Physical activity behaviours of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) women living in Australia: A qualitative study of socio-cultural influences

Abstract

BackgroundAustralia continues to witness rising levels of immigration by individuals from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) origins. With this rapidly growing diverse population, Australia faces a number of population health challenges. In particular, CALD women have been shown to be at an increased risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and poor mental health. Despite the high risk of these diseases, women from CALD groups are less likely to be proactive in accessing health care or undertaking preventative behaviours, such as physical activity participation. The purpose of this study was to examine the socio-cultural influences on the physical activity behaviours of CALD women living in Australia by identifing the barriers, constraints and possible enablers to physical activity participation for this population.MethodsTwelve focus group sessions were undertaken with CALD women (N = 110) from Bosnian, Arabic speaking, Filipino and Sudanese communities in three regions: New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland. In a semi-structured, open table discussion, participants were encouraged to share their opinions, perceptions and beliefs regarding socio-cultural influences on their physical activity behaviours. Common and ethnic-specific themes emerged from the discussions.ResultsCommon themes included: knowledge of physical activity, differing physical activity levels, and the effects of psychological and socio-cultural factors, environmental factors, and perceptions of ill-health and injury, on physical activity behaviours. Ethnic-specific themes indicated that post-war trauma, religious beliefs and obligations, socio-economic status, social isolation and the acceptance of traditional cultural activities, greatly influenced the physical activity behaviours of Bosnian, Arabic speaking, Filipino and Sudanese women living in communities throughout Australia.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that attitudes and understandings of health and wellbeing are complex, and have a strong socio-cultural influence. The findings of the present study can be used not only to inform further health promotion initiatives, but also as a platform for further research with consumers of these services and with those who deliver such services.

A Systematic Literature Review of Sport and Physical Activity Participation in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Migrant Populations

“…Overall, previous physical activity experience [e.g., 44,86] and general health [e.g., 50,87] were positive correlates of physical activity. Lack of good health [72] or having depression had a negative association with physical activity.…”

“…Specifically, a longer time in the country (10yrs +) [39,40], later generations (being born and having parents born in the new country) [41] and citizenship in the new country [42] also suggested an association with higher participation rates. Studies that evaluated reasons for immigration found that refugee populations suffered post-traumatic stress and were not considering or actively participating in physical activity [43,44] . Generally, the type of physical activities performed in the home country predicted physical activities in the new country [43,45,46].…”

“…Very few studies evaluated confounding factors such as time in current country [39,40], experiences in the home country [43,45,46] such as levels of physical activity in the home country [43] and reasons for immigration [44]. Culture and the migration experience is rarely addressed or measured explicitly.…”

“…For women, their husbands' support was an important enabler of physical activity [44,70], however taking care of children and family members was an inhibitor [60]. This was exacerbated for some groups, such as women from South American countries, who felt cultural pressures to 'sacrifice their personal lives' and be submissive to their families [46].…”

“…Specific motivators for engaging in sports and physical activity differed according to cultural group, but some common motivators included maintaining physical health [44,68,75], managing chronic disease A review of sport and physical activity in culturally and linguistically diverse migrants 14 [76,77] and socialising [55,58,77]. Generally, the greater the number of motives an individual cited, the greater was their participation in sports and physical activity [37,65].…”