Factors Contributing to Women’s Ability to Maintain a Walking Program

Abstract

Furthermore, the participants stated that making time, problem solving, internal motivation, and the support of family and/or friends were the most helpful factors in achieving their walking goals.

Application of a gender-based approach to conducting a community health assessment for rural women in Southern Illinois

“…Such health promotion requires developing activities or strategies that suit women's busy schedules, including family-focused activities. This finding supports previous research that personal and professional responsibilities and lack of family support may interfere with a women's ability to engage in health behaviors such as physical activity (Komar-Samardzija, Braun, Keithley, & Quinn, 2012;Nies & Motyka, 2006;Perry et al, 2008).…”

Previously inactive rural adults’ experiences of commencing and maintaining a walking routine following participation in a walking intervention

“…Although previous literature and this study identify pedometers as effective motivators, the motivation provided is most often related to the accountability of reporting step counts to the research team. Hence, although pedometers are beneficial in establishing a walking routine, their role in maintaining walking appears less effective, particularly beyond the intervention when accountability to others ceases.…”

“…It is noteworthy that social support, a commonly identified enabler of walking, was not identified by study participants who either lived with their children for whom they were sole carers, with their partners or alone. Therefore, other than those participants living in a couple, little support to walk was available to them from home.…”

“…An important objective of this study was to explore both commencement and maintenance of walking due to the present lack of knowledge relating to maintenance. Enablers of commencing a walking routine for participants reflect previously identified enablers such as early enthusiasm, pedometers and accountability to the research team and new knowledge about how to establish a walking routine …”

“…The challenge of finding time to walk has been widely documented in the literature, and incidental exercise has been identified as a useful strategy in addressing this challenge. However, it appears how people prioritise walking may be an important element of this challenge of finding time to walk.…”