Sex differences independent of other psycho-sociodemographic factors as a predictor of body mass index in black South African adults.

To better understand the sex differences in body mass index (BMI) observed in black South African adults in the Transition and Health during Urbanization of South Africans Study, the present study investigated whether these differences can be explained by the psycho-sociodemographic factors and/or health-related behaviours. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken among 1,842 black South African individuals from 37 study sites that represented five levels of urbanization. The behavioural factors that possibly could have an influence on the outcome of body-weight and that were explored included: diet, smoking, level of education, HIV infection, employment status, level of urbanization, intake of alcohol, physical activity, and neuroticism.

Coping with urbanization: a cardiometabolic risk? The THUSA study.

An assessment of specific coping styles in rural-urban Africans is done to evaluate its contribution as cardiometabolic risk factor. In total, 608 apparently healthy Africans were included in a cross-sectional comparative study from the North-West Province in South Africa. The adapted and translated COPE Questionnaire classified participants according to their responses into active (AC) or passive (PC) copers.

Specific coping strategies of Africans during urbanization: comparing cardiovascular responses and perception of health data.

Specific coping mechanisms of Africans during urbanization were compared to and correlated with cardiovascular responses and perception of health data. Subjects included men (N=286) and women (N=360). The COPE questionnaire classified subjects as active (AC) or passive (PC) copers and the General Health Questionnaire measured subjective perception of health.

Coping mechanisms, perception of health and cardiovascular dysfunction in Africans.

The purpose of this study was to compare active and passive coping strategies of Africans with perception of own health and cardiovascular data. The subjects included 236 apparently healthy Africans (men=109; women=127). The COPE questionnaire was adapted, translated and validated for Africans.