title: "Physical activity as a luxury": African American women's attitudes toward physical activity.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore African American midlife women's attitudes toward physical activity. Using a feminist perspective, a 6-month online forum was conducted with 21 African American midlife women recruited on the Internet. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four themes emerged: (a) culturally acceptable body, (b) missed opportunity to learn, (c) physical activity as a luxury, and (d) want to do by myself. The women had positive body images regardless of their actual weight. The women considered physical activity "a luxury" in their busy lives and thought that they had already missed opportunities to learn. The women wanted to participate in physical activities alone because of their bad childhood experiences and hesitance to go out in public with sweaty, messy hair. The findings suggested that unique programs that promote physical activity should be developed that consider the women's ethnic-specific attitudes.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78701, USA. eim@mail.utexas.edu
authors.forename: Eun-Ok
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Young
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Hyenam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Kyung Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Wonshik
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chee
authors.forename: Alexa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stuifbergen
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Adama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McPeek
authors.forename: Eunice
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chee
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors