Correlates of Strength Training in Older Rural African American and Caucasian Women

Abstract

This study examined factors influencing strength training (ST) in two convenience samples of older rural women. Focus group (FG) participants were 23 Caucasian and 16 African American women aged 67.5 +/- 9.2 years. Survey participants were 60 Caucasian and 42 African American women, aged 70.59 +/- 9.21 years. FG participants answered questions about the risks, benefits, and barriers to ST. Survey participants completed measures of demographics, physical activity (including ST), depression and stress, decisional balance for exercise (DBE), barriers to PA, and social support (SS). Regression modeling examined correlates of ST. FG participants identified physical health gains and improved appearance as ST benefits. African American women also included mental health benefits and "feeling good". Both Caucasian and African American groups named physical health problems as risks of ST. Caucasian women identified time constraints, lack of ST knowledge, physical health problems, lack of exercise facilities, and the cost of ST as barriers. African American women cited being "too tired", physical health problems, lack of support, and other family and work responsibilities. The linear regression model explained 23.2% of the variance in hours per week of ST; DBE and family SS were independent positive correlates. This study identified correlates to participation in ST in older rural women and provides a basis for developing ST interventions in this population.

Factors associated with participation in resistance training: a systematic review

“…Two studies reported a positive association between family support and participating in RT, with small effects,54 56 while one study39 reported a similar positive relationship in the first 3 months of RT participation but no relationship at 6 months. In one study, there was a small positive association between friend support and participating in RT,56 while one study showed no association 54. Six qualitative studies found that peer support was a key factor for participating in RT, and one quantitative study39 showed no association.…”

Barriers to Physical Activity Among African American Women: An Integrative Review of the Literature

“…The mean age of participants among the 26 studies providing sufficient data for calculation was 47.9 years (encompassing a total of 4188 participants). Additionally, five studies had samples comprised of mostly low-income women (Evans, 2011; Hoebeke, 2008; Kirchoff et al 2008; Lee et al 2011; Wilbur et al 2002; Wilcox et al 2005) and the remainder of studies included women with diverse income levels (n=28) or lacked sufficient information to determine the income levels of participants (n=9; Bopp et al 2004; Bopp et al 2006; Dunn 2008; Eyler et al 1998; Wilcox et al 2002; Im et al 2012; Sanderson, Littleton and Pully 2002; D’Alonzo and Fischetti 2008; Richter et al 2002). Only one study (Doldren and Webb 2013) provided information the regarding the ancestry or ethnic background of AA women enrolled in the study.…”

Factors Associated with the Stages of Change for Strength Training Behavior

“…However, few studies based on such viewpoints have been studied in Japan. In the US, studies on elderly people have pointed out that social support affected engagement of strength training (Bopp et al, 2004) and that subjective norms and perceived behavioral control for social expectations were correlates of the strength training behavior (Dean et al, 2007). In the future, it will be strongly required to examine factors that may affect the strength training behavior from broad-ranging viewpoints taking into account environmental factors.…”