title: Physical activity in Latinas: social and environmental influences.
abstract: Latinas are the largest, fastest growing female ethnic minority group in the USA, and also report the lowest levels of physical activity. Following the framework of the social ecological model, this review examines unique social and environmental factors that influence physical activity in Latinas. Research shows that Latinas receive little social support for activity despite having large, close-knit social networks. Interventions incorporating social support components are generally efficacious. Latinas also face many environmental barriers, including crime, heat, traffic, lack of facilities and a fear of immigration enforcement, and there have been few attempts to address environmental barriers in Latino communities. Successful future interventions will need to consider unique social and environmental barriers affecting Latinas, and help Latinas learn to incorporate social networks into physical activity participation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family & Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093-0628, USA. blarsen@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Britta A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pekmezi
authors.forename: Becky
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marquez
authors.forename: Tanya J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Benitez
authors.forename: Bess H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Marcus
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000208:ethnology; D012931:Social Environment; D058992:Social Participation; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States