An In-Depth Examination of Perceptions of Physical Activity in Regularly Active and Insufficiently Active Older African American Women: A Participatory Approach.

Despite considerable research and programmatic efforts to alleviate racial/ethnic disparities in physical activity (PA), disparities in PA among older minorities and major racial ethnic groups persist. This study explored perceptions of PA among regularly active (RA) and insufficiently active (IA) o...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Emerson Sebastião, Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko, Andiara Schwingel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2015-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4640571?pdf=render
_version_ 1811221630129537024
author Emerson Sebastião
Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko
Andiara Schwingel
author_facet Emerson Sebastião
Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko
Andiara Schwingel
author_sort Emerson Sebastião
collection DOAJ
description Despite considerable research and programmatic efforts to alleviate racial/ethnic disparities in physical activity (PA), disparities in PA among older minorities and major racial ethnic groups persist. This study explored perceptions of PA among regularly active (RA) and insufficiently active (IA) older African American women (AAW) and the factors that influence (positively and negatively) their physical participation in their socio-cultural environment. A total of 20 AAW aged 60 to 80 years participated in a cross-sectional mixed-methods study (i.e., qualitative and quantitative) employing participatory research approaches (i.e., photoelicitation) along with an objective assessment of PA. Nine women were considered RA and 11 IA according to current PA recommendations. RA and IA women held two major beliefs about the nature of PA (i.e., PA as a broadly defined construct that goes beyond traditional exercise routines; and PA and exercise are synonymous and can be used interchangeably) and had a good understanding of its benefits. Participants in both groups did not know about the importance of PA intensity for health benefits. Barriers and facilitator of PA were found to be similar among RA and IA participants. Special attention should be paid to providing access to no or low cost opportunities for PA participation in safe environments.
first_indexed 2024-04-12T08:02:48Z
format Article
id doaj.art-f4c252293952479ca54330b3dadfc9e1
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-12T08:02:48Z
publishDate 2015-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-f4c252293952479ca54330b3dadfc9e12022-12-22T03:41:16ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032015-01-011011e014270310.1371/journal.pone.0142703An In-Depth Examination of Perceptions of Physical Activity in Regularly Active and Insufficiently Active Older African American Women: A Participatory Approach.Emerson SebastiãoWojtek Chodzko-ZajkoAndiara SchwingelDespite considerable research and programmatic efforts to alleviate racial/ethnic disparities in physical activity (PA), disparities in PA among older minorities and major racial ethnic groups persist. This study explored perceptions of PA among regularly active (RA) and insufficiently active (IA) older African American women (AAW) and the factors that influence (positively and negatively) their physical participation in their socio-cultural environment. A total of 20 AAW aged 60 to 80 years participated in a cross-sectional mixed-methods study (i.e., qualitative and quantitative) employing participatory research approaches (i.e., photoelicitation) along with an objective assessment of PA. Nine women were considered RA and 11 IA according to current PA recommendations. RA and IA women held two major beliefs about the nature of PA (i.e., PA as a broadly defined construct that goes beyond traditional exercise routines; and PA and exercise are synonymous and can be used interchangeably) and had a good understanding of its benefits. Participants in both groups did not know about the importance of PA intensity for health benefits. Barriers and facilitator of PA were found to be similar among RA and IA participants. Special attention should be paid to providing access to no or low cost opportunities for PA participation in safe environments.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4640571?pdf=render
spellingShingle Emerson Sebastião
Wojtek Chodzko-Zajko
Andiara Schwingel
An In-Depth Examination of Perceptions of Physical Activity in Regularly Active and Insufficiently Active Older African American Women: A Participatory Approach.
PLoS ONE
title An In-Depth Examination of Perceptions of Physical Activity in Regularly Active and Insufficiently Active Older African American Women: A Participatory Approach.
title_full An In-Depth Examination of Perceptions of Physical Activity in Regularly Active and Insufficiently Active Older African American Women: A Participatory Approach.
title_fullStr An In-Depth Examination of Perceptions of Physical Activity in Regularly Active and Insufficiently Active Older African American Women: A Participatory Approach.
title_full_unstemmed An In-Depth Examination of Perceptions of Physical Activity in Regularly Active and Insufficiently Active Older African American Women: A Participatory Approach.
title_short An In-Depth Examination of Perceptions of Physical Activity in Regularly Active and Insufficiently Active Older African American Women: A Participatory Approach.
title_sort in depth examination of perceptions of physical activity in regularly active and insufficiently active older african american women a participatory approach
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4640571?pdf=render
work_keys_str_mv AT emersonsebastiao anindepthexaminationofperceptionsofphysicalactivityinregularlyactiveandinsufficientlyactiveolderafricanamericanwomenaparticipatoryapproach
AT wojtekchodzkozajko anindepthexaminationofperceptionsofphysicalactivityinregularlyactiveandinsufficientlyactiveolderafricanamericanwomenaparticipatoryapproach
AT andiaraschwingel anindepthexaminationofperceptionsofphysicalactivityinregularlyactiveandinsufficientlyactiveolderafricanamericanwomenaparticipatoryapproach
AT emersonsebastiao indepthexaminationofperceptionsofphysicalactivityinregularlyactiveandinsufficientlyactiveolderafricanamericanwomenaparticipatoryapproach
AT wojtekchodzkozajko indepthexaminationofperceptionsofphysicalactivityinregularlyactiveandinsufficientlyactiveolderafricanamericanwomenaparticipatoryapproach
AT andiaraschwingel indepthexaminationofperceptionsofphysicalactivityinregularlyactiveandinsufficientlyactiveolderafricanamericanwomenaparticipatoryapproach