A Qualitative Exploration of Factors Associated With Walking and Physical Activity in Community-Dwelling Older Latino Adults.
Ethnic/racial minorities often live in neighborhoods that are not conducive to physical activity (PA) participation. We examined perceived factors related to walking/PA among Spanish- and English-speaking older Latinos in a low-income, multi-ethnic neighborhood.



Exploratory focus group study was conducted with Latinos stratified by preferred language and gender: English-speaking women (n = 7, M age = 74.6); English-speaking men (n = 3, M age = 69.3); Spanish-speaking women (n = 5, M age = 66.4); Spanish-speaking men (n = 5, M age = 74.0). Focus group audio files were transcribed, and qualitative research software was used to code and analyze documents.



At the individual level, reasons for exercising (improved health) and positive health outcome expectancies (weight loss and decreased knee pain) were discussed. Neighborhood/environmental factors of safety (fear of crime), neighborhood changes (lack of jobs and decreased social networks), weather, and destination walking were discussed.



Individual and environmental factors influence PA of older, urban Latinos, and should be taken into consideration in health promotion efforts.
University of Illinois at Chicago, USA marquezd@uic.edu.
David X
DX
Marquez
University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
Susan
S
Aguiñaga
University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
Jeanine
J
Campa
University of Illinois at Chicago, USA.
Eve C
EC
Pinsker
Georgia Regents University, Augusta, USA.
Eduardo E
EE
Bustamante
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
Rosalba
R
Hernandez
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
Latinos; aging; environment; physical activity