Engaging With the Community to Promote Physical Activity in Urban Neighborhoods

Purpose: To describe perceptions of physical activity, opinions, on intergenerational approaches to physical activity and a vision for increasing physical activity in an underresourced urban community. Approach: Focus groups embedded in a large Community-Based Participatory Research Project. Setting: West and Southwest Philadelphia. Participants: 15 parents, 16 youth, and 14 athletic coaches; youth were 13 to 18 years old and attended West Philadelphia schools; parents’ children attended West Philadelphia schools; and coaches worked in West Philadelphia schools. Methods: Six focus groups (2 youth, 2 parent, and 2 coach) were conducted guided by the Socio-Ecological Model; transcriptions were analyzed using a rigorous process of directed content analysis. Results: Factors on all levels of the Socio-Ecological Model influence the perception of and engagement in physical activity for youth and their families. Future strategies to increase engagement in physical activity need to be collaborative and multifaceted. Conclusion: When physical activity is reframed as a broad goal that is normative and gender-neutral, a potential exists to engage youth and their families over their lifetimes; with attention to cross-sector collaboration and resource sharing, engaging and sustainable intergenerational physical activity interventions can be developed to promote health in underresourced urban communities.

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High School Students Voice Regarding School-based Physical Activity: Perceived Barriers and Facilitating Factors

Health Behavior and Policy Review ◽

10.14485/hbpr.8.4.5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Marie Dubuc ◽

Seira Fortin-Suzuki ◽

Sylvie Beaudoin ◽

Felix Berrigan ◽

Sylvain Turcotte

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

High School ◽

High School Students ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

School Students ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Physical Activity Interventions ◽

School Based ◽

Facilitating Factors

Objective: To contribute to the development of tailored school-based physical activity interventions, in this study, we aimed to identify the perceived facilitating factors and barriers of high school students toward their physical activity in the school environment. Methods: A total of 139 students from 4 different high schools completed an online questionnaire comprising open-ended questions on their perceived facilitating factors and barriers toward their physical activity at school. Thereafter, 100 of these students participated in one of the 16 focus groups designed to deepen students’ responses regarding their perceived facilitating factors and barriers. Qualitative content analysis was performed to classify data according to the Social-Ecological Model. Results: Through questionnaires, students mostly identified intrapersonal elements as facilitating factors and barriers to their practice of physical activity, as opposed to institutional factors during the focus groups. Girls strongly valued the characteristics of the interventions and of the involved school stakeholders. Conclusions: Our results allow us to qualify the current understanding of high school students’ perceived facilitating factors and barriers toward school-based physical activity and strengthen the relevance of surveying students prior to the development and implementation of physical activity interventions.

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Objectively Measured Physical Activity In Children Aged From 5 To 8 Years / Objektivno Izmerjena Gibalna Aktivnost Od Pet- Do Osemletnih Otrok

Slovenian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2478/sjph-2013-0002 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 9-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tadeja Volmut ◽

Rado Pišot ◽

Boštjan Šimunič

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

World Population ◽

Older Children ◽

Physically Active ◽

Physical Activity Interventions ◽

Early Afternoon ◽

Time Periods ◽

And Gender ◽

Objectively Measured

AbstractObjective:Today, a majority of the world population is dealing with physical inactivity and related health problems.Moreover, while various interventions are being adopted to increase children’s physical activity, these are mostly lessoreven un-successful. One of the possible reasons for this could be the wrong timing for their instalment. Therefore,the purpose of our study is to analyse between-day and within-day physical activity in 5- to 8-year old children.Methods:Using accelerometers we monitored 97 Slovenian children (49 males) for five consecutive days.Results:We found that 5- to 8- year old Slovenian children are physically active on average between 689 and795 counts per minute, with age and gender significant factors, however both with low effect size. The averagedata was in line with the trends of the world’s population. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity wasnever measured in 5- to 8- year old children and we found it to be significantly longer than in slightly older children.Furthermore, we have defined the time periods with the lowest physical activity, which is in the morning, after thebreakfast. Additionally, there are some age differences, with 5-year olds being most active before lunch but lessphysically active in the early afternoon.Conclusions:In conclusion we have to emphasize and implicate to next generation studies to indicate time periodswith the lowest physical activity and to promote physical activity interventions in those periods to achieve the greatestimpact.

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Promoting Physical Activity Among Older Adults Using Community-Based Participatory Research With an Adapted PRECEDE-PROCEED Model Approach: The AEQUIPA/OUTDOOR ACTIVE Project

American Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.1177/0890117120974876 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 089011712097487

Author(s):

Karin Bammann ◽

Carina Recke ◽

Birte Marie Albrecht ◽

Imke Stalling ◽

Friederike Doerwald

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Participatory Research ◽

Ecological Model ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Target Group ◽

Community Based ◽

Community Stakeholders ◽

Starting Point ◽

Multi Level

Purpose: The PRECEDE-PROCEED model (PPM) is a community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework for health promotion, yet the direct application of the PPM into practice is unclear. This paper describes how the PPM was adapted for the development and application of a pilot intervention study to promote outdoor physical activity (PA) in older adults (OUTDOOR ACTIVE). We illustrate the steps and adaptations we applied to put the PPM into practice and present the developed interventions. Design: The PPM was adapted by incorporating a socio-ecological model. This ensured the design of any resultant intervention would explicitly address multi-level determinants of physical activity. The list of possible program components to select from for the design of an intervention was also extended. Setting: Bremen, Germany. Participants: Participants in the intervention development were 924 noninstitutionalized older adults, aged 65-75 years (response: 25.2%), living in Bremen-Hemelingen, Germany. For implementation of the intervention and to ensure sustainability, several groups of stakeholders were involved throughout the process. Methods: A mixed method design was employed (e.g., focus groups, quantitative survey) to identify determinants. A round table and participatory workshops were held to involve the target group and community stakeholders in the design of an intervention using the adapted PPM model. Results: A conceptual model was developed illustrating the integration of a socio-ecological model into the PPM. The model received ecological validity, as it was affirmed by community stakeholders as an appropriate method for designing a community-level PA intervention. Target goals to address PA determinants were selected by target group members. An intervention to meet the goals was developed and implemented with target group input. Conclusion: The adapted PPM is a promising starting point for developing multi-level interventions. Steps should be taken to ensure all social groups are participating in the process and all levels of determinants are addressed.

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Cycling in the City: An In-Depth Examination of Bicycle Lane Use in a Low-Income Urban Neighborhood

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.2011-0429 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Philip Noyes ◽

Lawrence Fung ◽

Karen K. Lee ◽

Victoria E. Grimshaw ◽

Adam Karpati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Urban Communities ◽

Low Income ◽

Participation Rate ◽

Urban Neighborhoods ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Urban Neighborhood ◽

Local Residents ◽

Lane Utilization ◽

Bicycle Lane

Background:Regular physical activity such as biking can help prevent obesity and chronic disease. Improvements in cycling infrastructure are associated with higher overall cycling rates, but less is known about bike lane utilization in low-income urban neighborhoods.Methods:During the summer of 2009, 4 Central Brooklyn streets with bicycle lanes were studied using camcorders to record for a total of 40 hours. Video recordings were coded for behaviors and characteristics of cyclists and motorists. An intercept survey (N = 324, 42% participation rate) captured information on cyclist demographics, behaviors, and attitudes.Results:1282 cyclists were observed on study streets. Cyclists were primarily male (80.0%) and non-White (54.5%). 9.9% of motorists drove in the bike lane and parked vehicles blocked the bike lane for 9.6% of the observational period. Of cyclists surveyed, 69.4% lived locally, 61.3% were normal weight or underweight, and 64.8% met recommended levels of physical activity by cycling 30+ minutes/day on 5+ days of the past week.Conclusions:Bicycle lanes were used by local residents of a low-income urban neighborhood. Compared with neighborhood residents overall, cyclists reported better health and health behaviors. Enhancing infrastructure that supports active transportation may be effective in reducing health inequities in low-income urban communities.

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Time to listen: a mixed-method study examining community-based views of mobile technology for interventions to promote physical activity

BMJ Health & Care Informatics ◽

10.1136/bmjhci-2020-100140 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. e100140

Author(s):

Sophie E Claudel ◽

Joniqua N Ceasar ◽

Marcus R Andrews ◽

Sherine El-Toukhy ◽

Nicole Farmer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Mobile Technology ◽

Mixed Method ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Research Process ◽

Mobile App ◽

Community Based ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Mhealth Technology

IntroductionA mixed-method, co-design approach to studying the adoption of mobile health (mHealth) technology among African-American (AA) women has not been fully explored. Qualitative data may contextualise existing knowledge surrounding perceptions of mHealth among AA women as part of formative work for designing a physical activity application (app).MethodsA convenience sample of 16 AA women completed an informatics survey prior to participating in focus groups exploring their use of mobile technology and health apps. Survey responses provided frequency data, while iterative transcript analysis of focus groups identified themes.ResultsThe majority of participants (mean age=62.1 years, SD=6.6) felt comfortable using a tablet/smartphone (75.0%). Most (68.8%) reported using health-related apps, primarily focused on physical activity and nutrition. Focus groups revealed four overarching concepts, including (1) user attachment, (2) technology adoption, (3) potential facilitators and (4) potential barriers. Important features which may serve as facilitators or barriers to future adoption of a mobile app for an mHealth intervention include individual app tailoring and software concerns, respectively.DiscussionThematic analysis revealed high user attachment to smartphones and described participants’ process for adopting new mHealth technology.ConclusionEarly engagement of target end users as a part of a broader co-design and community-based participatory research process for developing mHealth technologies may be useful for sustained adoption of these tools in future mHealth behavioural interventions.

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Exploring Children’s Physical Activity Behaviours According to Location: A Mixed-Methods Case Study

Sports ◽

10.3390/sports7110240 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (11) ◽

pp. 240

Author(s):

Irfan Khawaja ◽

Lorayne Woodfield ◽

Peter Collins ◽

Adam Benkwitz ◽

Alan Nevill

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Focus Groups ◽

School Environment ◽

Future Health ◽

Positioning Systems ◽

Mixed Methods Case Study ◽

Multi Method Approach ◽

And Gender ◽

Children’S Voices

The school environment is ideally placed to facilitate physical activity (PA) with numerous windows of opportunity from break and lunch times, to lesson times and extracurricular clubs. However, little is known about how children interact with the school environment to engage in PA and the other locations they visit daily, including time spent outside of the school environment i.e., evening and weekend locations. Moreover, there has been little research incorporating a mixed-methods approach that captures children’s voices alongside objectively tracking children’s PA patterns. The aim of this study was to explore children’s PA behaviours according to different locations. Sixty children (29 boys, 31 girls)—35 key stage 2 (aged 9–11) and 25 key stage 3 (aged 11–13)—wore an integrated global positioning systems (GPS) and heart rate (HR) monitor over four consecutive days. A subsample of children (n = 32) were invited to take part in one of six focus groups to further explore PA behaviours and identify barriers and facilitators to PA. Children also completed a PA diary. The KS2 children spent significantly more time outdoors than KS3 children (p = 0.009). Boys engaged in more light PA (LPA) when on foot and in school, compared with girls (p = 0.003). KS3 children engaged in significantly more moderate PA (MPA) at school than KS2 children (p = 0.006). Focus groups revealed fun, enjoyment, friends, and family to be associated with PA, and technology, costs, and weather to be barriers to PA. This mixed methodological study highlights differences in the PA patterns and perceptions of children according to age and gender. Future studies should utilize a multi-method approach to gain a greater insight into children’s PA patterns and inform future health policies that differentiate among a range of demographic groups of children.

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Predicting Physical Activity in 10-12 Year Old Children: A Social Ecological Approach

Journal of Teaching in Physical Education ◽

10.1123/jtpe.2013-0195 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 517-536 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Tao Zhang ◽

Katherine Thomas ◽

Karen Weiller

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Gender Differences ◽

Motor Skills ◽

Ecological Model ◽

Perceived Competence ◽

Social Environments ◽

Enabling Factors ◽

Social Ecological ◽

Physical Environments ◽

And Gender

The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations among predisposing (perceived competence and enjoyment), reinforcing (social environments), enabling factors (motor skills, fitness, physical environments) and physical activity among 288 children, and to identify the age and gender differences among participants. The children completed previously validated questionnaires assessing their perceived competence, enjoyment, school social and physical environments, and physical activity. Physical fitness was measured by FITNESSGRAM fitness testing. Students’ motor skills were assessed by PE Metrics. The results indicated that perceived competence and enjoyment predicted physical activity for boys, while perceived competence was the only predictor for girls. Age effects for fitness and skill were significant, as were gender differences for skill, social environment and perceived competence. This study suggests the importance of supportive teachers who provide enjoyable physical education that builds perceived competence for children to improve fitness, motor skill development and physical activity participation. The results support associations between predisposing factors and self-reported physical activity as theorized within the social ecological model.

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Use of Community Based Participatory Research to Design Interventions for Healthy Lifestyle in an Alternative Learning Environment

Journal of Primary Care & Community Health ◽

10.1177/21501327211014749 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 215013272110147

Author(s):

Valeria Cristiani ◽

Ashok Kumbamu ◽

Gladys B. Asiedu ◽

Shirley K. Johnson ◽

Janna Rae Gewirtz O’Brien ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Learning Environment ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Healthy Eating ◽

Healthy Lifestyle ◽

Community Based Participatory Research ◽

Community School ◽

Community Based ◽

Alternative Learning ◽

Alternative Learning Environment

Introduction/Objectives Childhood obesity develops as the result of the interplay between individual and environmental factors. Community based participatory research (CBPR) is an effective tool for improving health of communities. There is limited research on CBPR for facilitating healthy lifestyle in community schools with an alternative learning environment. The objective of the study was to explore student and staff perspectives via focus groups on barriers and facilitators for healthy eating and physical activity in a community school with alternative learning environment and to prioritize, design, and implement suggested interventions to improve healthy lifestyle. Methods We conducted qualitative research through 8 focus groups of middle and high school students (n = 40) and 2 focus groups of school staff (n = 8). The school community and research team subsequently identified and implemented interventions for facilitating healthy lifestyle in students within the school environment. Results Barriers identified for healthy lifestyle included lack of motivation, lack of healthy food options at school, inadequate knowledge about healthy lifestyle and insufficient opportunities for physical activity. Facilitators for healthy lifestyle were support and motivation from mentors and knowledge about healthy nutrition. Key strategies implemented were addition of healthier food options, educational materials for healthy eating, creation of a walk path, standing desks in classrooms and additional equipment in the school gymnasium. Conclusions Formative feedback from students and staff was helpful in the implementation of strategies for facilitating healthy lifestyle among students within a community school with an alternative learning environment.

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Physical Activity Interventions in Middle School and High School Girls A Review

Sport Science Review ◽

10.1515/ssr-2015-0008 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 24 (1-2) ◽

pp. 41-69 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jessyka N. Larson ◽

James C. Hannon ◽

Timothy A. Brusseau

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

High School ◽

Vigorous Physical Activity ◽

Adolescent Females ◽

Female Adolescents ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Physical Activity Interventions ◽

High School Girls ◽

School Girls ◽

And Gender

Abstract This review examined 62 studies that focused on adolescent females’ physical activity and gender differences in physical activity levels among adolescents. Approximately 15% of female adolescents are obese and only 35% are meeting the recommendation of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day declining to 3% once females reach high school. Identifying factors that influence physical activity among adolescent females has led to successful interventions.

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Between Privilege and Oppression: An Intersectional Analysis of Active Transportation Experiences Among Washington D.C. Area Youth

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16081313 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (8) ◽

pp. 1313

Author(s):

Jennifer D. Roberts ◽

Sandra Mandic ◽

Craig S. Fryer ◽

Micah L. Brachman ◽

Rashawn Ray

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Focus Groups ◽

Low Income ◽

Ecological Model ◽

Public Transit ◽

Active Transportation ◽

Youth Of Color ◽

Social Variables ◽

Youth Physical Activity ◽

Improve Health

The use of active transportation (AT), such as walking, cycling, or even public transit, as a means of transport offers an opportunity to increase youth physical activity and improve health. Despite the well-known benefits of AT, there are environmental and social variables that converge on the AT experiences of low-income youth and youth of color (YOC) that have yet to be fully uncovered. This study uses an intersectional framework, largely focusing on the race-gender-class trinity, to examine youth AT within a context of transportation inequity. Theoretically guided by the Ecological Model of Active Transportation, focus groups were completed with two groups of girls (15 participants) and two groups of boys (nine participants) ranging between the ages of 12–15 years who lived within the Washington D.C. area. This research found race, gender, and class to be inhibitors of AT for both boys and girls, but with more pronounced negative influences on girls.

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