Correlates of exercise adherence in an African American church community.
This study identified correlates of attendance to a community-based exercise program in an African American church congregation. After medical clearance, 48 participants completed measures of social support, health-related quality of life, depression, exercise self-efficacy, and exercise motivation and then participated in an exercise program for 6 months (attendance rate = 27%). Age, a sense of affiliation as a motivator to exercise, and weekly caloric expenditure derived from yard work were positively associated with program attendance, and full- or part-time employment was negatively associated with attendance. The authors concluded that exercise adherence is a complicated phenomenon that is influenced by a variety of environmental, personal, and social factors. Social factors, in particular, may be important in promoting adherence to an exercise program in African Americans.
Izquierdo-Porrera
Anna Maria
AM
Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Maryland Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Baltimore, USA.
Powell
Claudia C
CC
Reiner
Jennifer
J
Fontaine
Kevin R
KR
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D015142:Baltimore / Q000208:ethnology; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D004219:District of Columbia / Q000208:ethnology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012067:Religion; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States