Barriers and motivators for strength training among women of color and Caucasian women

Maureen O'Dougherty, Amber Dallman, Lucie Turcotte, Joan Patterson, Melissa Napolitano, Kathryn Schmitz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study examined factors associated with adherence to a strength training (ST) intervention in a randomized controlled intervention trial testing whether twice-weekly strength training over 2 years could prevent age-associated increases in body fat in 80 overweight to mildly obese women, aged 25-44 years. Two sets of focus groups (FGs) were conducted with 25 women of color and 24 Caucasian participants, representing 60% of intervention participants. Fifty-five percent of FG participants had low adherence (defined as ≤80% adherence to twice-weekly gym-based strength training). Demographic data indicated that marital status and childcare responsibilities affected adherence. Participants' perceptions of experiences in the ST intervention did not correspond to adherence levels or vary by race/ ethnicity. Major impediments to adherence included competing obligations and related scheduling difficulties; life transitions; and declining or insufficient social motivators.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)41-62
Number of pages22
JournalWomen and Health
Volume47
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008

Bibliographical note

Copyright:
Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Barriers
  • Motivators
  • Strength training
  • Women

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