Objective: In this study, the authors explored the association between dispositional cancer worry (DCW), risk perceptions (RP), and physical activity (PA) among college females.
Participants: Four hundred fifty-one females from a midwestern university completed an online survey in September/October 2012.
Methods: DCW severity, DCW frequency, RP, and PA were measured along with qualitative data about PA as cancer prevention.
Results: Sixty-nine percent of participants did not meet PA recommendations. DCW severity was a significant predictor of meeting PA recommendations (odds ratio = 1.2, 95% confidence interval [1.00, 1.38]; p = .05). Qualitative data revealed a lack of knowledge about breast cancer risk and PA as cancer prevention.
Conclusions: College women do not engage in enough PA nor feel at risk for developing breast cancer. A lack of knowledge exists about the cancer prevention benefit of PA. Results indicate a need for PA interventions that both educate breast cancer risk and motivate health protective behaviors.
Keywords: cancer; cancer worry; health education; physical activity; risk perception.