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Developing Long-Term Physical Activity Participation: A Grounded Theory Study With African American Women

Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, amy_harley{at}dfci.harvard.edu

Janet Buckworth, PhD, FACSM

The Ohio State University School of Physical Activity and Educational Services, Columbus

Mira L. Katz, PhD, MPH

The Ohio State University College of Public Health, Columbus

Sharla K. Willis, DrPH, MA

The Ohio State University College of Public Health, Columbus

Angela Odoms-Young, PhD

Northern Illinois University College of Health and Human Sciences, De Kalb, Illinois

Catherine A. Heaney, PhD, MPH

Stanford University Psychology Department, California

Regular physical activity is linked to a reduced risk of obesity and chronic disease. African American women bear a disproportionate burden from these conditions and many do not get the recommended amount of physical activity. Long-term success of interventions to initiate and maintain a physically active lifestyle among African American women has not been realized. By clearly elucidating the process of physical activity adoption and maintenance, effective programming could be implemented to reduce African American women's burden from chronic conditions. In-depth interviews were conducted with physically active African American women. Grounded theory, a rigorous qualitative research method used to develop theoretical explanation of human behavior grounded in data collected from those exhibiting that behavior, was used to guide the data collection and analysis process. Data derived inductively from the interviews and focus groups guided the development of a behavioral framework explaining the process of physical activity evolution.

Key Words: physical activity • African American • women's health • qualitative research

This version was published on February 1, 2009

Health Education & Behavior, Vol. 36, No. 1, 97-112 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/1090198107306434


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