .587 | φ = .155 | |||
| - Full-time job | 28 (35.0%) | 12 (30.0%) | 16 (40.0%) | ||
| - Part-time job | 18 (22.5%) | 8 (20.0%) | 10 (25.0%) | ||
| - Not working, or full-time homemaker | 18 (22.5%) | 11 (27.5%) | 7 (17.5%) | ||
| - Retired | 16 (20.0%) | 9 (22.5%) | 7 (17.5%) | ||
| # Of risk factors | χ2(2) = 1.33, P = .513 | φ = .129 | |||
| - 1-2 | 24 (30.0%) | 13 (32.5%) | 11 (27.5%) | ||
| - 3-4 | 25 (31.3%) | 14 (35.0%) | 11 (27.5%) | ||
| - 5 or more | 31 (38.8%) | 13 (32.5%) | 18 (45.0%) | ||
| Total risk score | 4.10 ± 2.28 | 4.00 ± 2.44 | 4.20 ± 2.14 | z = 0.63, P = .527 | g = .086 |
| # Of previous history | χ2(1) = 0.00, P = 1.00 | φ = .000 | |||
| - 1-2 | 64 (80.0%) | 32 (80.0%) | 32 (80.0%) | ||
| - 3-6 | 16 (20.0%) | 8 (20.0%) | 8 (20.0%) | ||
| Total history score | 1.68 ± 0.98 | 1.63 ± 0.98 | 1.73 ± 0.99 | z = 0.67, P = .501 | g = .101 |
“Public health programs that address multiple risk factors are scarce in rural locations, and little is known regarding the impact of lifestyle medicine interventions on rural populations. This study helps to bridge this gap and provides information about the effects of an online group-based lifestyle medicine intervention on southern rural participants’ attitudes, norms, perceived behavioral control, intentions and social support. The Integrated Model of Behavioral Prediction framework used to guide the study explains that these determinants are antecedents of health behavior changes. The findings showed a significant intervention effect for attitudes and perceived behavioral control regarding plant-based dietary recommendations and a significant time effect for norms.”
Abbott, Laurie S et al. “Effects of a Group-Based Online Lifestyle Medicine Intervention Among Rural Participants: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” American journal of lifestyle medicine, 15598276251395532. 5 Nov. 2025
Evidence Matters 