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Online Program

333608
Social networks and physical activity among South Asian immigrants: Results of a pilot study


Monday, November 2, 2015

Namratha Kandula, MD, MPH, Department of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Anukool Vasudevan, BS candidate, Loyola University, Chicago, IL
Swapna Dave, MPH, PMP, MBBS, Department of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
John Schneider, MD, MPH, Departments of Public Health Sciences & Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Peter De Chavez, MS, Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Background:  South Asians (SA) (individuals from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal) are less physically active and at higher risk for heart disease and diabetes compared to other racial/ethnic groups in the United States.  Understanding the social context of physical activity (PA) among SA could lead to more effective interventions.

Objective: To examine how social relationships and social support influenced baseline PA levels among SA who participated in a 6-month culturally-tailored lifestyle intervention study.  

Methods: Social network (SN) and social support questionnaires were administered to participants (n=62) in the South Asian Heart Lifestyle Intervention (SAHELI) study.  Accelerometers were used to collect PA data.  Linear regression was used to examine the relationship between (SN) characteristics and average minutes of moderate-vigorous PA/day among participants at baseline. 

Results: All participants were foreign born, average age 50 (SD=8) years, 63% were female and 33% were limited English proficient.  Participants were not meeting national PA recommendations (mean minutes of moderate-vigorous PA/day=24, SD=21). Average SN size of participants was 2.7 (SD=1.4). One-third of participants reported exercising with at least one network member. Participants who reported that they exercise with at least one network member had significantly higher PA (Beta=16 minutes of moderate-vigorous PA/day, p=0.03) than participants who did not exercise with a network member.  Other network attributes (size, composition, support) were not associated with PA.  

Conclusion: Exercising with a member of one’s SN was significantly associated with an individual’s PA level.  Leveraging the influence of SN may be an effective way to increase PA among SA.

Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe how social context influences physical activity among South Asian immigrants.

Keyword(s): Behavioral Research, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am Assistant Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University and the Principal Investigator of this study. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies for reducing cardiovascular risk in South Asians.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3315.1: Advancing Physical Activity in Diverse Populations and Places