Use of formative research and social network theory to develop a group walking intervention: Sumter County on the Move!
Although social support is a frequently cited enabler of physical activity, few studies have examined how to harness social support in interventions. This paper describes community-based formative research to design a walking program for mobilizing naturally occurring social networks to support increases in walking behavior. Focus group methods were used to engage community members in discussions about desired walking program features. The research was conducted with underserved communities in Sumter County, South Carolina. The majority of focus group participants were women (76%) and African American (92%). Several important themes emerged from the focus group results regarding attitudes toward walking, facilitators of and barriers to walking, ideal walking program characteristics, and strategies for encouraging community members to walk. Most noteably, the role of existing social networks as a supportive influence on physical activity was a recurring theme in our formative research and a gap in the existing evidence base. The resulting walking program focused on strategies for mobilizing, supporting and reinforcing existing social networks as mechanisms for increasing walking. Our approach to linking theory, empirical evidence and community-based formative research for the development of a walking intervention offers an example for practitioners developing intervention strategies for a wide range of behaviors.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 915 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29201, United States; Prevention Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208, United States. Electronic address: forthofer@sc.edu.
Melinda
M
Forthofer
Prevention Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208, United States.
Ericka
E
Burroughs-Girardi
Prevention Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208, United States.
Liliana
L
Stoisor-Olsson
Prevention Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208, United States; Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208, United States.
Sara
S
Wilcox
Prevention Research Center, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 921 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29208, United States; College of Social Work, Hamilton Building, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, United States.
Patricia A
PA
Sharpe
Formerly of Sumter County Active Lifestyles, 155 Haynesworth Street, Sumter, SC 29150, United States.
Linda M
LM
Pekuri
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design; D012944:Social Support; D066269:Social Theory; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013022:South Carolina; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
Health behavior; Intervention; Physical activity; Self-efficacy; Social networks; Social support; Walking