Differences in self-reported rationale for increases in physical activity by ethnicity and gender

Authors

Timothy J. Bungum, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
James R. Morrow Jr., University of North Texas

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2000

Publication Title

Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport

Volume

71

Issue

1

First page number:

55

Last page number:

60

Abstract

Physical activity is a recognized component of healthy lifestyles. Inactivity is associated with several chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease (Fletcher et aI., 1992) hypertension and Type II diabetes (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1996). Data indicate that only about 10% of Americans are aerobically active (Stephens & Caspersen, 1994). Approximately one-third of the American population engages in physical activities that are less vigorous and frequent than the recommended levels to achieve a health benefit (Stephens & Caspersen, 1994).Jones et al. (1998) found that more than 60% of American adults do not meet guidelines for moderate leisure time physical activity and that many would obtain health benefits by increasing their leisure time physical activity. Recent research suggests that small, positive increases in physical activity would enable many people to reduce their risk of chronic diseases and could contribute to an enhanced quality of life (Pate et aI., 1995), thus increased physical activity, in most cases, is a desired public health behavior.

Keywords

Aerobic exercises; Behaviors; Chronic diseases; Chronic diseases—Prevention; Determinants; Diabetes; Diabetes—Prevention; Exercise; Hypertension; Hypertension—Prevention; Non-insulin-dependent diabetes; Psychology; Public health; Quality of life; Sedentary behavior; Sedentary people; Surgeon General

Disciplines

Community-Based Research | Gender and Sexuality | Kinesiology | Leisure Studies | Race and Ethnicity

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.

Repository Citation

Bungum, T. J., Morrow, J. R. (2000). Differences in self-reported rationale for increases in physical activity by ethnicity and gender. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 71(1), 55-60.