TY - JOUR
T1 - Physical activity attitudes, preferences, and practices in African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian girls
AU - Grieser, Mira
AU - Vu, Maihan B.
AU - Bedimo-Rung, Ariane L.
AU - Neumark-Sztainer, Dianne
AU - Moody, Jamie
AU - Young, Deborah Rohm
AU - Moe, Stacey G.
PY - 2006/2
Y1 - 2006/2
N2 - Physical activity levels in girls decline dramatically during adolescence, most profoundly among minorities. To explore ethnic and racial variation in attitudes toward physical activity, semistructured interviews (n = 80) and physical activity checklists (n = 130) are conducted with African American. Hispanic, and Caucasian middle school girls in six locations across the United States. Girls from all groups have similar perceptions of the benefits of physical activity, with staying in shape as the most important. Girls have similar negative perceptions of physical activity, including getting hurt, sweating, aggressive players, and embarrassment. Chores, running or jogging, exercises, and dance are common activities for girls regardless of ethnicity. Basketball, swimming, running, and dance are commonly cited favorite activities, although there are slight differences between ethnic groups. The results suggest that factors other than ethnicity contribute to girls' physical activity preferences and that distinct interventions may not be needed for each ethnic group.
AB - Physical activity levels in girls decline dramatically during adolescence, most profoundly among minorities. To explore ethnic and racial variation in attitudes toward physical activity, semistructured interviews (n = 80) and physical activity checklists (n = 130) are conducted with African American. Hispanic, and Caucasian middle school girls in six locations across the United States. Girls from all groups have similar perceptions of the benefits of physical activity, with staying in shape as the most important. Girls have similar negative perceptions of physical activity, including getting hurt, sweating, aggressive players, and embarrassment. Chores, running or jogging, exercises, and dance are common activities for girls regardless of ethnicity. Basketball, swimming, running, and dance are commonly cited favorite activities, although there are slight differences between ethnic groups. The results suggest that factors other than ethnicity contribute to girls' physical activity preferences and that distinct interventions may not be needed for each ethnic group.
KW - Adolescent girls
KW - African American girls
KW - Caucasian girls
KW - Ethnic variation
KW - Hispanic girls
KW - Physical activity
KW - Qualitative
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=32044455347&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=32044455347&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1090198105282416
DO - 10.1177/1090198105282416
M3 - Article
C2 - 16397158
AN - SCOPUS:32044455347
SN - 1090-1981
VL - 33
SP - 40
EP - 51
JO - Health Education Monographs
JF - Health Education Monographs
IS - 1
ER -