Physically active leisure constraints and facilitators in a racially diverse rural setting

Background: This qualitative study investigates physically active leisure and health in a population of racially diverse rural adults, aiming to describe physically active leisure in the town of Carington, IL, as well as to identify key constraints and facilitators to physically active leisure participation among community members. The ultimate purpose is to inform physically active leisure interventions to promote overall health and well-being in Carington and similar communities. Methods: Twenty-four community leaders (5 African American, 7 male) took part in semi-structured qualitative interviews in October - December, 2007. Forty-four residents (average age 52 years, range 18 to 85 years, 8 male) took part in 4 focus groups during the same time period. Leaders represented such community organizations as schools, churches, recreation groups, social service organizations, the local hospital, and area businesses. Focus groups targeted specific subpopulations within the community: African Americans, low income residents, older adults, and healthcare workers. Data was coded according to prominent themes and analyzed by both manifest content and latent content analysis. Results: Participants described opportunities for physically active leisure as widely available, though community members were seen as insufficiently active. Structural constraints came up more often than either intrapersonal or interpersonal constraints. Key facilitators participants cited included organizational support, negotiation strategies, and enjoyment. Leaders spoke about partnerships more than residents. African American participants tended to indicate more constraints than other participants. Discussion: The key to increasing participation in physically active leisure in Carington may be through increasing motivation for negotiation resulting in participation despite constraints. Ultimately, there is potential for the factors identified in this study to inform health-promoting physically active leisure interventions in this setting.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Recreation, Sport, and Tourism

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Osgood, Keren

Contributors dc:contributor

• Son, Julie S.

• physically active leisure
• rural adults
• social cognitive theory
• facilitators
• constraints
• interventions

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2011 Keren Osgood

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/29746

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/29746