PREDICTORS OF ADOPTING LEISURE-TIME PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY AMONG A BIRACIAL COMMUNITY COHORT

Literature on the correlates and predictors of leisure-time physical a ctivity among African-American populations is sparse. This cohort stud y assessed correlates of leisure-time physical activity (specific larg e muscle activities during the past month at least three times a week) in a biracial population in 1987 and predictors for the adoption of t his behavior 4 years later among those initially inactive, Random digi t dialing methods were used to identify residents of two South Carolin a communities in 1987, In 1991, 3,223 of these residents were resurvey ed (62% response rate). In general, the correlates of leisure-time phy sical activity (education, greater than or equal to 12 years; nonsmoki ng; weight loss behaviors; and physician advice) were similar for each sex and race group, In 1987, the definition of leisure-time physical activity was not met by 831 (54% of 1,542) white women, 374 (76% of 48 9) African-American women, 586 (59% of 991) white men, and 126 (63% of 201) African-American men, Among those who were inactive in 1987, 22- 24% of white adults and African-American men and 14% of African-Americ an women adopted physical activity 4 years later. Twelve years or more of education was a predictor among white women (risk ratio = 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.2-2.6) and African-American women (risk ratio = 3.1, 95% confidence interval 1.4-6.9), but not among men. Having a ph ysician discuss physical activity was a predictor among white women (r isk ratio = 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.3-2.7), African-American wo men (risk ratio = 1.7, 95% confidence interval 0.9-3.2), white men (ri sk ratio = 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.3-3.1), and African-American men (risk ratio = 2.7, 95% confidence interval 1.0-7.6), These result s highlight the strong effect of educational attainment on adoption of healthy behaviors and support the involvement of physicians to promot e physical activity among all race and sex groups.