TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding physical activity participation in members of an African American church
T2 - A qualitative study
AU - Bopp, Melissa
AU - Lattimore, Diana
AU - Wilcox, Sara
AU - Laken, Marilyn
AU - McClorin, Lottie
AU - Swinton, Rosetta
AU - Gethers, Octavia
AU - Bryant, Deborah
N1 - Funding Information:
This project was supported by a grant from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CCR421476-01. We wish to thank Bishop Henry Allen Belin Jr (retired), the Right Rev. Preston W. Williams II and the Presiding Elders of the seventh Episcopal District and Health Directors of the AME Church for their support and assistance with this project. We are very appreciative to all of the individuals who have volunteered their time to attend the program training and implement the PA programs in their churches, as well as to their pastors for supporting the program objectives.
PY - 2007/12
Y1 - 2007/12
N2 - Faith-based interventions hold promise for increasing physical activity (PA) and thereby reducing health disparities. This paper examines the perceived influences on PA participation, the link between spirituality and health behaviors and the role of the church in promoting PA in African Americans. Participants (n = 44) were adult members of African American churches in South Carolina. In preparation for a faith-based intervention, eight focus groups were conducted with sedentary or underactive participants. Groups were stratified by age (<55 years versus ≥55 years), geography and gender. Four general categories were determined from the focus groups: spirituality, barriers, enablers and desired PA programs. Personal, social, community and environmental barriers and enablers were described by both men and women, with no apparent differences by age. Additionally, both men and women mentioned aerobics, walking programs, sports and classes specifically for older adults as PA programs they would like available at church. This study provides useful information for understanding the attitudes and experiences with exercise among African Americans, and provides a foundation for promoting PA through interventions with this population by incorporating spirituality, culturally specific activities and social support within the church.
AB - Faith-based interventions hold promise for increasing physical activity (PA) and thereby reducing health disparities. This paper examines the perceived influences on PA participation, the link between spirituality and health behaviors and the role of the church in promoting PA in African Americans. Participants (n = 44) were adult members of African American churches in South Carolina. In preparation for a faith-based intervention, eight focus groups were conducted with sedentary or underactive participants. Groups were stratified by age (<55 years versus ≥55 years), geography and gender. Four general categories were determined from the focus groups: spirituality, barriers, enablers and desired PA programs. Personal, social, community and environmental barriers and enablers were described by both men and women, with no apparent differences by age. Additionally, both men and women mentioned aerobics, walking programs, sports and classes specifically for older adults as PA programs they would like available at church. This study provides useful information for understanding the attitudes and experiences with exercise among African Americans, and provides a foundation for promoting PA through interventions with this population by incorporating spirituality, culturally specific activities and social support within the church.
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U2 - 10.1093/her/cyl149
DO - 10.1093/her/cyl149
M3 - Article
C2 - 17138614
AN - SCOPUS:36448957251
SN - 0268-1153
VL - 22
SP - 815
EP - 826
JO - Health education research
JF - Health education research
IS - 6
ER -