Advisor(s)
Daniel Jr
Committee Member(s)
Brenda Bertrand
Christine Ferguson
Robin Lanzi
Yenni Cedillo
School
School of Health Professions
Document Type
Dissertation
Department (new version)
Nutrition Sciences
Date of Award
9-11-2025
Abstract
Many adults suffer from chronic diseases and/or health conditions, coincident with disabilities. Yet, there is limited knowledge on health-related behavior differences and efficacy of nutrition interventions for people with disabilities. The objective of this dissertation is to evaluate health-related behaviors in young adults with and without disabilities and investigate if nutrition interventions improve nutrition-related knowledge and reduce pain in middle aged and older adults with disabilities or chronic conditions. Health-related behaviors impact health outcomes and young adult college students report generally poor health-related behaviors, though differences in health-related behaviors among students with and without disabilities have been largely unexplored. The first aim assessed differences in health-related behaviors among college students with and without disabilities utilizing a comprehensive, nationally recognized, validated questionnaire. Nutrition-related knowledge influence on diet quality has relevance to type 2 diabetes (T2D) management and health. Nutrition education interventions, including grocery store tours, are shown to improve nutrition-related knowledge; however, these are untested in adults with T2D and disabilities. The second aim evaluated changes in nutrition-related knowledge following an inclusive grocery store tour for adults with T2D and a physical disability. Adults with disabilities and/or chronic disease often experience pain, where low barrier interventions that reduce pain may be especially helpful. Previous research reports that turmeric and black pepper possess pain relieving properties, albeit using amounts greater than in culinary use. Black pepper at dietary relevant amounts may enhance the potential of turmeric to reduce pain. The third aim assessed the effectiveness of culinary relevant amounts of turmeric, or turmeric with black pepper, on pain ratings in adults with chronic pain through a randomized cross-over clinical trial. Collectively the findings showed that: 1) young adults with and without disabilities report poor health-related behaviors, 2) inclusive nutrition education may improve nutrition-related knowledge in adults with disabilities and chronic diseases, and 3) a low barrier nutrition intervention of turmeric or turmeric with black pepper may be effective in reducing pain. These findings contribute new insight regarding an often-excluded population of individuals with disabilities.
ProQuest ID
Recommended Citation
Durham, Leandra, "Health-Related Behaviors And Nutrition Interventions In Adults With Disabilities And Chronic Conditions" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 7393.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/7393
