The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59266

Lorna T Haughton, MPH¹, Matthew W. Kreuter, PhD, MPH¹, Kim Naleid, BS¹, Ross C. Brownson, PhD², Kathleen Wyrwich, PhD³, and Eddie Clark, PhD⁴. (1) Health Communication Research Laboratory, School of Public Health, Saint Louis University, 3545 Lafayette, Salus Center Suite 408, Saint Louis, MO 63104, 314-977-4045, haughton@slu.edu, (2) Prevention Research Center, Saint Louis University School of Public Health, 3545 Lafayette Ave., Salus Center, St. Louis, MO 63104, (3) Research Methodology, Saint Louis University, 3750 Lindell Blvd., McGannon Hall •, St. Louis, MO 63108, (4) Psychology, St. Louis University, 214 Shannon Hall, St. Louis, MO 63104

Physical inactivity is a growing public health problem with serious adverse consequences. Although intrapersonal (e.g., self-efficacy) and interpersonal (e.g., social support) correlates of physical activity (PA) are well documented, less is known about environmental influences on PA. There is an increased need for development and testing of explanatory models taking a social-ecological perspective that includes intrapersonal, interpersonal and environmental variables to better understand the influences on PA. This study tests a predictive model that includes intrapersonal (motivation and self-efficacy), interpersonal (social support), and environmental influences on PA in a community-based sample of 1104 participants from public health centers in St. Louis, MO (66% female, 46% African American, mean age = 33 years old). Environmental items included questions about perceptions of neighborhood environment such as criminal activity, safety, and pleasantness. Preliminary analyses indicate that perceptions of neighborhood environment are significantly associated with moderate and vigorous PA where PA levels increased as positive neighborhood perceptions increased (p <.05). Perception of neighborhood environment also significantly differed by race and income. Whites and those with higher incomes were more likely to rate their neighborhoods as pleasant, and safe from criminal activity and traffic (p <.05). This presentation will discuss: (1) findings from the analysis testing the overall fit of the PA model using structural equation modeling, (2) the direct/indirect effects of social support, motivation, environmental factors, and self-efficacy on PA and (3) the effect of race, gender, and age as potential moderators. Implications for using social-ecological models when designing PA interventions will be addressed.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to:
• Understand the relationship between social support, motivation, environmental factors, self-efficacy, and physical activity in a diverse sample of US adults.
• Gain an understanding of the use of structural equation modeling in physical activity research.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.