Differences in Physical Activity Between Black and White Girls Living in Rural and Urban Areas

Abstract

This study examined the relationship of race and rural/urban setting to physical, behavioral, psychosocial, and environmental factors associated with physical activity. Subjects included 1,668 eighth-grade girls from 31 middle schools: 933 from urban settings, and 735 from rural settings. Forty-six percent of urban girls and 59% of rural girls were Black. One-way and two-way ANOVAs with school as a covariate were used to analyze the data. Results indicated that most differences were associated with race rather than setting. Black girls were less active than White girls, reporting significantly fewer 30-minute blocks of both vigorous and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Black girls also spent more time watching television, and had higher BMIs and greater prevalence of overweight than White girls. However, enjoyment of physical education and family involvement in physical activity were greater among Black girls than White girls. Rural White girls and urban Black girls had more favorable attitudes toward physical activity. Access to sports equipment, perceived safety of neighborhood, and physical activity self-efficacy were higher in White girls than Black girls.

Step Counts of 10- to 11-Year-Old Children by Ethnicity and Metropolitan Status

“…9 Other research has identified adolescence as a time when females, particularly African Americans, demonstrate reduced and minimal physical activity participation. 7 Substantial differences in self-reported physical activity between Caucasian and African American adolescent females have been found in previous research studies. 7,9 One study revealed that by the age of 17, 56% of African American and 31% of Caucasian female participants reported no leisure time physical activity in the previous 7 days.…”

“…7 Substantial differences in self-reported physical activity between Caucasian and African American adolescent females have been found in previous research studies. 7,9 One study revealed that by the age of 17, 56% of African American and 31% of Caucasian female participants reported no leisure time physical activity in the previous 7 days. 7 Despite such relatively high percentages of inactivity in both groups, African American girls appear to need the greatest amount of support to adopt physically active lifestyles.…”

“…6 Other self-report studies with children substantiate these findings. [7][8][9] In this study, Caucasian girls averaged approximately 400 and 1,200 more steps/day than Hispanic and African American girls, respectively (see Figure 1). Taken together, the results of this study and the self-report data cited above suggest a ethnic disparity in physical activity particularly among girls.…”

“…[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Specifically, these studies have suggested that children and youth living in urban areas report less physical activity than those living in suburban and rural areas [10][11][12] and African American and Hispanic children and youth report less physical activity than their Caucasian age-related coutnerparts. [6][7][8][9]13 Questions as to whether these differences persist when pedometers are employed as the measurement tool remain relatively unexplored.…”

Nature-Related Experience during Childhood in Urban and Rural Areas: The Case of Peninsular Malaysians

“…This suggests that childhood setting affected the respondents' activities and experiences. Similarly, rural children reported having more active involvement in nature-related activities than urban children in South Carolina, United States [48,49], and the United Kingdom [50,51]. The significant interaction of age and childhood settings indicates that young and middle-aged people with urban childhood had more decline in nature-related activities than rural people as presented in result section (Figure 3).…”