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Factors Associated with Use of Recreational Facilities and Physical Activity Among Low-Income Latino Adults

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Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify longitudinal correlates of low-income, urban, Latino adults’ use of recreational facilities and engagement in physical activity (PA). This secondary data analysis is from a placed-based initiative; the parent study recruited a cohort of parents of kindergarteners from schools in intervention and control communities. Using a self-administered questionnaire, we collected baseline correlates and 1-year follow-up recreational facilities use and PA outcomes. We conducted ordinal logistic regression to assess correlates for recreational facilities use and PA outcomes. Our sample of 273 Latino adults was mostly female and married or living with partners. Meeting PA guidelines at baseline was associated with higher odds of using parks, walking, and moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA. Those who considered PA to be important had higher odds of using trails (adjusted OR = 2.36, 95% CI 1.15–4.84) and of moderate-intensity PA (adjusted OR = 2.68, 95% CI 1.21–5.91). Reported perception that the neighborhood is very safe to walk was associated with higher odds of using trails (adjusted OR 3.45, 95% CI 1.39–8.53) and parks (adjusted OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.19–7.16). Quality of recreational facilities was directly associated with walking (adjusted OR = 1.61 95% CI 1.01–2.57). Speaking English was associated with higher odds of engaging in moderate-intensity PA (adjusted OR = 3.28 95% CI 1.70–6.33). Results from this study of urban, low-income Latinos indicate that promotion is needed not only for sustained use of recreational facilities among current users, but also for concerted efforts to reach less acculturated Latinos and make recreational facilities appealing to currently inactive adults. Both individual-level and neighborhood-level interventions are needed to build positive attitudes towards PA, while also enhancing neighborhood safety and the quality of neighborhood recreational facilities.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Gary Deyter for editorial assistance.

Disclaimer

The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute or the National Institutes of Health.

Funding

GAVA was funded by the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. The implementation and evaluation of GAVA involved a great number of individuals and we are grateful for all the leaders, community residents, and families who made this work possible. N.H. was funded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (RP170259), and by the National Cancer Institute (NCI)/National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the UTHealth School of Public Health Cancer Education and Career Development Program (R25CA57712) and The University of Texas MD Anderson’s Cancer Center Support Grant (CA016672).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Pressler, Suite FCT9.6073, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Natalia I. Heredia

  2. Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth), School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA

    Maria E. Fernandez & Casey P. Durand

  3. Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston, TX, USA

    Maria E. Fernandez

  4. Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, UTHealth School of Public Health, Austin, TX, USA

    Casey P. Durand, Harold W. Kohl III, Nalini Ranjit & Alexandra E. van den Berg

  5. Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Harold W. Kohl III

  6. Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Harold W. Kohl III

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  1. Natalia I. Heredia
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  2. Maria E. Fernandez
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Correspondence to Natalia I. Heredia.

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Heredia, N.I., Fernandez, M.E., Durand, C.P. et al. Factors Associated with Use of Recreational Facilities and Physical Activity Among Low-Income Latino Adults. J Immigrant Minority Health 22, 555–562 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-019-00920-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-019-00920-7

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