Barriers and Motivations to Exercise in Older African American and European American Women

Abstract

Older adults, women, and minorities are the least active segments of the US population. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers and motivations to exercise associated with older African American and European American women. Eighty-nine European American and 115 African American women (mean age 72 years) completed a pencil-and-paper questionnaire composed of general demographic information and a list of 10 motivations and six barriers to exercise; participants were asked to check all barriers and motivations that applied to them. Significant ethnic differences were found for one barrier (too expensive) and one motivation (doctor’s orders). Significantly more European American women perceived expenses to be a barrier to exercise (χ 2 = 3.94, p