Background/Purpose Racial minorities, compared to Whites, have poorer health, are less physically active, and live shorter lives (Adler & Rehkopf, 2008). These effects are augmented among the elderly. Social ecological models, however, suggest that ensuring opportunities to be physically active can decrease health disparities (Sallis et al., 2006). The purpose of this study is to extend this research by also considering a key moderating variable: community racism. Specifically, I examine (a) the degree to which community racism moderates the relationship between physical activity opportunities and days per week engaged in moderate physical activity; and (b) the association between engagement in moderate physical activity and diagnosed obesity, diagnosed anxiety, and overall quality of health.
Method Archival data from the 2009 Brazos Valley Health Assessment were analyzed for the study. Only data from racial minorities age 55 and older (n = 354) were included. Information about the assessment can be found at www.cchd.us.
Analysis/Results Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. Gender, household income, and education served as controls. Physical activity opportunities interacted with community racism to predict engagement in moderate physical activity. Participation was lowest when opportunities were low but racism was high. Moderate physical activity was negatively associated with having been diagnosed as obese or with an anxiety disorder, and positively associated with overall quality of health.
Conclusions Health professionals must address people's opportunities to be active and strategies to overcome racism in the community. Given the link between physical activity and improved health-related quality of life, such efforts are critical.