Identifying Barriers to Physical Activity Among African American Women with Asthma.

OBJECTIVE: African American Women (AAW) are disproportionately impacted by both physical inactivity and asthma. The aims of this study were to: 1) understand barriers to physical activity among AAW with asthma; 2) obtain feedback from AAW on an evidence-based walking intervention; and 3) modify the intervention using input from AAW with asthma. METHODS: Focus groups and interviews were conducted with sedentary AAW with uncontrolled asthma to identify barriers to walking. Women also suggestions for tailoring an existing walking intervention. Qualitative data were coded using domains from the Behavior Change Wheel and guided modifications of the existing walking intervention to tailor the content for sedentary AAW with asthma. RESULTS: Six focus groups (2-4 /group) and five interviews were completed. Women (n=20) represented an obese (37 kg/m2 ± 11), middle-aged (46 years ± 15) and low-income population. Barriers to physical activity were mapped to 8 theoretical domains: 1) Limited physical capability; 2) Lack of knowledge; 3) Lack of self-monitoring skills; 4) Complex decision making processes; 5) Lack of areas to walk; 6) Lack of social support; 7) Beliefs about consequences; 8) Beliefs about capability. To target these barriers, the existing walking intervention was modified to include an asthma education session, text messages, monthly group meetings, a walking session and informational materials. CONCLUSION: AAW with asthma reported unique barriers to engaging in physical activity. An assessment of the feasibility, acceptability and efficacy of a modified intervention that addresses these barriers is warranted to address physical inactivity and poor asthma outcomes among AAW with asthma.

Physical activity and physique anxiety in older adults: fitness, and efficacy influences.

Employing a randomized controlled trial, this study documents the effects of six months of physical activity and six month follow-up on reduction in social physique anxiety (SPA) in older adults. In addition, the role played by changes in behavioral, physiological, and psychological predictors of changes in SPA were examined. Participants (n = 174, mean age = 65 yrs) were randomly assigned to one of two activity groups and engaged in a six-month structured exercise program. Measures of physique anxiety were taken at baseline, six and twelve months. Latent growth curve analyses revealed significant reductions in SPA over the course of the 12-month period. Structural analyses controlling for treatment condition indicated that improvements in self-efficacy and fitness were significant predictors of changes in SPA but that changes in body fat and exercise frequency did not contribute to variation in SPA. Overall this model accounted for 19% of the variation in SPA changes. The extent to which changes in SPA may contribute to continued physical activity participation in older adults and how exercise programs might effectively influence predictors of SPA are discussed.

Social relations, physical activity, and well-being in older adults.

BACKGROUND: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine: (a) the effect of two physical activity modes on changes in subjective well-being (SWB) over the course of a 12-month period in older, formerly sedentary adults (N = 174, M age = 65.5 years) and (b) the role played by physical activity participation and social support in changes in SWB over time. METHOD: Participants were randomized into either an aerobic activity group or a stretching and toning group. Structural equation modeling was employed to conduct multiple sample latent growth curve analyses of individual growth in measures of SWB (happiness, satisfaction with life, and loneliness) over time. RESULTS: A curvilinear growth pattern was revealed with well-being significantly improving over the course of the intervention followed by significant declines at the 6-month follow-up. Subsequent structural analyses were conducted showing that frequency of exercise participation was a significant predictor of improvement in satisfaction with life, whereas social relations were related to increases in satisfaction with life and reductions in loneliness. Improvements in social relations and exercise frequency also helped to buffer the declines in satisfaction with life at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that social relations integral to the exercise environment are significant determinants of subjective well-being in older adults. Findings are discussed in terms of how physical activity environments might be structured to maximize improvements in more global well-being constructs such as satisfaction with life.