Physical Activity Barriers & Facilitators In Underrepresented Minorities: Preliminary Qualitative Outcomes From A Mixed Methods Study

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) is crucial for preventing chronic illness, yet many adults fail to meet PA guidelines. This is particularly demonstrated in underrepresented racial minority (URM) adults, who face serious social inequities that prevent participation. To understand the factors that influence PA, it is valuable to continue to identify barriers & facilitators to PA. PURPOSE: To document the barriers & facilitators to PA among urban Midwestern URMs. METHODS: In this cross-sectional, mixed-methods study, self-report PA data were evaluated using the International PA Questionnaire-Long Form. Qualitative survey items were derived from the Barrier Analysis Survey, a standardized rapid assessment tool developed to assess factors of target behaviors, such as PA. The study team prompted participants to be as thorough as possible when answering all qualitative survey questions. Themes and subthemes were derived from the data using inductive thematic analysis (ITA). RESULTS: Twenty-nine URMs (LLPA, n = 11; HLPA, n = 18; 44.83% Black, 41.37% Latino) completed the study. There were differences between groups for total leisure-time PA (HLPA = 448.89 ± 227.43 min/wk., LLPA = 44.55 ± 48.40 min/wk.; p = 0.001, d = 2.21). Two study team members came to 100% consensus on all themes and subthemes. ITA revealed 12 and 11 distinct barriers to PA for the LLPA and HLPA groups, respectively. Common barriers to PA included lack of time, financial costs associated with PA, and lack of access to PA facilities. ITA revealed 13 and 17 distinct facilitators to PA for the LLPA and HLPA groups, respectively. Common facilitators of PA included having knowledge of PA benefits, feeling socially supported, and having more PA events and programs in their community. CONCLUSION: Financial costs associated with PA and lack of time were prevalent barriers for both groups. Conversely, both groups suggested that they felt socially supported by loved ones to be active. These data suggest that promoting PA for URMs requires stakeholders to provide low-cost, accessible programs that leverage community members' existing knowledge of PA.