Associations between daily work hassles and energy-balance behaviors in female african american workers: An ecological momentary assessment study

Abstract

Objective: Despite their high rate of labor force participation, African American women earn less and are overrepresented in service jobs that tend to have fewer benefits, longer work hours, and less flexibility. The aim of our study was to examine associations between work-related daily hassles and energy balance behaviors among female African American workers. Design: A secondary analysis of a 7-day intensive longitudinal study using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Setting: Metropolitan area of Chicago, Illinois, United States; July 2012 through January 2013. Participants: A convenience sample of 70 female African American workers. Methods: EMA was used to collect information over seven days on work hassles and energy balance behaviors: empty calorie food intake; moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA); sedentary behavior; sleep duration; and sleep disturbance. Within-person associations between daily work hassles and each of these daily energy balance behaviors were analyzed using person fixed-effects regression. Results: A total of 334 person-day observations from 70 female African American workers were included in the final analysis. Reporting at least one daily work hassle was associated with same-day higher empty calorie food intake (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.0, 4.6) and more daily minutes of sedentary behavior (b: 35.8, 95% CI; .2, 71.3). However, no significant associations were found between prior-day work hassles and either food intake or sedentary behavior. Daily work hassles were not related to MVPA, sleep duration, or sleep disturbance. Conclusions: Our study showed that daily work hassles were associated with female African American workers’ empty calorie food intake and sedentary behaviors. Strategies to eliminate daily work hassles may help to improve their energy balance behaviors.