In quality-of-life research, the current challenge is to devise models to clarify the elements of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and the causal relationships among them. This revision of Wilson and Cleary's model includes a taxonomy of the variables that often have been used to measure HRQoL. This revision should be useful in research and clinical practice.

Based on these findings, we recommend that future research include more diverse groups of women and evaluate modifiable factors, such as psychological, interpersonal, and environmental correlates. Future research also should include more intervention and longitudinal studies.

Ethnic minority and low-income populations have the highest rates of cardiovascular disease and the lowest rates of leisure-time physical activity. Because physical activity reduces the risk of premature death and disability from cardiovascular disease, researching correlates to such activity in these populations is an important aspect of health promotion in the US. To identify environmental, policy, and cultural barriers to physical activity in women, The Women's Cardiovascular Health Network Project conducted focus groups with White, African American, Latina, and American Indian women aged 20-50 years. The focus groups were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed with QSR NUD*IST qualitative software using a set of codes developed a priori by the research team. Family priorities were a main barrier to physical activity in all the groups. Having multiple roles as wife, mother, daughter, and as an active community member was mentioned as time-consuming and difficult, leaving little time or energy for exercise. Cultural barriers, which varied among the groups, included acculturation issues, lack of community support, and lack of past experience with exercise. Physical activity interventions suggested involved work programs, family-friendly programs, increased social support, and the availability of safer places to exercise such as parks, well-lit walking trails, and recreation centers. Many of the barriers were common to all groups (e.g., family priority) while some were unique (e.g., lack of community support). Assessing and addressing the issues raised should be considered when planning physical activity interventions for these populations.Physical activity is an important part of health promotion and disease prevention (USDHHS, 1996). Reducing disparities in health and increasing physical activity levels in all populations is paramount to the future health of our nation. For physical activity interventions to be effective, however, they must adequately address barriers to activity and promote factors that enable it. As indicated by our projects in this series, these barriers and enablers are both common and unique across race/ethnicity. Common barriers, such as lack of time, have been cited in

Findings suggest the potential impact of workshop group support on adherence in African-American women.