Introduction:
Regular physical activity (PA) is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Prior research efforts to increase PA among African Americans (AAs) have not been effective in achieving recommended levels. Understanding factors that influence PA using a theory-based approach is needed.
Methods:
Cross-sectional study using social cognitive theory as the framework. Data were collected using an online survey from 96 AA parents of young children aged 6-12 years, living in Chicago, IL (average age=36 years, 59% women, 72% college-educated, 60% annual income>$75,999) to describe PA (
International Physical Activity Questionnaire-short form, IPAQ-S
), personal (
PA Knowledge, Exercise Self-Efficacy-ESE
and
Outcome Expectations-OE
) and environmental factors (social economic status-
MacArthur Subjective Social Status,
neighborhood safety
-Physical Activity Neighborhood Environmental Scale, and
culture
-African American Acculturation Scale
). Spearman’s rho (r
s
) identified associations among PA, personal and environmental factors. Simultaneous multiple regression (all variables entered) was used to determine potential predictors of PA.
Results:
Moderate (30%, n=29) to high (54%, n=52) levels of PA were reported. There were significant correlations between PA and neighborhood safety (r
s
=.25), PA knowledge and culture (r
s
=-.30), ESE and culture (r
s
=.30), and OE and social economic status (r
s
=.24) (all values p<.05). Overall, personal and environmental factors accounted for 33% of the variance in PA (F
11, 84
= 3.73,
p<
.001). Significant predictors of PA included ESE (β=.21, t(84)=2.20, p=.030), neighborhood safety (β=.33, t(84)=3.56, p=.001), and an unexpected inverse of PA knowledge (β=-.25, t(84)=-2.42, p=.018).
Conclusions:
Unlike prior studies, we found AA parents of young children were physically active, knowledgeable of the PA guidelines, with moderate-high ESE, high social economic status, felt safe in their neighborhoods with a positive cultural identity. This study indicates that prior efforts to increase PA among AA parents of young children in Chicago are evident. Future research examining the influence of PA behavior on CVD risk factors among AA parents of young children is needed next.
Keywords: African American, parents, physical activity, self-efficacy, neighborhood safety, social cognitive theory
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