African American social and cultural contexts and physical activity: strategies for navigating challenges to participation. Women Health 2009;49(1):84-100
Date
06/03/2009Pubmed ID
19485236DOI
10.1080/03630240802690861Scopus ID
2-s2.0-62149145856 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 48 CitationsAbstract
We examined the influence of social and cultural contexts on participation in recommended levels of physical activity (PA) among African American women using a grounded theory approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focus groups with 15 physically active African American women. Participants described social and cultural factors that served as challenges for participation in PA. Of particular importance, participants discussed their strategies for overcoming these challenges to initiate and maintain an active lifestyle. Strategies emerged to address three main areas: lack of PA exposure, PA norms and beliefs, and hair maintenance. Understanding contextually appropriate strategies to assist African American women in long-term PA maintenance will help inform effective health promotion efforts to reduce the burden of sedentary lifestyle and chronic disease in this community of women.
Author List
Harley AE, Odoms-Young A, Beard B, Katz ML, Heaney CAAuthor
Amy Harley PhD Assistant Professor in the School of Public Health department at University of Wisconsin - MilwaukeeMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAttitude to Health
Exercise
Female
Focus Groups
Health Behavior
Health Promotion
Humans
Life Style
Middle Aged
Social Support
United States
