Lifespan Influences on South Asian American Women's Physical Activity: A qualitative study

Introduction:

South Asian American women report extremely low rates of leisure time physical activity (PA). Regular PA can prevent coronary heart disease and diabetes, which are more prevalent in SAs compared to other racial/ethnic groups. This study explores PA in SA women at different life stages.

Methods: In partnership with a community organization that provides social services to SA immigrants, the study team conducted 6 focus groups (in English and Hindi, stratified by age 18-29/30-49/50-71 years) with SA women (n=42). A semi-structured interview guide was used to ask women about PA during different life stages. Discussions were transcribed and independently coded by two reviewers using a coding scheme that had been developed a priori.

Results: Women said that different life phases strongly influenced their PA, “With kids I had no time for doing exercise or even thinking about it.” Although younger women perceived older SA women as sedentary, older women said they were actually doing more exercise after retirement and after children left the home. Older women said being counseled by their physician to exercise after being diagnosed with a chronic disease motivated them to become more active whereas younger women exercised to look good and feel healthy. Barrier to exercise in younger women was family disapproval and being underweight whereas in older women it was due to health problems.

Conclusions: Interventions should consider how to engage SA women in PA across the lifespan, especially after marriage and childbirth. Opportunities for women to exercise with their children may be beneficial.