235909 Ethnic-Specific Attitudes toward Physical Activity: Midlife Women in the U.S

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Eun-Ok Im, PhD MPH RN FAAN , Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Young Ko, PhD, RN , School of Nursing, The Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Hyenam Hwang, MSN, RN , School of Nursing, The Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Wonshik Chee, PhD , School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Alexa K. Stuifbergen, PhD, RN, FAAN , School of Nursing, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Lorraine Walker, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN , School of Nursing, The Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Adama Brown, PhD, MPH, RN , School of Nursing, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Background: Women's negative attitudes toward physical activity have been pointed out as a plausible reason for their low participation rates in physical activity. However, the current literature is meager regarding midlife women's ethnic-specific attitudes toward physical activity.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore midlife women's attitudes toward physical activity among four major racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. (Whites, Hispanics, African Americans, and Asians).

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of qualitative data among 90 midlife women from a larger study that included both an Internet survey and four ethnic-specific online forums on midlife women's attitudes toward physical activity. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Findings: The themes reflecting the commonalities were: (a) “good for health”; (b) “not as active as I could be”; (c) “not encouraged”; (d) “inherited”; and (e) “not accessible.” The themes reflecting the differences by race/ethnicity were: (a) “necessity or luxury”; (b) “organized or natural”; (c) “individualistic or family-oriented”; and (d) “beauty ideal or culturally accepted appearance.” The five themes reflecting the commonalities could be interpreted as more positive than reported in the literature, whereas the four themes reflecting the differences could be interpreted as more negative than reported in the literature.

Conclusions: Developing an intervention that could change the social influences and environmental factors and that incorporate the women's ethnic-specific attitudes might be valuable in increasing physical activity of racial/ethnic minority midlife women.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture

Learning Objectives:
To describe midlife women's ethnic specific attitudes toward physical activity.

Keywords: Physical Activity, Ethnicity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the PI of the study and in charge of the data collection and analysis process.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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