Uplifting the voices of rural American Indian older adults to improve understanding of physical activity behavior

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Pedersen ◽  
Kari Jo Harris ◽  
Jordan Lewis ◽  
Mattea Grant ◽  
Chelsea Kleinmeyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
American Indian ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Structured Interviews

Abstract American Indian (AI) older adults experience pronounced health disparities and demonstrate one of the lowest levels of physical activity (PA) among racial and ethnic groups. Nearly half of AI older adults live in rural areas, indicating distinct challenges to participation in PA. Research to identify factors influencing PA in this population is missing from the literature, yet is critical to informing culturally relevant PA intervention development and implementation. The purpose was to identify barriers to and facilitators of PA among rural AI older adults using the ecological model and qualitative methods. A community-based approach was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with rural AI older adults. Interview questions were based on a multi-level ecological model. Content analysis was performed, using an iterative coding process to identify findings. The mean age of participants (n = 21) was 66 years. Barriers to and facilitators of PA were identified across ecological model levels. Barriers included factors such as caregiving and community responsibilities, lack of acceptable areas for walking, and overall lack of community-level support for older adult health. Facilitators included a personal connection to the land and ancestors through PA, multigenerational participation, and supportive tribal policies. This study addressed a gap in the literature by identifying barriers to and facilitators of PA among rural AI older adults, which can inform PA intervention development. With barriers and facilitators identified by AI older adults themselves, the voices of those directly affected are uplifted to shape efforts toward addressing longstanding health disparities through relevant public health interventions.

scholarly journals Barriers and Facilitators Impacting Physical Activity Among Rural American Indian Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 785-785
Author(s):  
Maja Pedersen ◽  
Kari Harris ◽  
Jordan Lewis ◽  
Mattea Grant ◽  
Chelsea Kleinmeyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
American Indian ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
Barriers And Facilitators ◽  
Adult Health ◽  
Implementation Purpose

Abstract Background: American Indian (AI) older adults experience pronounced health disparities and demonstrate among the lowest levels of physical activity (PA) of racial and ethnic groups. Nearly half of AI older adults live in rural areas, indicating distinct challenges to participation in PA. Research to identify factors influencing PA among this population is missing from the literature, yet is critical to inform culturally relevant PA intervention development and implementation. Purpose: To identify barriers and facilitators to PA among rural AI older adults using the ecological model and qualitative methods. Methods: A community-based approach was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with rural AI older adults. Interview questions were based on a multi-level ecological model. Content analysis was performed, using an iterative coding process to identify findings. Results: Participants’ (n=21) mean age was 66 years. Barriers and facilitators to PA were identified across ecological model levels. Barriers included factors such as caregiving and community responsibilities, lack of acceptable areas for walking, and overall lack of community-level support for older adult health. Facilitators included a personal connection to the land and ancestors through PA, multigenerational participation, and supportive tribal policies. Conclusion: This study addressed a critical gap in the literature by identifying barriers and facilitators among rural AI older adults, which can inform PA intervention development. In this way, their voices are uplifted to shape efforts addressing longstanding health disparities through relevant public health interventions.

scholarly journals Perceived Facilitators and Barriers in Response to a Walking Intervention in Rural Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Exploration

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 2824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Frensham ◽  
Gaynor Parfitt ◽  
Rebecca Stanley ◽  
James Dollman
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Perceived Exertion ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Walking Behavior ◽  
Walking Intervention

Physical activity has numerous associated benefits for cancer survivors. Compared to their urban counterparts, rural and remote Australians experience a health disadvantage, including poorer survival rate after the diagnosis of cancer. The purpose of this qualitative study was to (a) investigate factors that motivated or inhibited walking in rural participants during a 12-week intervention and (b) to investigate factors that motivated or inhibited physical activity behavior change three months post-intervention. Ten cancer survivors living in rural areas of South Australia participated in a 12-week computer-delivered walking-based intervention during which they reported daily steps, daily affect, and ratings of perceived exertion. Based on this information, individualized daily step goals were sent to them to increase walking. Following the intervention, participants engaged in face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and coded using thematic analysis. Participants identified a range of physical, psychological, social, environmental, and organizational motivators and barriers. Participants appreciated the monitoring and support from the research team, but some voiced a need for better transition to post-program and many desired ongoing support to maintain their motivation. Future studies should incorporate strategies to help walking behavior to become more intrinsically motivated and therefore sustained.

scholarly journals What Moves People Living With Dementia? Exploring Barriers and Motivators for Physical Activity Perceived by People Living With Dementia in Care Homes

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232110028
Author(s):  
Doris Gebhard ◽  
Eva Mir
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Intervention Development ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Social ◽  
Barriers And Motivators

There is a lack of intervention promoting physical activity targeted toward people living with dementia because their input has not been prioritized in the development of exercise programs. The aim of this study is to investigate motivators and barriers concerning physical activity in people living with dementia in care homes and to give recommendations for intervention development. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted; transcripts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Following a tailored procedural model, inductive and deductive category development was applied. The value of Cohen’s κ = .94 indicates the high intercoder reliability of the category system developed. Ten interviewees reported 24 different barriers and 12 motivators concerning physical activity in the context of the social-ecological model. The strong impact of intrapersonal factors and the living environment became apparent. Points of reference for how people living with dementia can overcome barriers and activate their motivators to achieve more physical activity are provided.

scholarly journals Physical Activity in Crisis: The Impact of COVID-19 on Danes' Physical Activity Behavior

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanja Schmidt ◽  
Charlotte Skau Pawlowski
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Low Educated ◽  
The Impact

Objectives: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, societies have been shut down, changing the lives of citizens worldwide, including their physical activity (PA) behavior. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the impact of the shutdown on Danish citizens' leisure PA throughout different stages of life: 15–18, 19–29, 30–59, and 60+ years.Methods: Between April 3 and 15, 2020, while Denmark was shut down, a survey was distributed through online platforms. Danish citizens (>15 years) could participate in the study, answering questions about their PA behavior before, and during the shutdown.Results: The number of total participants was 1,802; 7.9% teens, 21.5% younger adults, 58.7% adults, and 11.9% older adults. Mean minutes of PA decreased 16.1% from before to during the shutdown. Teens had the largest decrease in PA (36.6%) followed by older (24.9%) and younger adults (21.3%). Low educated (31.5%) and those living in rural areas (30.9%) experienced the largest decrease in PA. Main factors for not doing PA during the shutdown were that they missed what they used to do, lacked social support, and did not have access to the right facilities.Conclusions: During the shutdown, the Danish population struggled even more to comply with national PA guidelines compared with before the shutdown. Although social distancing and shutting down sports facilities are important for preventing the spread of the virus, it can have negative consequences for teens' and younger and older adults' opportunities and motivation for PA, leading to an alarming decrease in PA, and, consequently, will have major public health consequences.

scholarly journals Homeless on Main Street: Using Photovoice to Highlight Older Adults Among the Hidden Homeless

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 728-728
Author(s):  
H Shellae Versey
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Small Towns ◽  
Photo Elicitation ◽  
Service Agency ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Based Interventions ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Formerly Homeless

Abstract Homelessness is a reality for a growing number of Americans living in small towns and rural areas. However, unlike in cities, housing instability may be less visible. Using a photo-elicitation method (i.e., Photovoice), this study explores the meaning of place and obscured visibility to currently and formerly homeless older adults living in a small town in central Connecticut. Participants (N = 27) were recruited from a local service agency, given cameras and asked to photograph areas around town that were meaningful to them. Photographs were developed and followed by in-person, semi-structured interviews with participants in which photos and experiences during the project were discussed. Primary themes included belonging, generativity, social isolation, and place-making as meaning-making. The study culminated in a community photography exhibition in which photographs from the project were displayed in public spaces around town. Implications for community-based interventions to reach homeless groups in rural areas are discussed. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Qualitative Research Interest Group.

scholarly journals Profiles of Loneliness and Social Isolation in Physically Active and Inactive Older Adults in Rural England

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 3971
Author(s):  
Jolanthe de Koning ◽  
Suzanne H. Richards ◽  
Grace E. R. Wood ◽  
Afroditi Stathi
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Physical Environment ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Physical Activity Behaviour ◽  
Rural Setting ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Physically Active

Objective: Loneliness and social isolation are associated with higher risk of morbidity and mortality and physical inactivity in older age. This study explored the socioecological context in which both physically active and inactive older adults experience loneliness and/or social isolation in a UK rural setting. Design: A mixed-methods design employed semi structured interviews and accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Interviews explored the personal, social and environmental factors influencing engagement with physical activities, guided by an adapted-socioecological model of physical activity behaviour. Findings: Twenty-four older adults (MeanAge = 73 (5.8 SD); 12 women) were interviewed. Transcripts were thematically analysed and seven profiles of physical activity, social isolation and loneliness were identified. The high-MVPA group had established PA habits, reported several sources of social contact and evaluated their physical environment as activity friendly. The low MVPA group had diverse experiences of past engagement in social activities. Similar to the high MVPA, they reported a range of sources of social contact but they did not perceive the physical environment as activity friendly. Conclusions: Loneliness and/or social isolation was reported by both physically active and inactive older adults. There is wide diversity and complexity in types and intensity of PA, loneliness and social isolation profiles and personal, social and environmental contexts.

Rural Neighborhood Walkability: Implications for Assessment

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (s1) ◽  
pp. S40-S45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle C. Kegler ◽  
Iris Alcantara ◽  
Regine Haardörfer ◽  
Alexandra Gemma ◽  
Denise Ballard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Walking Distance ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Neighborhood Walkability ◽  
Bodies Of Water ◽  
Active Adults

Background:Physical activity levels, including walking, are lower in the southern U.S., particularly in rural areas. This study investigated the concept of rural neighborhood walkability to aid in developing tools for assessing walkability and to identify intervention targets in rural communities.Methods:Semi-structured interviews were conducted with physically active adults (n = 29) in rural Georgia. Mean age of participants was 55.9 years; 66% were male, 76% were white, and 24% were African American. Participants drew maps of their neighborhoods and discussed the relevance of typical domains of walkability to their decisions to exercise. Comparative analyses were conducted to identify major themes.Results:The majority felt the concept of neighborhood was applicable and viewed their neighborhood as small geographically (less than 0.5 square miles). Sidewalks were not viewed as essential for neighborhood-based physical activity and typical destinations for walking were largely absent. Destinations within walking distance included neighbors’ homes and bodies of water. Views were mixed on whether shade, safety, dogs, and aesthetics affected decisions to exercise in their neighborhoods.Conclusions:Measures of neighborhood walkability in rural areas should acknowledge the small size of self-defined neighborhoods, that walking in rural areas is likely for leisure time exercise, and that some domains may not be relevant.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document