Abstract
Self-management through physical activity is a significant factor in reducing cardiac disease. Women engage in less physical activity than men. Guided by Individual and Family Self-Management Theory, the purpose of this study was to investigate contextual (demographic) and process (self-management process) variables that affect the outcome (target behavior) level variable of physical activity. Women were surveyed regarding contextual (age, race/ethnicity, education, income, marital status, employment, and access to care) factors. Process level factors, including knowledge and beliefs (awareness of guidelines, yes/no, Exercise Confidence Survey: Sticking to it and Making time for Exercise, 1-5), social facilitation (Social Support and Exercise Survey: Family Participation, 9-45, Family Rewards and Punishment, 3-5, and Friend Participation, 9-45), outcome expectancy (Exercise Benefits Scale, 29-116), and outcome physical activity (7 Day Physical Activity Recall, minutes per week) were also assessed. Correlation/hierarchical multiple regression were used to examine the relationship of contextual and process level factors to physical activity. The sample included 119 women (mean age 40.96, 89.1% Caucasian, 51.3% Married, 95% high school graduates). Education was positively correlated with exercise benefits (r=.235,p=.010). Gross family income (r =.191,p=.043), work status (r=.238,p=.009), and health insurance(r=.228,p=.013) were positively correlated to family participation, and work status was positively correlated to friend participation (r =.263.p=.004). In the final model, contextual factors (step 1) explained 12.9% of the variance in physical activity (p<.05) and knowledge and beliefs, social support, and outcome expectancy (step 2) added an additional 0.9% of variance physical activity levels. Surprisingly, findings suggest that contextual factors contribute more to explaining variability in physical activity levels than process factors including self-efficacy, social support, and knowledge in this sample of middle-aged, married women. This suggests that in addition to considering demographic variables, further research to explore other factors that affect physical activity in women is necessary.