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A variety of barriers to physical activity have been identified and these barriers take new forms in relation to African American women. This study examined how the intersectionality of race and gender play a pivotal role in African American women's physical activity. I sought to understand whether there were differences in barriers and strategies reported between physically active and inactive groups, whether the perception of barriers and barrier self-efficacy were predictors of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and what types of strategies African American women use to overcome barriers. African American women completed and online survey and a subset participated in semi-structured interviews. Results indicated that both physically active and inactive women within the sample faced similar barriers and utilized similar strategies, but the perceived effectiveness differed between the two groups. Both perception of barriers (p= .045) and barrier self-efficacy (p= .043) were significant predictors in a regression predicting MVPA. Analysis of semi-structured in depth interviews uncovered five major themes: Health Perceptions within the African American Community are an Obstacle to Healthy Behaviors; Gender Differences and Gendered Activity Expectations , Hair as a Constraint to Physical Activity for African American Women; The Role of Body Image as a Barrier and a Facilitator of physical activity, and The Role of a Physical Activity Environment in Negotiating Constraints.
Abstract: The sedentary lifestyle prevalent among many women has manifested itself as a serious public health problem. Inactive lifestyle has been linked to obesity and chronic disease, both serious health care issues for women today, and a disproportionate burden from these conditions is borne by African American women. Despite all that has been learned from the application of behavioral change theories to physical activity, long-term success of interventions to initiate and maintain a physically active lifestyle among African American women has not been realized. This study aimed to contribute to further theory development and to inform future investigations of the most effective ways to assist inactive African American women in maintaining an active lifestyle. Interviews were conducted with 15 African American women between the ages of 25-45 who were physically active at nationally recommended levels for one year or more. Interview questions were open-ended and designed to elicit lengthy accounts from the women using their own words to describe their experiences with physical activity. Focus groups were held at the conclusion of the interviews to gather feedback on the findings from the participants. Grounded theory was used to guide the data collection and analysis process. Data derived inductively from the interviews and focus groups guided the development of a process theory of physical activity evolution. The Physical Activity Evolution process theory identifies three key phases in the adoption and maintenance process: Initiation, Transition, and Integration. The dynamic nature of long-term physical activity participation is exemplified by modification and cessation loops. Important context and conditions within which this process takes place also emerged from the study including planning methods, social support, benefits, and the influence of African American race/culture. This study has made an important contribution to knowledge of the evolution of physical activity participation among African American women. The concept of investigating health behaviors in context and among people who have successfully incorporated those behaviors into their daily lives should be further utilized in research studies. By studying women who have successfully adopted a behavior, strategies to overcome known barriers can be elucidated and applied to intervention planning for other women.
Background - The health problems of overweight and obesity are growing concerns in the United States and in many parts of the world. At the time of this study, African American women had the highest mortality and obesity rates of any other racial/ethnic group in this country, and the highest level of physical inactivity (CDC, 2008; OMHRC, 2007). Research has suggested that despite African American women's awareness of the benefits of physical activity their rates of physical activity have remained low. A need existed to understand how physically active African American women, particularly those who resided in a rural area, perceived and experienced physical activity. Objective - The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the meaning and cultural context of physical activity among physically active, rural African American women, and to understand how they related physical activity and overweight to their health status. Methodology - To achieve this purpose, the researcher conducted 4 in-depth, open-ended focus group interviews in North Carolina. A qualitative methodology using a phenomenological approach enabled the researcher to better understand the meaning and sociocultural influences that the participants associated with physical activity participation. Analysis of verbatim transcriptions of the focus group interviews involved immersion, coding, categorizing, and identifying themes that emerged from the data. Results - Several primary themes emerged from the data from this study that revealed the participants experience of physical activity. These themes included perceptions of personal health, the evolution of physical activity, body image and overweight, social support, barriers, societal views of African American health status, and health related education. This chapter explored themes and various subthemes in order to get a more in-depth view of the participants' experience of physical activity, and definitions of physical activity and overweight as they relate to health in the minds of the participants. Conclusion - Health education programming aimed at this target population group must recognize several factors in order to provide culturally appropriate programs: the motivating factors of this population group; the association between size, overweight and health; their perception of what types of physical activities are appropriate; their support needs; the barriers that they face. In addition, it is important to provide education regarding their risks as well as information on how to get the information that they need to address these risks from their medical provider.