Correlates of leisure-time physical activity in Korean immigrant women

West J Nurs Res. 2008 Aug;30(5):620-38. doi: 10.1177/0193945907310645. Epub 2008 Apr 28.

Abstract

This study describes the physical activity behavior of Korean immigrant women and examines the relationships among leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) behavior, background, and intrapersonal correlates of behavior in Korean immigrant women in the United States using a cross-sectional survey design. A convenience sample of Midwestern Korean immigrant women completed the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire in Korean. Among the participants, 78% were physically active, meeting the Healthy People 2010 goal for physical activity when all physical activity behaviors were considered, whereas 23% met the goal when only LTPA was considered. Women who were older, did not have a child younger than 5, used environmental resources for physical activity, had lower depressive symptoms, and had higher confidence for overcoming exercise barriers were spent more time in LTPA. Accommodating those with young children, enhancing environmental resource use, and improving exercise self-efficacy are important considerations for interventions aimed at increasing LTPA in Korean immigrant women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acculturation
  • Adult
  • Asian / ethnology*
  • Attitude to Health / ethnology*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression / ethnology
  • Emigrants and Immigrants / psychology*
  • Exercise / psychology*
  • Female
  • Health Behavior / ethnology
  • Humans
  • Korea / ethnology
  • Leisure Activities / psychology*
  • Life Style / ethnology
  • Middle Aged
  • Midwestern United States
  • Models, Psychological
  • Nursing Methodology Research
  • Regression Analysis
  • Self Efficacy
  • Social Support
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Women / psychology*