title: The influence of the built environment and other factors on the physical activity of older women from different ethnic communities.
abstract: Inactivity has been identified as a major contributor to the burden of disease in older women. Study aims were: (a) to assess the personal, social, and environmental facilitators and impediments to physical activity in older women from ethnic communities; and (b) to determine the factors associated with physical activity participation. Older women (aged 60-84 years) were recruited from the local Italian (n = 20), Vietnamese (n = 26) and Anglo-Celtic (n = 26) communities. A survey questionnaire was administered in the participants' preferred language. The most common barriers were: "I am not in good health," "I am self-conscious about my looks," "I am too tired," "I don't have time," and "The weather is bad." When comparing the ethnic groups, the Vietnamese women reported fewer barriers than the Italian women (2.6 vs. 5.9). While the Vietnamese women were much more likely to report being "self-conscious about my looks," the Italian women more commonly reported poor health, being too tired, and not liking exercise as barriers. Overall, those living alone were more likely to be active and those who reported fear of injury, less active. Recognizing ethnospecific differences in the prevalence of barriers may be important when devising strategies to increase activity levels of older women.
authors.affiliation: RMIT University School of Medical Sciences, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia. stephen.bird@rmit.edu.au
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kurowski
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: Colette
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Browning
authors.forename: Rosalind
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Radermacher
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sims
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004739:England / Q000208:ethnology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology*