Abstract
Background: Physical activity (PA) is an important determinant of health throughout the lifespan. Meeting PA guidelines improves health outcomes and prevents or slows the progression of many chronic health conditions. Yet, literature has shown that many Arab Americans do not meet the PA Guidelines. Little is known about determinants of PA in this population. Objective: Guided by the Social Ecological Model, we aimed to 1) describe PA and investigate the relationships between PA and sample characteristics, intrapersonal factors, and interpersonal factors and 2) examine to what extent these factors influence PA in Arab Americans. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational design using a self-administered questionnaire with 140 Arab Americans was used. Spearman's rho correlation was used to assess the associations between PA and sample characteristics, intrapersonal factors, and interpersonal factors. Three simultaneous gamma regression models were used to assess to what extent sample characteristics, intrapersonal, and interpersonal factors jointly influenced PA. Results: A majority (58.6%) of our participants reported a high level of PA. Findings revealed significant positive associations between PA and health status, religiosity, and PA self-efficacy ( r s = 0.21, p = 0.019; r s = 0.19, p = 0.029; r s = 0.28; p = 0.003, respectively). Multiple regression models revealed that being employed (Model 1 Exp( b ) = 1.87, p = 0.030; Model 3 Exp( b ) = 1.77, p = 0.043) and having chronic conditions (Model 1 Exp( b ) = 1.88, p = 0.031; Model 2 Exp( b ) = 1.96, p = 0.034; Model 3 Exp( b ) = 1.91, p = 0.047) were associated with greater PA, when accounting for other sample characteristics, intrapersonal, and interpersonal factors. Conclusion: Clinicians need to recognize the importance of enhancing PA self-efficacy while considering presence of chronic health conditions and employment status when promoting PA in Arab Americans. Future research is needed to explore the relationship between religiosity and PA in this population.
Published Version
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