Patterns of Dietary Quality, Physical Activity, and Sleep Duration among Cancer Survivors and Caregivers

Abstract

Abstract Health behaviors such as fruit and vegetable intake (FVI), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sleep duration are associated with cancer-related and general health outcomes. This analysis examined to what degree FVI, MVPA, and sleep co-occur among cancer survivors and informal cancer caregivers and identified sociodemographic and clinical correlates of health behavior engagement. Using data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS), an exploratory latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted among a nationally representative sample of those self-reporting a history of cancer or identifying as a cancer caregiver. The LPA model was fit with continuous variables for daily self-reported FVI (servings/d), MPVA (minutes/d) and sleep duration (hours/d). Multinomial logistic regression models were used to predict profile membership based on current age, education, relationship status, income, rurality, body mass index (BMI), other health behaviors, and role (survivor or caregiver). Four health behavior profiles were identified (Least Engaged–Sedentary, Least Engaged–Inactive, Moderately Engaged, and Highly Engaged). The largest profile membership was Least-Engaged Sedentary, capturing 37% of the sample. Profiles were most distinguished by MVPA with the lowest variance in sleep duration. Health behavior profile membership was significantly associated with current age, relationship status, education, income, rurality, alcohol use, self-efficacy, psychological distress, BMI, and cancer type. This study identified that, in a nationally representative sample, cancer survivors and cancer caregivers who reported more FVI also often reported greater MVPA and longer sleep duration. Health behavior profiles and sociodemographic correlates can help identify for whom health behavior interventions may be of greatest benefit.