title: Demography of exercise among Californians of Korean descent: a cross-sectional telephone survey.
abstract: This study describes aerobic exercise and walking for exercise behaviors among the Korean American population, a rapidly growing minority. Data for this study were drawn from a representative survey of Californians of Korean descent (N = 2,830) conducted by telephone; 86% of eligible participants completed interviews in either Korean or English. Sample characteristics closely approximated those for Koreans in the 2000 United States Census for California. The data show that 32.8% of Koreans vigorously exercise or walk for exercise, but walking regimens and more vigorous modes of exercise are employed by different subgroups. Women, less acculturated, married persons, and less well educated are particularly low in vigorous exercise. Korean Americans walk for exercise much less than majority groups, although they engage in vigorous physical activity on a roughly equivalent basis. Interventions to promote physical activity should be adapted not only for the Korean culture but also for specific subgroups defined demographically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Political Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Center for Behavioral Epidemiology and Community Health, San Diego State University, 9245 Sky Park Court, Suite 230, San Diego, CA 92123, USA. rhofstet@mail.sdsu.edu
authors.forename: C Richard
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Hofstetter
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Irvin
authors.forename: Katy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: Melbourne F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Hovell
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: Hye Ryun
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ledet
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zakarian
authors.forename: Haeryun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hee-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.forename: Jooeun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires