Abstract
BackgroundResearch on Hispanics’ activity preferences suggest that they prefer engaging in group-oriented physical activities, such as organized exercise. Yet, little is known about pathways to participation in organized exercise among Hispanics. This study used a reasoned action approach (RAA) framework to explore beliefs and determinants of organized exercise among Hispanics. Specifically, we examined the impact of participants’ intentions on reported organized exercise behavior, and the relation between intentions and attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and self-efficacy.MethodsOur mixed-methods study was part of a larger pre-post design intervention study. Participants completed an interview containing open- and closed-ended questions to identify salient beliefs and practices about attending organized exercise activities. We conducted two separate regression models to assess the effects of intentions on behavior (n = 330) and the associations of RAA constructs on intentions (n = 101), both adjusting for demographics. Qualitative analysis of a sub-sample (n = 105) of responses to open-ended questions identified salient beliefs related to organized exercise attendance.ResultsOur results showed that intentions predicted behavior at follow up (IRR = 2.03, p < .05), and that attitudes and perceived behavioral control were associated with intentions (β = .36, p < .05; β = .36, p <. 05, respectively). Qualitative findings suggest participants value health and the behavioral benefits of attending organized exercise activities; feel approval from family and friends; and identify transportation, time, distance, and costs as factors that influence their attendance to organized exercise activities.ConclusionsConsistent with theoretical expectations, we identified statistically significant determinants of intentions and attendance to organized exercise. Findings can inform the development of persuasive messages and interventions to promote exercise in low-income Hispanic populations facing obesity disparities.
Highlights
Research on Hispanics’ activity preferences suggest that they prefer engaging in group-oriented physical activities, such as organized exercise
Intentions are influenced by attitudes, normative pressure, self-efficacy, and perceived behavioral control; and each of these constructs is formed by salient behavioral, normative, and control beliefs that should be elicited from the target population [6, 11, 12]
The majority of participants self-identified as Hispanic/Latino, were female, married, not employed, with a household annual income of less than $19,999, with less than a high school diploma, uninsured, had a Body Mass Index (BMI) average of about 30 (SD = 5.5), and a mean age of 45 ± 13 years
Summary
Research on Hispanics’ activity preferences suggest that they prefer engaging in group-oriented physical activities, such as organized exercise. This study used a reasoned action approach (RAA) framework to explore beliefs and determinants of organized exercise among Hispanics. Despite the many documented benefits of exercise, Hispanics continue to be less physically active than their White counterparts [1]. One commonly used theoretical framework to study exercise behavior is a reasoned action approach (RAA) [6]. The RAA framework is a relevant perspective to study exercise because of the planned or reasoned aspect of exercise behavior [10]. This framework proposes that intentions to engage in a behavior are the most immediate determinant of that behavior. Intentions are influenced by attitudes, normative pressure, self-efficacy, and perceived behavioral control; and each of these constructs is formed by salient behavioral, normative, and control beliefs that should be elicited from the target population [6, 11, 12]
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