Kindal A. Shores

A qualitative examination of perceived barriers and facilitators of physical activity for urban and rural youth

Many adolescents, both rural and urban, are not meeting the recommended levels for physical activity (PA). This investigation was designed to elicit socioecologic barriers and facilitators for PA in rural and urban middle school youth and their parents. Thirteen focus groups were conducted with 41 youth and 50 parents from eastern North Carolina. Distance, cost, crime/danger and television were mentioned as the primary barriers among parents. Youth mentioned school policies related to PA and crime/danger as the main PA barriers. The most salient facilitators discussed by parents were social/peer facilitators, facilities available and parental role modeling of PA. The primary facilitators mentioned by youth were social outlets and facilities available. Results indicate that intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental and policy factors related to PA resonated with both youth and parents. Since rural and urban residents often perceive and interact differently with PA environments, more research is needed to properly adapt interventions.

Rural and urban park visits and park-based physical activity.

OBJECTIVE A physical activity disparity exists between rural and urban residents. Community parks are resources for physical activity because they are publicly provided, available at a low cost, and accessible to most residents. We examine the use of and physical activity outcomes associated with rural and urban parks. METHODS Onsite observations were conducted using the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) at four rural and four urban parks. Momentary sampling scans were conducted four times per day for seven days at each site. RESULTS A total of 6,545 park visitors were observed. Both rural and urban park visitors were observed more often at larger parks with paved trails and attended most often on weekends. Rural park visits were more frequent than urban park visits but rural visits were less physically active. CONCLUSION Although similarities were observed between rural and urban park visits, differences suggest that findings from park and physical activity studies in urban areas should not be considered representative of their rural counterparts. Given that the majority of existing park and physical activity research has been undertaken in urban settings, the need for complementary research in rural settings has been made evident through this presentation of baseline descriptive data.

Extra-Individual Correlates of Physical Activity Attainment in Rural Older Adults.

CONTEXT Challenged with a higher incidence of disease, reduced social support, and less access to physical activity facilities and services, rural older adults may find healthy active living a challenge. Despite these challenges, some rural older adults manage to achieve active lifestyles. PURPOSE This study investigates the relative importance of 4 extra-individual correlates of physical activity to physical activity achievement in rural seniors. METHODS Data were drawn from mail questionnaires completed by 454 adults age 65 and over in 7 rural North Carolina counties. FINDINGS Results from an analysis of covariance indicate that respondents who approached CDC/ACSM recommended levels of physical activity were significantly more likely to report that they lived within walking distance to parks, perceived they had transportation to physical activity areas, had a partner with whom to be active, and felt activity facilities were safe. Next, 7 extra-individual correlates of physical activity were entered into a backward logistic regression. The resultant model predicting physical activity achievement among rural older adults included social support for physical activity, a safe environment for physical activity, and reported ability to walk to a local park. CONCLUSIONS Interventions designed to provide social support, heighten safety at activity areas and improve park infrastructure may provide opportunities to increase physical activity among seniors.

The Relationship of Individual Time Perspective and Recreation Experience Preferences

Time perspective, as measured with the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI), has been conceptualized as an individual differences variable which functions similar to personality. Psychological research has linked time perspective to many attitudes and behaviors including health behaviors, time spent with family and friends, and career decisions. Previous leisure research has linked personality and recreation experience preferences. In this study we build on investigations of time perspective by testing hypotheses about the relationship between time perspective and recreation experience preferences. Using results from a self-administered mail questionnaire, hypotheses about the benefits sought by adults with different time perspectives are tested. Among study respondents, time perspective had a significant relationship with all six benefit domains under investigation. Thus, findings expand the range of known individual attributes correlated with recreation preferences. Moreover, this study provides a starting point for the use of time perspective in leisure research.

Promoting youth physical activity in rural Southern communities: practitioner perceptions of environmental opportunities and barriers

PURPOSE Research on youth physical activity has focused on urban areas. Rural adolescents are more likely to be physically inactive than urban youth, contributing to higher risk of obesity and chronic diseases. Study objectives were to: (1) identify perceived opportunities and barriers to youth physical activity within a rural area and (2) identify rural community characteristics that facilitate or inhibit efforts to promote youth physical activity. METHODS Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with expert informants in 2 rural southern US counties. Interviewees were recruited from diverse positions across multiple sectors based on their expert knowledge of community policies and programs for youth physical activity. FINDINGS Informants saw ball fields, natural amenities, and school sports as primary resources for youth physical activity, but they were divided on whether opportunities were abundant or scarce. Physical distance, social isolation, lack of community offerings, and transportation were identified as key barriers. Local social networks facilitated political action and volunteer recruitment to support programs. However, communities often lacked human capital to sustain initiatives. Racial divisions influenced perceptions of opportunities. Despite divisions, there were also examples of pooling resources to create and sustain physical activity opportunities. CONCLUSIONS Developing partnerships and leveraging local resources may be essential to overcoming barriers for physical activity promotion in rural areas. Involvement of church leaders, school officials, health care workers, and cooperative extension is likely needed to establish and sustain youth rural physical activity programs. Allocating resources to existing community personnel and volunteers for continuing education may be valuable.

Rationale and development of the Move More North Carolina: Recommended Standards for After-School Physical Activity.

The purpose of this article is to describe the rationale and procedure employed in developing the Move More North Carolina: Recommended Standards for After-School Physical Activity, which was publicly released statewide in April 2009. The Standards outline evidenced-based best practices for after-school programs to implement in order to increase amount and quality of physical activity (PA) among program participants. The Standards can be applied in any after-school program and were developed to benefit the approximately 152,000 school-aged children who are served by NC after-school programs each year. These programs often serve children at high risk for physical inactivity, including children from racial/ethnic minorities, impoverished areas, with disabilities, and/or living in neighborhoods with limited PA opportunities. The rationale for developing standards for PA in after-school programs is threefold: (1) such programs can provide enjoyable, safe, and age-appropriate PA; (2) they can facilitate family involvement, community partnership, and increase access to PA resources; and (3) they serve children at risk for inactivity. Recommended best practices are included for the following categories: time/intensity, qualified staff/training, curriculum, program size, facilities, equipment, and evaluation. Methods used to inform The Standards included a planning team, on-line surveys, focus groups, a systematic literature review, a consensus panel, and external expert review. The impact of The Standards is yet to be seen, but the collaborative process used in their creation can serve as a model for the development of similar PA standards in other states.

Associations Between Natural Amenities, Physical Activity, and Body Mass Index in 100 North Carolina Counties

Purpose. To examine associations between county-level natural amenities, physical activity (PA), and body mass index (BMI). Design and Setting. Cross-sectional study among 100 North Carolina counties. Measures. We obtained percentage of county residents meeting PA criteria and county-wide means for reported height and weight from the North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, combining years 2003, 2005, and 2007. The county natural amenities scale was the independent variable. Potential county-level covariates were percentage rural, percentage black, median age, and median household income (Census 2000). Analysis. We conducted weighted bivariate and linear regression analyses to examine relationships between natural amenities, aggregate PA, and aggregate BMI. Results. BMI and natural amenities were negatively associated (parameter estimate = –.13 (.06), p = .03). When percentage meeting PA criteria was included, the parameter estimate attenuated 15%. Conclusion. There was an inverse relationship between natural amenities and BMI, partially mediated by PA.

Does Building a Greenway Promote Physical Activity Among Proximate Residents

BACKGROUND Previous research has observed a positive correlation between having greenways or trails proximate to homes and the physical activity behaviors among residents. Few studies using a pre-post research design have been conducted, and each has pointed to the need for more rigorous studies which incorporate an appropriate control group. METHODS Residents from households living within 1 mile of a proposed greenway and those from a control neighborhood located between 2 and 3 miles of the proposed greenway were randomly selected to participate in the study. Participants were mailed a survey before the onset of construction and again 1 year after the trail was opened. Outcomes were the number of days during the previous week that respondents reported participating in walking, moderate activity, and vigorous activity. RESULTS Repeated measures analyses of variance indicated no significant differences between the experimental and control groups in days of walking, moderate activity, or vigorous activity before and after the greenway was constructed. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that building a greenway did not affect the physical activity behaviors of proximate residents. Other studies should consider different trail types from a variety of settings to determine whether physical activity behavior changes may be context specific.

The association of location and social context with physical activity enjoyment in a population of able bodied rural aging women.

Abstract Collectively, rural aging women experience a physical activity disparity compared to younger, male, and urban populations. Research suggests that enjoyment of physical activity may function as an antecedent to participation and also as an outcome that can encourage future leisure time physical activity. This study examines how rural womens choice of leisure time physical activity location and activity companions informs their enjoyment of that physical activity. Weeklong activity diaries were completed by 39 rural‐dwelling women aged 50 to 74. Of the 528 bouts of physical activity reported, activities undertaken with companions and in public settings were most enjoyable. However, women most frequently participated alone and in their homes. Womens type of physical activity was a significant moderator of their enjoyment in different social groups and environments. The discussion considers leisure providers’ opportunities to empower this subpopulation with neighborhood‐proximate park facility placement and program design. Avenues for future research, such as site and program preference studies, are also identified.