Demographic and psychosocial correlates of physical activity among African Americans.
OBJECTIVE
To examine physical activity among participants in the Wellness for African Americans Through Churches (WATCH) project.


METHODS
Both focus-group and survey methodologies were employed. From surveys, frequencies and metabolic equivalents (METs) were calculated for recreational, household, and occupational activity.


RESULTS
Half of respondents reported recreational activity > or = 5 days per week; most reported household activity. Women had significantly lower levels of recreational and occupational, but not household activity. Recreational and occupational levels decreased with age.


CONCLUSIONS
This sample appears to meet exercise guidelines. Psychosocial factors may be important for intervention in recreational, but not household or occupational activity.
James
Aimee S
AS
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7295, USA. aimee_james@med.unc.edu
Hudson
Marlyn Allicock
MA
Campbell
Marci K
MK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003710:Demography; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009657:North Carolina; D011998:Recreation / Q000523:psychology*; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012423:Rural Health; D020377:Self Efficacy; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*