JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Metabolic disease conditions, including obesity and type 2 diabetes, are a major health concern for Latina immigrants. Regular aerobic physical activity (PA) is an independent risk factor for the prevention and control of these conditions. Yet, the PA levels of most Latina immigrants are below national guidelines; highlighting the need for effective efforts to reduce PA and metabolic health disparities in this population.

Objective:

This study explored PA patterns of first generation US Latina immigrants and examined how neighborhood environment factors influence these PA patterns. Findings will be used to inform development of a culturally tailored PA intervention for first generation Latina immigrants.

Methods:

Using a cross-sectional study design, 39 first generation Latina immigrants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Mujahid Neighborhood Scales Questionnaire, which assessed 6 perceived neighborhood factors: walking environment, aesthetic quality, safety, violence, social cohesion, and activities with neighbors. Median self-reported MET-minutes/week of PA were used to summarize domain (i.e., work, domestic, household, leisure) and intensity (i.e., walking, moderate, vigorous, moderate-to-vigorous) specific PA patterns. Logistic regression examined associations between neighborhood factors and engaging in leisure-time PA (i.e., dichotomous outcome of some vs. no leisure-time PA), transportation PA (i.e., dichotomous outcome of some vs. no transportation PA), and meeting national PA guidelines (i.e., dichotomous outcome of meeting vs. not meeting guidelines).

Results:

Participants (age = 40.5 ± 4.3 years; length of US residency = 4.6 ± 1.0 years) reported engaging in a median of 4512 MET-minutes/week of total PA. The majority of their PA was acquired through domestic activities (2160 MET-minutes/week), followed by leisure (396 MET-minutes/week), transportation (198 MET-minutes/week), and work PA (0 MET-minutes/week). Intensity-specific PA patterns showed that participants engaged in a median of 594 MET-minutes/week of walking activity and 3500 MET-minutes/week of moderate-to-vigorous PA. Logistic regression models showed that neighborhood factors of walking environment, aesthetic quality, and safety were significantly associated with engaging in leisure PA (odds ratios of 5.95 [95% CI:1.49; 23.74], 2.45 [95% CI:1.01; 5.93] and 3.30 [95% CI:1.26; 8.67], respectively) and meeting national PA guidelines (odds ratios of 8.44 [95% CI: 1.63; 43.69] 11.99 [95% CI: 1.79; 80.29], and 3.54 [95% CI:1.21; 10.29] respectively). Neighborhood factors of violence, social cohesion, and activities with neighbors were not significantly associated with PA outcomes.

Conclusions:

Although most participants engaged in PA at levels that met national guidelines, the majority of their PA was achieved through domestic activity, with limited leisure, transportation, and work PA. Given leisure PA, in particular, plays a significant role in improving health outcomes, findings suggest that many Latina immigrants could benefit from a leisure PA intervention. Such interventions should consider neighborhood environmental influences, as our data suggest these factors can serve as determinants to PA.