Faith-Based Physical Activity Promotion is a promotora-led physical activity program hosted in collaboration with churches throughout San Diego County. Latina women from the church community are trained to lead walking groups, cardio dance classes, and strength training classes, and to make motivational phone calls to participants helping them to overcome barriers to being active.

In a current R01 Hybrid Type II Effectiveness-Implementation trial (R01HL158538), we are testing the effectiveness, reach, and implementation of the standard intervention compared with an enhanced implementation condition and an enhanced + maintenance condition.

19 Latinas with matching red polo shirts pose with a Faith in Action / Fe en Accíón banner.
Latina community health workers.

Associated Funding:

  • R21CA122471
  • R01CA138894 (2010-2015)
  • R01HL158538 (2022-2027)
Publications
  • Ayala, G. X., & Elder, J. P. (2011). Qualitative methods to ensure acceptability of behavioral and social interventions to the target population. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 71(Suppl 1), S69-79. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21656958
  • Arredondo, E. M., Mendelson, T., Holub, C., Espinoza, N., & Marshall, S. (2012). Cultural adaptation of physical activity self-report instruments. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 9(Suppl 1), S37-43. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22287446 
  • Hoos, T., Espinoza, N., Marshall, S., & Arredondo, E. M. (2012). Validity of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) in adult Latinas. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 9(5), 698-705. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22733873 
  • Perez, L. G., Arredondo, E. M., McKenzie, T. L., Holguin, M., Elder, J. P., & Ayala, G. X. (2015). Neighborhood social cohesion and depressive symptoms among Latinos: Does use of community resources for physical activity matter? Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 12(10), 1361-8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25599244
  • Haughton, J., Ayala, G. X., Burke, K., Montañez, J., Elder, J. P. & Arredondo, E. M. (2015). Community Health Workers promoting physical activity: Targeting multiple levels of the Social Ecological Model. Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 38(4), 309-320. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4565764/
  • Arredondo, E. M., Haughton, J., Ayala, G. X., Slymen, D. J., Sallis, J. F., Burke, K., Holub, C., Chanson, D., Perez, L. G., Valdivia, R., Ryan, S., & Elder, J. P. (2015). Fe en Acción/Faith in Action: Design and implementation of a church-based randomized community trial to promote physical activity and cancer screening among churchgoing Latinas.Journal of Contemporary Clinical Trials, 45, 405-415. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4770876
  • Perez, L. G., Slymen, D. J., Sallis, J. F., Ayala, G. X., Elder, J. P., & Arredondo, E. M. (2016). Interactions between individual and environmental factors on Latinas’ physical activity. Journal of Public Health, 39(2), e10-e18. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27412175
  • Beard, M., Chuang, E., Haughton, J., & Arredondo, E. M. (2016). Determinants of Implementation Effectiveness in a Physical Activity Program for Church Going Latinas. Family & Community Health, 39(4), 225-233. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27536927
  • Perez, L. G., Chavez, A., Marquez, D. X., Soto, S. C., Haughton, J., & Arredondo, E. M. (2016). Associations of acculturation with self-report and objective physical activity and sedentary behaviors among Latinas. Health Education & Behavior, 44(3), 431-438. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27679665
  • Perez, L. G., Carlson, J. A., Slymen, D. J., Patrick, K., Kerr, J., Godbole, S., Elder, J. P., Ayala, G. X., & Arredondo, E. M. (2016). Does the social environment moderate associations of the built environment with Latinas’ objectively-measured neighborhood outdoor physical activity? Preventive Medicine Reports, 4, 551-557. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27818913
  • Tristão Parra, M., Porfírio, G. J. M., Arredondo, E. M., & Atallah, A. N. (2017). Physical Activity Interventions in faith-based organizations: a systematic review. American Journal of Health Promotion. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0890117116688107
  • Mills, S. D., Arredondo, E. M., Perez, L. G., Haughton, J., Roesch, S. C., & Malcarne, V. L. (2017). Psychometric evaluation of the Spanish versions of the Perceived Religious Influence on Health Behavior scale and the Illness as Punishment for Sin scale in a sample of churchgoing Latinas. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 27(4), 188-198. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30760945
  • Soto, S. C., Shakya, H., Haughton, J., & Arredondo, E. M. (2017). Leisure-time physical activity and characteristics of social network support for exercise among Latinas. American Journal of Health Promotion, 32(2), 432-439. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28359166
  • Elder, J. P., Haughton, J., Perez, L. G., Martínez, M. E., De la Torre, C. L., Slymen, D. J., & Arredondo, E. M. (2017). Promoting cancer screening among churchgoing Latinas: Fe en Acción/Faith in Action. Health Education Research, 32(2), 163-173. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28380627
  • Arredondo, E. M., Elder, J.P., Haughton, J., Slymen, D.J., Sallis, J.F., Perez, L.G., Serrano, N., Parra, M.T., Valdivia, R., & Ayala, G.X. (2017). Fe en Acción: Promoting physical activity among church going Latinas. American Journal of Public Health, 107(7), 1109-1115. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28520484
  • Nebeker, C., Murray, K., Holub, C., Haughton, J., & Arredondo, E. (2017). Acceptance of Mobile Health in Communities Underrepresented in Biomedical Research: Barriers and Ethical Considerations for Scientists. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 5(6), e87. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28659258
  • Perez, L. G., Elder, J. P., Haughton, J., Martinez, E., & Arredondo, E. M. (2017). Socio-demographic moderators of associations between psychological factors and Latinas’ breast cancer screening behaviors. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 20(4), 823-830. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28752364
  • Soto, S., Chavez, A., Haughton, J., & Arredondo, E. M. (2017). Chapter 3: Development of culturally appropriate strategies for promoting physical activity. In M. Bopp (Ed.), Physical activity in diverse populations: Examining the evidence and strategies for practice.
  • Perez, L. G., Kerr, J., Sallis, J. F., Slymen, D., McKenzie, T. L., Elder, J., & Arredondo, E. M. (2017). Perceived Neighborhood Environmental Factors That Maximize the Effectiveness of a Multilevel Intervention Promoting Physical Activity Among Latinas. American Journal of Health Promotion, 32(2), 334-343. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29166779
  • Serrano, N., Perez, L.G., Carlson, J., Patrick, K., Kerr, J., Holub, C., & Arredondo, E. M. (2018). Sub-population differences in the relationship between the neighborhood environment and Latinas’ daily walking and vehicle time. Journal of Transport & Health, 8, 210-219. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29911019
  • Mills, S. D., Arredondo, E. M., Perez, L. G., Haughton, J., Roesch, S. C., & Malcarne, V. L. (2018). Psychometric properties of the God Locus of Health Control scale in churchgoing Latinas. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 40(2), 227-239. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0739986318762464
  • Haughton, J., Takemoto, M. L., Schneider, J., Hooker, S. P., Rabin, B., Brownson, R. C., & Arredondo, E. M. (Under Review). Identifying barriers, facilitators, and implementation strategies for a faith-based physical activity program. Implementation Science Communications.
Posters & Presentations
  • Haughton, J., Chanson, D., Elder, J. P., & Arredondo, E. M. (2012, October). Sociocultural barriers to cervical cancer screening among church-going Latinas. Poster presented at the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, San Diego, CA.
  • Burke, K., Arredondo, E. M., Vazquez, A., Dallman, E., & Allison, M. (2012, October). Biomarker study. Poster presented at the Annual U54 Poster Presentation, San Diego, CA.
  • Soto, S., Arredondo, E., Holub, C., Ayala, G. X., Elder, J. P., Chanson, D., & Haughton. J. (2013, April). Social support for physical activity among Latinas living in San Diego County. Poster presented at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, San Francisco, CA.
  • Perez, L., Holub, C. K., & Arredondo, E. M. (2013, April). Frequency of park use and social cohesion levels on physical activity behaviors in U.S. Latinas. Poster presented at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, San Francisco, CA.
  • Serrano, N., Holub, C., Chanson, D., Burke, K., Ayala, G. X., Elder, J. P, & Arredondo, E. M. (2013, April). Perceived environment, safety and the relationship between walking around a neighborhood and physical activity among churchgoing Latinas. Poster presented at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, San Francisco, CA.
  • Serrano, N., Holub, C., Chanson, D. Elder, J. P., & Arredondo, E. M. (2013, April). Perceived environment and physical activity among churchgoing Latinas. Poster presented at the 6th Annual San Diego State University Student Research Symposium, San Diego, CA.
  • Stark, S., Chanson, D., Haughton, J., Rodriguez, R., & Arredondo, E. M. (2013, April). Association between sleep duration and weight status among church-going Latina women. Poster presented at the 6th Annual San Diego State University Student Research Symposium, San Diego, CA.
  • Soto, S. & Arredondo, E. M. (2013, April). Motivational interviews in a physical activity intervention among Latinas. Oral presentation at the 6th Annual San Diego State University Student Research Symposium, San Diego, CA.
  • Haughton, J., Ramirez, J. A., Manzo, T., Montañez, J., Stender, L. Perez, L., & Arredondo, E. M. (2014, March). Implementing successful promotora-led advocacy projects in Latino churches and neighborhoods in San Diego. Oral presentation at the Annual Active Living Research Conference, San Diego, CA.
  • Linnan, L., Ayala, G. X., Arredondo, E. M., & Ward, D. (2014, May). Recruiting organizational settings into diet and physical activity intervention studies: lessons learned from experienced researchers and innovative settings. Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, San Diego, CA.
  • Haughton, J., Quezada, L., Perez, L., Godbole, S., Patrick, K., Kerr, J., & Arredondo, E. M. (2014, May). Barriers to GPS device wear among Latinas in San Diego. Poster presented at the Annual Meeting of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, San Diego, CA.
  • Arredondo, E.M. (2014, July). Developing multilevel cancer prevention programs for Latinas: Fe en Acción. In B. Thompson & R. Ceballos (Co-chairs), Multilevel Approaches to Cancer Prevention & Control at the Latinas Contra Cancer Conference, San Francisco, CA.
  • Serrano, N., Perez, L.G., Lopez, N., Haughton, J., & Arredondo, E.M. (2014, November). The effect of employment on the relationship between acculturation and percent sedentary time among church-going Latina women. Health Disparities Conference, Long Beach, CA.
  • Serrano, N. (2015, February). Socio-demographic predictors of global positioning system (GPS) derived transportation mode among churchgoing Latinas. Poster presented at the Annual Active Living Research Conference, San Diego, CA.
  • Perez, L.G., Slymen, D., Sallis, J., Ayala, G.X., Elder, J.P., & Arredondo, E.M. (2015, February). Do personal-level characteristics moderate neighborhood correlates of physical activity among adult Latinas? Oral presentation at the Annual Active Living Research Conference, San Diego, CA.
  • Sanz, S., Perez, L., & Arredondo, E. M. (2015, March). Does religiosity buffer the impact of depression among acculturated Latinas? Poster presented at the Annual San Diego State University Student Research Symposium, San Diego, CA.
  • Perez, L., Carlson, J., Ryan, S., Estrada-Maravilla, M., Patrick, K., Kerr, J., Elder, J.P., Ayala, G.X., Arredondo, E. (2015, May). Environmental correlates and moderators of location-based physical activity among churchgoing Latinas. Poster presented at the American College of Sports Medicine 62nd Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.
  • Haughton, J., Lopez, N., McKenzie, T., Peterson, M., & Arredondo, E. M. (2015, May). Objective assessment of group physical activity classes for inactive Latina women in San Diego. Poster presented at the American College of Sports Medicine 62nd Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.
  • Solórzano, M., Arredondo, E. M. Perez, L., Ayala, G.X, , Elder, J.P., & Haughton, J. (2015, May). Sedentary behavior, physical activity, and depression. Poster presented at the American College of Sports Medicine 62nd Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.
  • Davila, M. (2015, June). Association between religiosity and breast cancer screening behaviors among church-going Latinas in San Diego. Poster presentation for IBACH Training and Mentoring Program.
  • Serrano, N., Perez, L. G., Carlson, J., Patrick, K., Haughton, J., & Arredondo, E. M. (2015, November). Does the relationship between the perceived neighborhood environment and travel patterns vary across individual characteristics? Poster presented at the Obesity Society Annual Meeting 2015, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Haughton, J., Lopez de la Torre, C., Elder, J. P., Ayala, G. X., & Arredondo, E. M. (2015, November). Best practices for implementing a promotora-led cancer screening intervention in Latino communities. Poster presented at the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, Atlanta, GA.
  • Elder, J. P., Arredondo, E. M., Haughton, J., Perez, L. G., & Martínez, M. E. (2015, November).             Fe en Acción/Faith in Action: Promotion of cancer screening among churchgoing Latinas. Poster presented at the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, Atlanta, GA.
  • Soto, S. C., Shakya, H., Haughton, J., Arredondo, E. M. (2016, January). Leisure time moderate-to-physical activity and the role of social network support for physical activity among adult Latinas. Poster presented at the Active Living Research Conference, Clearwater, FL.
  • Soto, S., Shayka, H., Haughton, J., & Arredondo, E. M. (2016, March). Leisure time physical activity and social network support among Latinas: The moderating role of education level. Poster presented at the 37th Annual Society of Behavioral Medicine Meeting, Washington, DC. 
  • Arredondo, E. M., Elder, J. P., Haughton, J., Slymen, D., Sallis, J., Perez, L., Serrano, N., Parra, M. T., Valdivia, R., & Ayala, G. X. (2016, March). Faith in Action/Fe en Acción: findings from a randomized controlled trial promoting physical activity among Latinas. Poster presented at the 37th Annual Society of Behavioral Medicine Meeting, Washington, DC.
  • Perez, L., Haughton, J., Martinez, E., & Arredondo, E. (2016, March) Socio-demographic moderators of the associations of psychosocial stressors and depression with Latinas’ cancer screening. Poster presentation at the Society of Behavioral Medicine 2016 Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.
  • Chavez, A., Perez, L. G., Haughton, J., & Arredondo, E. (2016, March). The association between physical activity and acculturation among low active Latina women. Poster presentation at the Society of Behavioral Medicine 2016 Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.
  • Perez L. G., Sallis J., Elder J. P., Arredondo, E. M. (2016, June). Do perceptions of one’s neighborhood environment matter for intervention effects on physical activity among Latinas in San Diego, California? Poster presentation at the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2016 Annual Meeting.
  • Mills, S., Arredondo, E. M., Perez, L. G., Haughton, J., Roesch, S. C., & Malcarne, V. L. (2017, March). The Spanish versions of the Perceived Religious Influence on Health Behavior scale and the Illness as Punishment for Sin scale in a Sample of Churchgoing Latinas: An Evaluation of their Psychometric Properties and Relationship with Health Behaviors. Paper presentation at the 38th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.
  • Arredondo, E. M., Ayala, G. X., Haughton, J., Slymen, D., Sallis, J., Perez, L. Serrano, N., & Elder, J. P. (2017, March). Mediators of a two-year physical activity intervention for churchgoing Latinas participating in Fe en Acción/Faith in Action. Paper presentation at the 38th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.
  • Soto, S. H., Haughton, J., Arredondo, E.M., Shakya, H. (2017, August). Leisure-time physical activity and characteristics of social network support for exercise among Latinas. Osteoarthritis Action Alliance Lunch and Learn Webinar.
  • Haughton, J., Ayala, G. X., Perez, L. G., Baquero, B., Montañez, J., Elder, J. P., Sallis, J. F., & Arredondo, E. M. (2018, April). Process evaluation of a faith-based intervention to increase physical activity among churchgoing Latinas in San Diego. Poster presented at the 39th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
  • Benitez, T., Marcus, B., Sallis, J. F., Lopez, N., Crespo, N., Perez, L.G., Haughton, J., & Arredondo, E. M. (2018, April). Correlates of Muscle-Strengthening Activities among Latinas Enrolled in a Faith-Based Physical Activity Intervention. Poster presented at the 39th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
  • De la Torre, C. L., Haughton, J., Milla, M., Wells, K. J., & Arredondo, E. M. (2018, June). Barriers associated with attending promotor-led cancer prevention program workshops within Latino/Hispanic communities in San Diego, California. Poster presented at the 6th Biennial National Latino Cancer Summit, San Francisco, CA.
  • Haughton, J., Takemoto, M., Beckner, J., De Ocampo, R., Sanchez, C., Grabe, S., & Arredondo, E. M. (2018, December). Understanding implementer and organizational factors associated with the implementation of a faith-based evidence-based intervention promoting physical activity. Poster presented at the 11th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation, Washington, DC.
  • Garcia, J., Schneider, J, & & Arredondo, E. (2024, March 01). Bridging Gaps in Physical Activity Promotion: Adapting Faith in Action for Rural Latinas Using the IM-Adapt Framework. Oral presentation at SDSU Student Symposium, San Diego, CA
  • Costa, C., Schneider, J., Telles, V.,  Formagini, T.,  Torres, M., Arredondo, E. (2024, March 01) Faith in Action: Collaborative strategies with church staff for implementing physical activity programs. Poster presentation at SDSU Student Symposium, San Diego, CA
  • Garcia, J., Gomez, M., Schneider, J., Formagini, T., Lafuente, O., & Arredondo, E. (2023, June 06). Development of a promotora empowerment training for a church-based physical activity program for Latinas. Poster presented at Colorado Pragmatic Research in Health Conference, Denver, CO
  •  Gomez, M., Garcia, J., Schneider, J., & Arredondo, E. (2023, June 06). Using promotora perspectives to identify key strategies for program sustainment in faith-based settings. Poster presented at Colorado Pragmatic Research in Health Conference, Denver, CO.
  • Gomez, M., Garcia, J., Schneider, J., Clark, S., Galván, M., Hooker, S.P.,  & Arredondo, E. (2023). Development of a faith-based organization leader training to support the implementation of an evidence based physical activity program. AcademyHealth 16th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health, Arlington, VA.
  • Telles V.M., Torres-Ruiz M., Rabin B., Chuang E., Brownson R., Schneider J., Ayala G., Arredondo E.M. (2023). A Systematic Assessment of Adaptations: Improving the Fit of a Promotora-led, Evidence-based Intervention in Faith-based Organizations. AcademyHealth 16th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health, Arlington, VA.
Thesis Projects
  • Hardin, S. (July, 2012). Development and exploratory factor analysis of an instrument to assess religiosity and health in a Latina population. (Unpublished master’s thesis). San Diego State University, San Diego.
  • Beard, M. (2013). Determinants of implementation effectiveness in a physical activity program for church going Latinas women. (Unpublished master’s thesis). San Diego State University, San Diego.
  • Torres, V. (2014). Personal, social, and physical environmental correlates of sedentary behavior in churchgoing Latinas. (Unpublished master’s thesis). San Diego State University, San Diego.
  • Svistoonoff, N. (June, 2014). The association between religiosity (perceived religious influence on health behaviors and church cohesion) and perceived barriers on cervical cancer screening among churchgoing Hispanic women. (Unpublished master’s thesis). San Diego State University, San Diego.
  • Lo, S. (May, 2015). The association between moderate-vigorous physical activity and dietary behavior among churchgoing Latinas in San Diego County. (Unpublished master’s thesis). San Diego State University, San Diego.
  • Ojeda, R. (July, 2015). Investigating traffic-related pollutant concentrations during a physical activity intervention in various cities throughout the County of San Diego. (Unpublished master’s thesis). San Diego State University, San Diego.
  • Stark, S. (October, 2015). Relationship between sleep duration and central obesity in Latina women living in San Diego County. (Unpublished master’s thesis). San Diego State University, San Diego.
  • Gonzalez, C. (May, 2016). Examining predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors associated with breast cancer screening among churchgoing Latinas. (Unpublished master’s thesis). San Diego State University, San Diego.
  • Hernandez, M. (April, 2018). Analysis of Multilevel Motivators and Barriers to Physical Activity Among Churchgoing Latinas in San Diego, California. (Unpublished master’s thesis). San Diego State University, San Diego.