Untapped physical activity potential through community participation interventions

Individuals with psychiatric disabilities (PD) spend a significant amount of time in sedentary activities and experience high rates of related health conditions. This indicates agencies should implement policies that support interventions to reduce sedentary behavior/increase physical activity (PA). Research indicates small changes in behavior can have a significant impact on the previously identified health risk factors. Incidental PA (i.e., PA accumulated through activities of daily living) is significantly associated with cardiorespiratory fitness. Community participation is an intervention area endorsed by individuals with PD that also contributes to overall energy expenditure. Using secondary analysis, this study aimed to identify the associated PA benefits of community participation and identify desired areas of interest and participation. Using the Compendium of Physical Activity, two independent coders coded community-based activities using the Temple University Community Participation measure. Coded items included: 13 sedentary; 10 light (2.2 average MET); and 3 moderate-vigorous (MVPA; 4.13 average MET). Data were evaluated from 119 participants (59.7% female; 61.9% Black; 18.6% White). Over 2/3 identified light activities (i.e., going to church, the park, working for pay, running errands, and shopping) as important; over 1/3 desired greater participation in going to church, parks, and working for pay; 2/3 identified MVPA activities (i.e., going to a community fair, the gym, and volunteering) as important and over 1/3 desired greater participation in the same. Traditional exercise interventions may be difficult to initiate and sustain for sedentary populations. By supporting increased community participation, mental health providers can also promote PA and reduce sedentary behavior.