Search

Objectives: To develop and test an explicative model of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), including 6 selected contributory factors: self-efficacy, self-regulation, social support, perceived physical environment, outcome-expectancy value, and policy beliefs., Methods: A social-ecological model of LTPA using the structural equation modeling technique was estimated in a regional, church-going sample of 649 African Americans., Results: The results indicated this model is good fit to the data. LTPA was associated with self-regulation and gender directly (P<.05) and social support, self-efficacy, perceived access to LTPA facilities, and positive outcome-expectancy value indirectly (P<.05)., Conclusions: Multitiered interventions considering cultural relevance are recommended to improve LTPA engagement.

Objective: To examine the relationship between the total volume of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and obesity among African American adults in Indianapolis., Methods: Logistic regression analysis with 649 African American adults., Results: The data show an inverse graded relationship between the total volume of LTPA and obesity for African American women, but not for men., Conclusions: African American women who accumulate a high volume of LTPA (ie, 300 minutes or more per week) are less likely to be obese. Further research is needed to investigate the gender difference in the effect of LTPA on obesity.

Background: Despite numerous benefits of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for infants and mothers, a significant decrease in the EBF rate in the USA at six months compared to the rate at birth suggests that reasons for initiation and continuation of EBF may differ. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore psychosocial factors underlying the continued EBF behaviour for six months, in order to identify salient belief structures according to the theory of planned behaviour., Methods: Participants were recruited from central Indiana in the USA. They were asked to respond to an open-ended questionnaire designed to elicit positive/negative consequences, approving/disapproving social referents, and easy/difficult circumstances in continuing EBF for six months. Responses were translated into behavioural, normative, and control beliefs of the theory., Results: Findings suggest that respondents (1) value emotional and health benefits of continued EBF for six months; (2) feel the approval from family and friends but disapproval from the society; (3) view health professional's position as positive and negative., Conclusions: Breastfeeding educators can more likely improve the EBF duration by addressing these salient beliefs. Identified beliefs provide a basis for the development of a quantitative instrument to further study the EBF behaviour.