Strategies To Overcome Barriers To Pre-Planned Physical Activity Among Physically Active Hispanic Adults

Hispanics are currently the nation’s largest ethnic minority, comprising 19.1% of the U.S. population. Hispanics also have a high prevalence of chronic diseases, including obesity and metabolic disease. While physical activity (PA) is a modifiable risk factor for prevention of chronic diseases, previous work indicates that few Hispanic adults regularly engage in recommended levels of PA. However, subsets of Hispanic adults are physically active and a better understanding of strategies that support PA engagement among these individuals is needed. PURPOSE: This qualitative descriptive study examines strategies to overcome barriers to pre-planned PA sessions among a group of physically active Hispanic adults. METHODS: Hispanics adults were recruited to participate in a web-based survey that was distributed from Jan 2022-May 2023. Questions included in this analysis explored PA patterns, including PA volume, type, maintenance status, scheduled PA sessions, back-plans for missed sessions, and strategies for getting back on track after missed sessions. Open-ended responses detailing participants’ strategies for missed sessions were independently coded, using a priori codes (e.g., timing, activity, duration), by two members of the research team. Discrepancies were discussed to reach a consensus. RESULTS: Survey respondents (n=75) were predominately women (75%) and PA maintainers (73%). Almost half of participants achieved 121+ min/week of aerobic PA, while 72% participated in resistance exercise 2+ days/week. Most (79%) respondents said they scheduled their PA sessions weekly. Regarding a back-up plan for a missed PA session, 39 responded it was just a missed session (e.g., they did not make it up), while 36 rescheduled their missed exercise session.The most frequently used strategy was to change the 'time' or 'day' to make up the missed session (80%), but other strategies included changing the activity 'type' (23%) or 'duration' (14%) of the missed session. CONCLUSION: These findings provide preliminary insights into the coping strategies used by Hispanic adults who successfully and regularly engage in PA. Leveraging knowledge from physically active subgroups within disparity populations may be a promising approach to inform PA promotion efforts among these groups. NHLBI - Program to Increase Diversity in Faculty Engaged in Behavioral and Sleep Medicine (PRIDE). National Institutes of Health Sub-Award (OS00000850)