Background: Decades of research indicate that physical
activity is an important behavior for health promotion and
disease prevention. Despite dissemination of these
research findings, many American adults are sedentary. The
rates for sedentary behavior vary by race/ethnicity and
gender. Women and adults from minority groups are most
likely to be sedentary. Research on adults who are
physically active has identified several factors that
predispose, enable, and reinforce this behavior. The
presence of social support is one such factor.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the
nature and extent of social influence on physical activity
in a nationally-representative sample of minority women.
Methods: A telephone survey of 2912 women ages 40 and
older from various racial/ethnic groups was conducted from
July 1996 to June 1997. Information on physical activity
as well as other preventive health behaviors was collected.
Analysis: Descriptive analyses were done on physical
activity levels (including an accumulation of household and
occupational physical activity), physical activity-related
social support (PASS), support network, and measures of
social contact. Logistic regression was used to determine
differences in PASS levels and physical activity. Linear
Regression was used to determine the relationship between
social influence and physical activity level.
Results: Women with high levels of physical activity-
related social support were more likely to meet recommended
levels of physical activity. There was no difference by
racial/ethnic group. An index of social influence was not
a significant predictor or physical activity level among
all women in the sample.
Conclusion: While women with higher levels of specific
support for physical activity were more likely to be
physically active, a more general measure of social support
did not predict level of physical activity. More research
is needed in assessment of both physical activity and
social support in this population. / Graduation date: 1999
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/33188 |
| Date | 22 May 1998 |
| Creators | Eyler, Amy A. |
| Contributors | Donatelle, Rebecca J. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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