Factors influencing engagement in physical activity among female Chinese American college students

Despite the known short and long term benefits of physical activity, participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity continues to decline throughout the lifespan. Female Asian college students have been shown to be the least physically active of all college students, yet there is limited research of Asian ethnic subgroups. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between acculturation, microaggression, social norms, and socioeconomic status and engagement in physical activity among female Chinese American college students. A total of 203 female Chinese American students attending college in the San Francisco Bay area participated in the study. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and four additional online surveys measuring the study variables. The majority of study participants (78.3%) reported being physically active at levels to obtain health benefits. This entails engaging in moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes on 5 or more days each week. The expectation of significant others, such as parents and friends, to be physically active was found to be significantly correlated to engagement in physical activity (r = .28, p = .000). Socioeconomic status was also positively correlated with engagement in physical activity (r = .14, p = .047). Together these variables accounted for 12% of the variance in the sample, although expectations of significant others (social norms) explained 10% of the variance. Study findings have many implications for future research and practice. Social norms and socioeconomic status only explained a small amount of the variance in physical activity. College professors are in a position to be more involved in promoting physical activity and additional factors influencing engagement in physical activity among college students should be explored. The female Chinese American college students were found to be less physically active as they get older and progressed through the college years. Although the association did not reach significance, it is important to understand factors influencing participation in PA and reasons for the decline in PA. The college setting is ideal for culturally effective intervention efforts promoting PA as a healthy lifestyle behavior.Ph. D.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Elaine A. Musselma