Does connection with the lesbian community matter in perceptions of barriers to vigorous physical activity in adult lesbians?

Most adult lesbians are not sufficiently vigorously active to achieve health benefits. General barriers, which are common across populations (e.g., lack of time), and lesbian-specific barriers, which are unique to being a lesbian (e.g., fears around doing activity with a partner), are associated with physical activity in lesbians. To expand on the research, examination of factors that influence perceptions of general and lesbian-specific barriers is needed. Connection with the lesbian community (CLC), which captures lesbians' perceptions of separation from or connection to the larger lesbian community, may be one such factor. The purpose of this study was to examine if the presence and extent of limitation of general and lesbian-specific barriers and vigorous physical activity (VPA) differed between lesbians with high and low CLC. Participants were 328 self-identified adult lesbians (Mage=39.58 years; SD=10.96) who completed a web-based survey assessing CLC, presence and limitation of 30 general and 10 lesbian-specific barriers, and VPA for a typical week. Using a median split, a high CLC group (n=149) and a low CLC group (n=179) were identified. A significant MANOVA, F(3,324)=4.51, p<.05, with follow-up tests revealed the two CLC groups differed in lesbian-specific barrier presence (High CLC=2; Low CLC=3, p<.01) but not limitation or VPA (p's>.05). A MANOVA comparing the two CLC groups on presence and limitation of general barriers and VPA was not significant. CLC may be moderating the frequency with which lesbian-specific barriers are experienced, suggesting a need for distinct intervention strategies to better impact public health among the lesbian population.