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Objective(s): Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have yielded inconsistent findings on the associations of social support networks with cardiovascular health in Hispanic/Latino adults with diabetes. We examined the cross-sectional associations of structural social support and traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a diverse sample of Hispanic/Latino adults with diabetes. Research Design and Methods: This analysis included 2994 adult participants ages 18-74 with diabetes from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL - 2008-2011). Select items from the Social Network Inventory (SNI) were used to assess indices of structural social support, i.e. network size (number of children, parents, and in-laws) and frequency of familial contact. Standardized methods were used to measure abdominal obesity, BMI, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking status. Multivariate regression was used to examine associations of structural support with individual CVD risk factors with demographics, acculturation, physical health, and psychological ill-being (depressive symptoms and anxiety) included as covariates. Results: There were no significant cross-sectional associations of structural support indices with abdominal obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, or smoking status. There was a marginally significant (OR: 1.05; 95%CI 0.99-1.11) trend toward higher odds of obesity in participants reporting a larger family unit (including children, parents, and in-laws) and those with closer ties with extended family relatives (OR: 1.04; 95%CI 0.99-1.09). Conclusions: Structural social support was marginally associated with higher odds of obesity in Hispanic/Latino adults with diabetes. Alternate forms of social support (e.g. healthcare professionals, friends, peers) should be further explored as potential markers of cardiac risk in Hispanics/Latinos with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Evaluate the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between perceived walkability-related neighborhood characteristics (e.g., traffic safety) and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older Latino adults. Method: We used baseline, 12-month, and 24-month in-person interview data collected from Latinos aged ≥60 years participating in an exercise intervention at 27 senior centers (N = 570). Results: In cross-sectional analyses, lower perceived neighborhood crime, indicative of greater neighborhood walkability, was associated with a lower odds of elevated symptoms of depression (odds ratio [OR] = 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.82, 0.996]; p = .04) after adjusting for demographic characteristics, linguistic acculturation, and medical comorbidities. Associations between Neighborhood Environment Walkability scales and incident depressive symptoms at 12- and/or 24-months were not statistically significant, but the point estimate for crime safety was consistent with cross-sectional findings (OR = 0.83; 95% CI = [0.64, 1.07]; p = .16), suggesting a protective effect for lower perceived neighborhood crime. Discussion: Lower perceived neighborhood crime is associated with reduced presence of elevated symptoms of depression in older Latinos. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the relationship between baseline depression and prospective engagement in walking and exercise behavior after enrollment in an exercise intervention. Methods: The study used baseline, 1-month, 12-month, and 24-month in-person interview and pedometer data collected from Latinos aged >60 years participating in an exercise intervention (¡Caminemos!) at 27 senior centers (n = 572). Results: After joining an exercise intervention, and when using continuous pedometer data and scores from the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS) as the outcomes of interest, older adults with baseline depression exhibited comparable levels of physical activity across time when compared to their nondepressed counterparts. Significant difference in physical activity levels between the depressed and nondepressed subgroups no longer existed within one month of initiating the exercise intervention. Discussion: Among sedentary older Latino adults, having depression may not delay exercise initiation nor does it appear to prevent achievement or maintenance of an exercise program. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]