Influences on Long-Term Physical Activity in African American Women: A Scoping Review

Abstract

African American women experience a disparity of preventable long-term illness than non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic women. Participation in routine physical activity (PA) is recommended to prevent and manage long-term illness, yet African American women are the least physically active. There is a paucity of literature addressing long-term PA in this population; therefore, a scoping review of the literature was conducted to assess what is known about physically active African American women who successfully participate in regular forms of long-term PA. The Socioecological Model was used to organize a synthesis of factors influencing PA at the individual, social, environmental, and political levels. A search of 7 electronic databases and reference lists produced 7 studies published in English between 2000 and 2022. Participants shared perspectives of influences at multiple levels. At the individual level, modeling PA behaviors was noted as a means for changing the cultural perspective of PA; future interventions that engage physically active African American women as advocates and promoters of PA may be useful. Social level influences were the most impactful and served as a channel for belonging and attachment while performing PA; culturally appropriate interventions may include supporting a sense of belonging. At the environmental level, financial constraints and unsafe environments for subgroups influenced the ability to perform PA; future research might consider interventions based on demographics and their impact on participants’ ability to perform PA. No influences were mentioned by participants at the political level.