Abstract
Lower rates of recreational physical activity (PA) among African American (AA) adolescent girls relative to other US age/race/gender groups are assumed to reflect within-race similarity in PA attitudes and practices. However, variability in PA attitudes and practices among AA adolescent girls is not well studied. To address this, a class-diverse sample of 51 AA adolescent girls’ responses to survey items querying weight concern (WC) and PA was examined for sub-groupings using cluster analysis. Three clusters were identified [L/H—low WC, high PA; H/L—high WC, low PA; and L/L—low WC and PA]. Survey item response means were examined by cluster. L/L differed visibly, but not significantly, from L/H and H/L on items assessing PA engagement. The same was true for H/L with WC items. Cluster identification and trends in response differences by cluster have potential implications for targeted PA promotion efforts. Further investigation with larger, representative samples is warranted.
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The research was funded by the Cultural and Physical Anthropology Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant Committees; Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Division; National Science Foundation (DDIG 0922436).
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McClure, S.M., Loux, T.M. Variability in Weight Concern and Physical Activity Engagement Among African American Adolescent Girls. J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities 5, 1365–1372 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-018-0486-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-018-0486-x