Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Individual, social environmental, and physical environmental influences on physical activity among black and white Adults: A Structural Equation Analysis

  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background: Social ecological models suggest that conditions in the social and physical environment, in addition to individual factors, play important roles in health behavior change. Using structural equation modeling, this study tested a theoretically and empirically based explanatory model of physical activity to examine theorized direct and indirect effects of individual (e.g., motivation and self-efficacy), social environmental (e.g., social support), and physical environmental factors (e.g.), neighborhood quality and availability of facilities).Method: A community-based sample of adults (N = 910) was recruited from 2 public health centers (67% female, 43% African American, 43% < $20,000/year, M age = 33 years) and completed a self-administered survey assessing their current physical activity level, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for physical activity, perceived social support, self-efficacy, and perceptions of the physical environment.Results: Results indicated that (a) perceptions of the physical environment had direct effects on physical activity, (b) both the social and physical environments had indirect effects on physical activity through motivation and self-efficacy, and (c) social support influenced physical activity indirectly through intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. For all forms of activity, self-efficacy was the strongest direct correlate of physical activity, and evidence of a positive dose-response relation emerged between self-efficacy and intensity of physical activity. Conclusions: Findings from this research highlight the interactive role of individual and environmental influences on physical activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Allison DB, Fontaine KR, Mason JE: Annual deaths attributable to obesity in the United States.Journal of the American Medical Association. 1999,270:2207–2212.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Macera CA, Jones DA, Yore MM, et al.: Prevalence of physical activity, including lifestyle activities among adults—United States, 2000–2001.Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2003,52(32):764–769.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Crespo CJ, Smit E, Andersen RE, Carter-Pokras O, Ainsworth BE: Race/ethnicity, social class and their relation to physical inactivity during leisure time: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994.American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2000,18:46–53.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Mokdad AH, Ford ES, Bowman BA, et al.: Prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and obesity-related health risk factors, 2001.Journal of the American Medical Association. 2003,289:76–79.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Dishman RK, Sallis JF: Determinants and interventions for physical activity and exercise. In Bouchard C, Shephard RJ, Stephens T (eds),Physical Activity, Fitness, and Health: International Proceedings and Consensus Statement. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1994, 214–238.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Saelens BE, Sallis JF, Frank LD: Environmental correlates of walking and cycling: Findings from the transportation, urban design, and planning literatures.Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2003,25:80–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Eyler AA, Matson-Koffman D, Vest JR, et al.: Environmental, policy, and cultural factors related to physical activity in a diverse sample of women: The Women’s Cardiovascular Health Network Project—Introduction and methodology.Women & Health. 2002,36(2):1–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Giles-Corti B, Donovan RJ: The relative influence of individual, social and physical environment determinants of physical activity.Social Science & Medicine. 2002,54:1793–1812.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Giles-Corti B, Donovan RJ: Relative influences of individual, social environmental, and physical environmental correlates of walking.American Journal of Public Health. 2003,93:1583–1589.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Bandura A:Social Foundations of Thought Action. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  11. McLeroy KR, Bibeau D, Steckler A, Glanz K: An ecological perspective on health promotion programs.Health Education Quarterly. 1988,15:351–377.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Sallis JF, Owen N: Ecological models. In Glanz K, Lewis FM, Rimer BK (eds),Health Behavior and Health Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1997, 403–424.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Stokols D: Establishing and maintaining healthy environments: Toward a social ecology of health promotion.American Psychologist. 1992,47:6–22.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Sallis JF, Owen N:Physical Activity and Behavioral Medicine. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  15. De Bourdeaudhuij I, Sallis JF, Saelens BE: Environmental correlates of physical activity in a sample of Belgian adults.American Journal of Health Promotion. 2003,18:83–92.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Humpel N, Owen N, Leslie E: Environmental factors associated with adults’ participation in physical activity: A review [see comment].American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2002,22:188–199.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Troped PJ, Saunders RP, Pate RR, Reininger B, Addy CL: Correlates of recreational and transportation physical activity among adults in a New England community.Preventive Medicine. 2003,37:304–310.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Kreuter MW, Sugg-Skinner CS, Holt CL, et al.: Cultural tailoring for mammography and fruit and vegetable intake among low-income African-American women in urban public health centers.Preventive Medicine. 2005,41:53–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Dzewaltowski DA: A social cognitive theory of older adults exercise motivation. In Ostrow AC (ed),Aging and Motor Behaviour. Indianapolis, IN: Benchmark, 1989, 257–281.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Duda JL, Tappe MK: Personal investment in exercise among adults: The examination of age and gender-related differences in motivational orientation. In Ostrow AC (ed),Aging and Motor Behaviour. Indianapolis, IN: Benchmark, 1989, 239–256.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Duncan TE, Stoolmiller M: Modeling social and psychological determinants of exercise behaviors via structural equation systems.Research Quarterly for Exercise & Sport. 1993,64:1–16.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. McAuley E, Jerome GJ, Elavsky S, Marquez DX, Ramsey SN: Predicting long-term maintenance of physical activity in older adults.Preventive Medicine. 2003,37:110–118.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Sallis J, Owen N: Ecological models. In Glanz K, Lewis FM, Rimer BK (eds),Health Behavior and Health Education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1997, 403–424.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Marcus BH, Selby VC, Niaura RS, Rossi JS: Self-efficacy and the stages of exercise behavior change.Research Quarterly for Exercise & Sport. 1992,63:60–66.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Frederick CA, Ryan RM: Differences in motivation for sport and exercise and their relationships with participation and mental health.Journal of Sport Behavior. 1993,16:125–145.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Vallerand RJ: A hierarchical model of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in sport and exercise. In Roberts GC (ed),Advances in Motivation in Sports and Exercise. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2001, 263–320.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Sallis JF, Grossman RM, Pinski RB, Patterson TL, Nader PR:The development of scales to measure social support for diet and exercise behaviors.Preventive Medicine. 1987,16:825–836.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Eyler AA, Brownson RC, Donatelle RJ, et al.: Physical activity social support and middle-and older-aged minority women: Results from a US survey.Social Science & Medicine. 1999,49:781–789.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Brownson RC, Eyler AA, King AC, et al.: Reliability of information on physical activity and other chronic disease risk factors among US women aged 40 years or older.American Journal of Epidemiology. 1999,149:379–391.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System User’s Guide (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), (ed). Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Ainsworth BE, Bassett DR, Strath SJ, et al.: Comparison of three methods for measuring the time spent in physical activity.Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2000,32(9 Suppl.):S457-S464.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Jöreskog KG, Sörbom D:LISREL 8: Structural Equation Modeling With SIMPLIS Command Language. Hillsdale, NJ: Scientific Software International, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Tabachnick BG, Fidell LS:Using Multivariate Statistics (2nd Ed.) New York: Harper amp; Row, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Hoyle RH:Structural Equation Modeling: Concepts, Issues, and Applications. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Hu L, Bentler PM:Evaluating model fit.In Hoyle RH (ed),Structural Equation Modeling. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1995, 76–99.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Schumacker RE, Lomax RG:A Beginner’s Guide to Structural Equation Modeling. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc., 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  37. du Toit M, du Toit S:Interactive LISREL: User’s Guide. Lincolnwood, IL: Scientific Software International, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Owen N, Humpel N, Leslie E, Bauman A, Sallis JF: Understanding environmental influences on walking: Review and research agenda.American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2004,27:67–76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Rovniak LS, Anderson ES, Winett RA, Stephens RS: Social cognitive determinants of physical activity in young adults: A prospective structural equation analysis.Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2002,24:149–156.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Duncan TE, McAuley E: Social support and efficacy cognitions in exercise adherence: A latent growth curve analysis.Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 1993,16:199–218.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Ryan RM, Frederick CA, Lepes D, Rubio N, Sheldon K: Intrinsic motivation and exercise adherence.International Journal of Sport Psychology. 1997,28:335–354.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Motl RW, Dishman RK, Ward DS, et al.: Examining social-cognitive determinants of intention and physical activity among Black and White adolescent girls using structural equation modeling.Health Psychology. 2002,21:459–467.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Courneya KS, McAuley E: Are there different determinants of the frequency, intensity, and duration of physical activity?Behavioral Medicine. 1994,20:84–90.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Spence J, Lee R: Toward a comprehensive model of physical activity.Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 2003,4:7–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Booth ML, Owen N, Bauman A, Clavisi O, Leslie E: Social-cognitive and perceived environment influences associated with physical activity in older Australians.Preventive Medicine. 2000,31:15–22.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Humpel N, Owen N, Leslie E, et al.: Associations of location and perceived environmental attributes with walking in neighborhoods.American Journal of Health Promotion. 2004,18:239–242.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Brownson RC, Housemann RA, Brown DR, et al.: Promoting physical activity in rural communities: Walking trail access, use, and effects.American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2000,18:235–241.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Humpel N, Owen N, Iverson D, Leslie E, Bauman A: Perceived environment attributes, residential location, and walking for particular purposes.American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2004,26:119–125.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Owen N, Leslie E, Salmon J, Fotheringham MJ: Environmental determinants of physical activity and sedentary behavior. Exercise amp; Sport Sciences Reviews. 2000,28:153–158.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. King AC, Stokols D, Talen E, Brassington GS, Killingsworth R: Theoretical approaches to the promotion of physical activity: Forging a transdisciplinary paradigm. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2002,23(Suppl. 2): 15–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Harvard University, USA

    Lorna Haughton McNeill Ph.D.M.P.H.

  2. Department of Research Methodology, Saint Louis University, USA

    Kathleen W. Wyrwich Ph.D. & Eddie M. Clark Ph.D.

  3. Department of Community Health, Saint Louis University School of Public Health, USA

    Ross C. Brownson Ph.D.

  4. Department of Community Health and Health Communication Research Laboratory, Saint Louis University School of Public Health, USA

    Matthew W. Kreuter Ph.D. M.P.H.

Authors
  1. Lorna Haughton McNeill Ph.D.M.P.H.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kathleen W. Wyrwich Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ross C. Brownson Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Eddie M. Clark Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Matthew W. Kreuter Ph.D. M.P.H.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lorna Haughton McNeill Ph.D.M.P.H..

Additional information

This research was supported by grant R06/CCR71721602 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the CDC/ASPH Minority Fellowship Program (U48/CCU710806, Prevention Research Centers Program).

We also thank Drs. Nancy Krieger and Karen Emmons for their review of early drafts of this article.

About this article

Cite this article

Haughton McNeill, L., Wyrwich, K.W., Brownson, R.C. et al. Individual, social environmental, and physical environmental influences on physical activity among black and white Adults: A Structural Equation Analysis. ann. behav. med. 31, 36–44 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm3101_7

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm3101_7

Keywords

Search

Navigation