OBJECTIVES: This study describes the patterns of physical activity among minority women by using a variety of definitions and determines sociodemographic and behavioral correlates of physical activity in this population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1996 and 1997 among US women 40 years and older (n = 2912) of the following racial/ethnic groups: African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic, and White. RESULTS: Physical activity was lowest among African Americans and American Indians/Alaskan Natives (adjusted odds ratios [ORs] for no leisure-time activity were 1.35 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.08, 1.68] and 1.65 [95% CI = 1.33, 2.06], respectively). A much higher proportion of women were classified as being physically active when occupational activity rather than more traditional assessments of leisure activity were used to determine level of physical activity. On the basis of a composite definition of physical activity, 72% of respondents reported being physically active. Women living in rural regions (OR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.12, 1.58) were more likely than urban inhabitants to be completely inactive during leisure time. CONCLUSIONS: Minority women are among the least active subgroups in American society, although not all groups are less active than White women when all domains of physical activity are taken into account.

The purpose of this paper was to describe the epidemiology of walking for physical activity among respondents to the U.S. Physical Activity Study. Correlates of walking among people who never walk for physical activity, those who walk regularly, and people who walk occasionally were compared. Data on walking, personal and environmental correlates, and sociodemographics were collected via telephone using a modified random-digit-dialing technique on a national sample. Three categories were analyzed: Regular walkers were those who met public health recommendations by walking (5x wk-1 and 30 min at a time), occasional walkers were those who walked for physical activity but did not meet this recommendation, and never walkers were those who never walked for physical activity. Multiple logistic regression resulting in odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Thirty-four percent of this population were regular walkers, 45.6% occasional walkers, and 20.7% never walkers. Walkers reported using neighborhood streets, shopping malls, and parks for walking. Regular walkers had more self-confidence and more social support than occasional or never walkers. Occasional and never walkers reported time as a barrier more than regular walkers (OR 1.91 and 2.36). Never walkers were more likely (OR 3.25) to report feeling unhealthy and more likely (OR 4.43) to report lacking energy to exercise. Our results identify important information that can be used to help guide future interventions that promote walking as a form of physical activity. An ecological approach that combines individual (e.g., self-confidence), interpersonal (e.g., social support), and community aspects (e.g., improve streets for walking) may be the most beneficial.

Few physical activity research studies have been conducted with minority women. The purpose of this study was to explore patterns of physical activity among minority women. Focus groups were conducted with volunteers older than age 40. Each group was led by a trained moderator familiar with the ethnic community targeted. The sessions were audiotaped and professionally transcribed. Constructs were researched and codes were developed. Data were analyzed using NUD*IST® qualitative analysis program. While participants did not identify themselves as "exercisers," they indicated they got enough physical activity from caregiving, housekeeping, and workday activities. The most common environmental barriers to becoming more physically active included safety, availability, and cost. Personal barriers included lack of time, health concerns, and lack of motivation. Results indicate the importance of terminology and assessment when conducting physical activity research in these populations. Also, results suggest many barriers are changeable with policies and interventions.

Personal, program-based, and environmental barriers to physical activity were explored among a U.S. population-derived sample of 2,912 women 40 years of age and older. Factors significantly associated with inactivity included American Indian ethnicity, older age, less education, lack of energy, lack of hills in one's neighborhood, absence of enjoyable scenery, and infrequent observation of others exercising in one's neighborhood. For all ethnic subgroups, caregiving duties and lacking energy to exercise ranked among the top 4 most frequently reported barriers. Approximately 62% of respondents rated exercise on one's own with instruction as more appealing than undertaking exercise in an instructor-led group, regardless of ethnicity or current physical activity levels. The results underscore the importance of a multifaceted approach to understanding physical activity determinants in this understudied, high-risk population segment.

Objectives. We tested the reliability of 3 instruments that assessed social and physical environments. Methods. We conducted a test–retest study among US adults (n = 289). We used telephone survey methods to measure suitableness of the perceived (vs objective) environment for recreational physical activity and nonmotorized transportation. Results. Most questions in our surveys that attempted to measure specific characteristics of the built environment showed moderate to high reliability. Questions about the social environment showed lower reliability than those that assessed the physical environment. Certain blocks of questions appeared to be selectively more reliable for urban or rural respondents. Conclusions. Despite differences in content and in response formats, all 3 surveys showed evidence of reliability, and most items are now ready for use in research and in public health surveillance.