Serious engagement in sport and health benefits among Korean immigrants in the USA.

There is a dearth of information pertaining to ethnicity and serious leisure among immigrants. The purpose of our study was to explore the health benefits of serious engagement in sports among Korean immigrants who are part of club activities. Using semi-structured in-depth interviews, we identified three themes associated with the benefits of serious leisure: (a) coping with acculturative stress, (b) creating ethnic strength, and (c) personal benefits. Participants gain personal and social benefits by pursuing leisure activities in a serious manner within their ethnic in-group.

Opportunities for promoting youth physical activity: an examination of youth summer camps.

BACKGROUND: Youth summer camp programs have the potential to provide opportunities for physical activity, but little to no research has been conducted to determine activity levels of campers. This study aimed to examine physical activity occurring in day and resident summer camps and how activity levels differed in these camps based upon demographic characteristics. METHODS: Pedometer data were collected during hours of camp operation from 150 day campers and 114 resident campers between the ages of 8 and 12 years old. Independent t tests were used to compare physical activity by sex, race, and Body Mass Index. RESULTS: Campers at day camps averaged 11,916 steps per camp day, while resident campers averaged 19,699 steps per camp day. Day campers averaged 1586 steps per hour over 7.5 hour days and resident campers averaged 1515 steps per hour over 13 hour days. Male sex, Caucasian race, and normal Body Mass Index were significant correlates of more physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Youth summer camps demonstrate the potential to provide ample opportunities for physical activity during the summer months. Traditional demographic disparities persisted in camps, but the structure of camp programs should allow for changes to increase physical activity for all participants.

Physical activity and senior games participation: benefits, constraints, and behaviors.

The purpose of the article was to examine the physical activity perceptions and behaviors of older adults who were active participants in a statewide senior games (i.e., North Carolina Senior Games; NCSG) program with its focus on year-round involvement through activities in local communities. A random sample of 440 older adults (55 years and older) completed a questionnaire in 2006 about their participation in community-based senior games. A uniqueness of this study is its focus on active older adults, which provides insight into how to maintain physical involvement. Older adults who were most active perceived the most benefits from senior games but did not necessarily have the fewest constraints. This study of NCSG as an organization designed to promote healthy living in communities offered an example of how a social-ecological framework aimed at health promotion can be applied.

Parks and recreation settings and active living: a review of associations with physical activity function and intensity.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to review reported associations between parks and recreation settings (PRSs) as features of the built environment and various functions and intensities of physical activity (PA). METHODS: By searching 4 major databases for the years 1998 to 2005, 50 articles were uncovered that reported quantitative relationships between PRSs and PA. RESULTS: Most articles showed some significant positive relationships between PRSs and PA. PRSs were more likely to be positively associated with PA for exercise or utilitarian functions than for recreational PA. Mixed results were observed for the associations between PRSs and both moderate and vigorous PA, but PRSs were commonly associated with walking. CONCLUSIONS: The studies indicated links between PRSs and PA and provided evidence for the contributions parks and recreation makes as part of the "health care" system within communities. Because of the ubiquity of PRSs and their potential contributions to active living, these relationships merit further exploration.

Spiritual development and camp experiences.

Camps have long addressed multiple components of young people's development, including spiritual development. In particular, transcendental communion with nature and the outdoors may provide one pathway for young people's spiritual development.

Overview of camp research.

Organized camp experiences for children have been a part of American culture for almost 150 years. Millions of young people and adults have had positive developmental experiences in outdoor camp environments. Research about the outcomes of camp as well as about camp operations has documented the role that camps play in enhancing human development. This article summarizes some of the trends that have occurred in camp research and offers suggestions for future directions to assure that camp experiences continue to "enrich lives and build tomorrows."

Camp experiences and developmental outcomes for youth.

Most children view camp as an enjoyable experience. In addition to the essential fun aspect of camp, researchers are discovering several positive developmental outcomes. This article describes some of the developmental outcomes that occur at camp based on developmental theories that underlie camp programs and the research that has been conducted. The primary developmental outcomes examined relate to the broad areas of self-constructs, social relationships, skill building, and spirituality. The recent national data collected by the American Camp Association to document developmental outcomes are highlighted to better understand how "camp gives kids a world of good."

Youth Development Outcomes of the Camp Experience: Evidence for Multidimensional Growth.

Three thousand, three hundred and ninety-five families, whose child attended one of 80 different day or resident summer camps for at least one week, completed customized questionnaires that measured growth from precamp to postcamp in four domains: Positive Identity, Social Skills, Physical & Thinking Skills, and Positive Values & Spirituality. Parents, children, and camp staff reported significant positive change in these four domains; more than would be expected by maturation alone. Most gains were maintained or showed additional growth six months later. Few of the camp's structural elements correlated with growth, nor did striking gender, age, or ethnicity differences emerge. The study highlights the particular strengths of camp as an educational institution and social movement and suggests that different variations of summer camp can provide potent developmental experiences.

An ecological approach to creating active living communities.

The thesis of this article is that multilevel interventions based on ecological models and targeting individuals, social environments, physical environments, and policies must be implemented to achieve population change in physical activity. A model is proposed that identifies potential environmental and policy influences on four domains of active living: recreation, transport, occupation, and household. Multilevel research and interventions require multiple disciplines to combine concepts and methods to create new transdisciplinary approaches. The contributions being made by a broad range of disciplines are summarized. Research to date supports a conclusion that there are multiple levels of influence on physical activity, and the active living domains are associated with different environmental variables. Continued research is needed to provide detailed findings that can inform improved designs of communities, transportation systems, and recreation facilities. Collaborations with policy researchers may improve the likelihood of translating research findings into changes in environments, policies, and practices.

In their own voices: definitions and interpretations of physical activity.

Terms such as physical activity, exercise, and leisure are perceived and interpreted differently by people differing in gender, class, and sociocultural factors. We accessed multiple diverse data sources (including qualitative data recently collected in research and evaluation studies) to explore African-American and American Indian women's (age 40+) definitions, meanings, and interpretations of "physical activity". These women reported that physical activity is typically considered to be structured "exercise" and not incidental activities of daily life. The term "leisure" was interpreted from a cultural perspective as being lazy. These women also had difficulty understanding the meaning of "intensity" (e.g., "moderate", "vigorous"). Researchers must acknowledge and understand inconsistencies that arise and how these might influence design of, and responses to, self-report assessment of physical activity.

Personal, social, and physical environmental correlates of physical activity in African-American women in South Carolina.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the correlates of physical activity among African-American women living in the southeastern United States. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship of personal, social, cultural, environmental, and policy variables with physical activity among women in ethnic minority groups. METHODS: The Women and Physical Activity Survey was used in a telephone interview of 917 African-American women living in two counties in South Carolina. The sample of women was selected by random-digit dialing. RESULTS: Approximately one third (34.1%) of the women met current recommendations for moderate or vigorous physical activity, 49.4% were insufficiently active, and 16.5% were inactive. Meeting the recommendations or engaging in insufficient activity (versus inactive) was related to attaining higher educational levels, being married or with a partner; being in excellent or very good health, having greater self-efficacy, seeing people exercise in the neighborhood, having more favorable ratings of women who exercise (social issues score), having lower social role strain, and reporting the presence of sidewalks or lighter traffic in the neighborhood. CONCLUSION: Multiple factors influence physical activity. Interventions to increase physical activity should use multilevel approaches that incorporate the personal, social environmental, and physical environmental factors related to participation in physical activity.

A synthesis of perceptions about physical activity among older African American and American Indian women.

OBJECTIVES: In this review of qualitative data from the Cross-Cultural Activity Participation Study (CAPS), we synthesize the major findings of studies designed to identify minority women's perceptions of physical activity. METHODS: We interviewed 30 African American and 26 American Indian women with constant comparison techniques. We analyzed the data with a coding system developed from the data. RESULTS: The women led active, busy lives. Most perceived physical activity as being good for them, identified constraints to time and space for physical activity, and wanted social support for physical activity. Sociocultural issues also were related to physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: Both personal and cultural values influenced the women's physical activity behaviors.

Environmental, policy, and cultural factors related to physical activity in African American women.

Six focus groups were conducted in South Carolina with African American women (n = 42) aged 19-51 years to identify factors that influence physical activity. Transcripts were analyzed using NUD*IST. Cultural influences were seen as more important in determining the type of physical activity than its level. Barriers to and enablers of physical activity were identified in the social and physical environments, as were policy issues affecting physical activity in the community and at the work site. Potential community and work site interventions were suggested. Child care and monetary costs were frequently cited as barriers to physical activity.

Perceptions of physical activity and personal barriers and enablers in African-American women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine perceptions of physical activity and physical activity barriers and enablers in African-American women. DESIGN AND METHODS: Six focus groups were conducted with 42 African-American women, aged 19-51 years, who resided in South Carolina. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using NUD*IST. RESULTS: Women initially thought of physical activity in terms of structured exercise but identified lifestyle physical activities when prompted. Participants held strong negative views of sedentary African-American women, and strong positive views of active African-American women. However, women cited several undesirable outcomes that could result from physical activity, including appearing too masculine. Body weight and physical activity were generally viewed as independent: participants stressed that one could be both fit and heavy. As a result, women believed the physical and mental health benefits of physical activity should be emphasized over weight-related outcomes in physical activity interventions. Factors found to be correlates of physical activity in adults in general were also cited by this population, including attitudes, perceived benefits and barriers, knowledge, self-motivation, and enjoyment. Additional themes included the priority placed on the needs of the family at the expense of one's own needs, the positive association between a healthy diet and being physically active, and equating being "busy" with being active. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity interventions with African-American women may benefit from targeting correlates that are well-established with other populations, as well as correlates that appear unique to this population.