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Dance Dance “Cultural” Revolution: Tailoring a Physical Activity Intervention for South Asian Children

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Abstract

In Canada, South Asian (SA) children are more likely to be overweight and physically inactive than non-SAs. This study uses a mixed-methods embedded design to investigate factors associated with physical activity (PA) among SAs, and develops a culturally-relevant exercise intervention for SA children ages 8–11. Twenty-eight (28) participants including children, parents, principals, teachers, and Bhangra instructors across four elementary schools in Surrey, BC participated in semi-structured interviews and a self-report survey. Using the immersion/crystallization approach, four major themes were identified: (1) awareness of the importance and benefits of PA, (2) discrepancy between expectations and actual opportunities for PA in the school-setting, (3) sub-optimal conditions for PA at school and home, and (4) intervention characteristics conducive for promoting exercise in SA children. Competing demands and lack of opportunities posed as prominent obstacles. To address these barriers, a culturally-appealing exercise intervention may offer a viable approach to motivate SA children to exercise.

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Acknowledgements

In addition to our funders, we would like to thank the Surrey and Delta School Districts, specifically Ryan Sidhu, Liane Ricou, and Neil Stephenson for collaborating on this project.

Funding

Funding was provided by the Lawson Foundation, VGH-UBC Hospital Foundation, and Azad and Yasmin Shamji Family.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Yasmin Banga & Ayman Azhar

  2. Faculty of Arts, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Harvir Sandhu

  3. Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2275 Laurel Street, 10th Floor, #10211, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada

    Tricia S. Tang

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  1. Yasmin Banga
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  2. Ayman Azhar
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  3. Harvir Sandhu
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  4. Tricia S. Tang
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Correspondence to Tricia S. Tang.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in this study.

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Banga, Y., Azhar, A., Sandhu, H. et al. Dance Dance “Cultural” Revolution: Tailoring a Physical Activity Intervention for South Asian Children. J Immigrant Minority Health 22, 291–299 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-019-00921-6

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