Positive deviants: Physically active adults in rural environments

Rural residents, particularly in the South, are less physically active than their urban counterparts and often live in areas with limited walkability (e.g., no sidewalks) and minimal access to recreational facilities. To gain an understanding of what makes these individuals physically active despite their environment, we conducted qualitative interviews (n=29) with physically active adults who live in rural areas (e.g., outside of town) in southwest Georgia. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, double-coded, and analyzed for themes. Participants were 65.5% male and 24.1% African American, with a mean age of 55.9 years. Over half (51.7%) met CDC guidelines for physical activity; 48.3% engaged in at least some leisure-time physical activity. Managing health problems was the top motivator for physical activity, followed by health care provider recommendations, a desire to lose weight, and a belief in the health benefits of exercise. Walking and yard work were the most common types of physical activity reported, and homes and yards were the most common places to be active. Specifically, physical activities done inside the home were calisthenics, weight-lifting, housework, and use of exercise machines; physical activities done in yards were yard work, gardening, and walking. Neighborhoods were discussed quite often as the main place to walk and/or exercise, with participants discussing their own property and nearby roads. Few were aware of indoor exercise facilities in their neighborhood. Results suggest that physically active individuals in rural areas are motivated by their health, and perceive their local surroundings as a resource for physical activity.