Relationship Between Social, Neighborhood Factors and Physical Activity in a Low-Income African American Inner-City Neighborhood

Background: Physical inactivity is related to many diseases yet many Americans are not meeting the physical activity (PA) recommendations.  The Social Ecological Model suggests several levels of influence contribute to health behavior and outcomes including personal, family and peer relationships, and neighborhood characteristics.  The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between two dimensions of social support, several levels of neighborhood influence and self-reported leisure-time PA. 

Methods: A total of 497 household interviews assessing PA and the community and social environment were conducted with adults in three, low-income, primarily AA urban neighborhoods in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Logistic regression models were developed to assess demographic characteristics, knowledge of PA benefits, general support, and support specific for PA, and neighborhood characteristics.  Factor analysis was used to create scales assessing support and neighborhood. 

Results: In preliminary analyses, just over half the sample met the recommendations for PA.  Females were less likely to meet PA recommendations compared to males (OR: 0.47, CI: 0.38-0.70) and an inverse relationship existed between age and PA (OR: 0.97, CI:0.95-0.98).  Social support specific for PA (OR: 1.10, CI: 1.02-1.14), and being in a romantic relationship (OR: 1.53, CI: 1.03-2.28) were significantly related to PA after controlling for gender and age.  Knowledge of benefits of PA and general support were not related to PA.  Future analyses will examine neighborhood characteristics related to PA. 

Conclusions: These findings suggest that several levels of influence, including the social environment, are important components of encouraging AA adults to be physically active.