Physical Activity Maintenance Among African American Women

Abstract

PURPOSE: Studies have demonstrated that lapse-recovery cycles, or the brief periods of little to no physical activity (PA) that may persist for days or weeks (lapses) followed by a return to normal PA levels (recovery), are integral to long-term PA maintenance in African American (AA) women. Given the low PA levels and high rates of chronic disease among AA women, understanding factors associated with lapse-recovery cycles in AA women who successfully maintain PA may improve interventions for promoting and sustaining PA in high-risk populations. METHODS: AA women (≥ 18 years) who self-reported PA maintenance (≥ 6 months) were recruited via email, word-of-mouth, and social media to complete an online survey. Questions included whether respondents experienced a lapse in the previous year, and if so, the number and causes of lapses, the longest lapse experienced, and factors that helped to resume PA. Trained reviewers coded open-ended responses separately, using a priori codes; discrepancies were discussed to reach consensus. RESULTS: Of the 206 respondents, 139 (67.5%; age 38.4 ± 11.6 years) experienced a lapse in PA in the past year. Most women (58.3%, n=81) experienced 1-2 lapses, with most lasting <1 month (43.9%). The top five predictors of lapses included work demands (33.1%), an injury or surgery (24.5%), travel/vacations (22.3%), lack of time (19.4%;e.g. scheduling conflicts) and family factors (16.5%; e.g. caretaking, relationship issues). The factors associated with resuming PA included becoming motivated again (18.0%; e.g. goal-setting, self-talk), social support (15.1%; e.g. encouragement from friends/family, joining PA groups), weight (14.4%; e.g. gaining weight as motivation), feeling better (14.4%; e.g. physically and mentally, body craving PA), and recovering from an injury or surgery (14.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Understanding correlates of PA lapse-recovery cycles in AA women who maintain PA can aid in developing strategic interventions to foster long-term PA behaviors among this important population. Our findings suggest that motivation, social support, weight and positive affect might be ideal intervention targets. Future studies should explore the impact of targeted strategies to address lapse-recovery cycles.