Social determinants associated with physical activity among Indigenous adults at the University of Saskatchewan

Abstract

Colonization impacts Indigenous Peoples’ way of life, culture, language, community structure and social networks. Links between social determinants of health and physical activity (PA) among Indigenous Peoples in Saskatchewan, with 16% Indigenous residents, are unclear. This cross-sectional study guided by Indigenous Community Advisors, compared moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), traditional Indigenous PA and musculoskeletal PA with social determinants of Indigenous, (n=124), including First Nations (n=80, including 57 Cree/Nehiyawak) and Métis (n=41), adults in Saskatchewan. Participants completed Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time PA, Social Support Index and traditional Indigenous PA participation questionnaires. Regression associated positive perception of social support with MVPA (R=0.306, p=0.02), while residential school experiences (R=0.338, p=0.02) and community support (R=0.412, p=0.01) were associated with traditional Indigenous PA participation. Among Métis, discrimination experiences were associated with traditional Indigenous PA participation (R=0.459, p=0.01). Traditional Indigenous PA participation was associated with community support among First Nations (R=0.263, p=0.04), and also foster care placement (R=0.480, p=0.01) for Cree/Nehiyawak First Nations specifically. Among Cree/Nehiyawak, family support (R=0.354, p=0.04), discrimination experiences (R=0.531, p=0.01) and positive perceptions of support (R=0.610, p=0.003) were associated with musculoskeletal PA. Greater community, family and perceived social support, and experiences of discrimination, residential school and foster care are associated with more PA for Indigenous Peoples. 
 Novelty: 
 • Positive support perceptions predict physical activity among Indigenous Peoples
 • Family support, discrimination experiences and positive support perceptions predict physical activity for Cree/Nehiyawak First Nations. Traditional physical activity was predicted by residential school experiences and community support (Indigenous Peoples), discrimination experiences (Métis), community support (First Nations), and foster care experiences (Cree/Nehiyawak)
 

The Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance ATLAS on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Cardiovascular Disease in Women — Chapter 7: Sex, Gender, and the Social Determinants of Health

“… 60 Experiences of discrimination and racism also influence engagement in health behaviours, such as physical activity. 100 …”

Decolonizing research in high-income countries improves Indigenous peoples’ health and wellbeing

“…Ten research articles are included in the collection, all which have free access (Blanchet et al 2022;Blekkenhorst et al 2022;Cooper 2022;Ferreira et al 2022;Ironside et al 2021;McKay and Godrich 2021;McEachern et al 2022;Robidoux et al 2021;Senftleber et al 2021;Valaitis et al 2022; the main collection page can be accessed here: https://cdnscience pub.com/topic/apnm-strength-based). These articles discuss health research with Indigenous populations in Australia, Canada, and Greenland, high-income countries where Indigenous peoples have experienced European colonialism.…”

“…These articles discuss health research with Indigenous populations in Australia, Canada, and Greenland, high-income countries where Indigenous peoples have experienced European colonialism. One article presents a current opinion of Indigenous women's worldview of food-related research in Canada (Ferreira et al 2022), five articles address a diversity of decolonizing health promotion research in Canada (Blanchet et al 2022;Cooper 2022;McEachern et al 2022;Robidoux et al 2021;Valaitis et al 2022), one article describes the relationship between social determinants and physical activity among Indigenous adults in Canada (Ironside et al 2021), two review articles summarize health interventions in Australia (Blekkenhorst et al 2022;McKay and Godrich 2021), and one review article describes the role of genetics and lifestyle changes on metabolic health in Inuit in Greenland, since colonization (Senftleber et al 2021). Most articles have Indigenous authors to ensure an Indigenous perspective.…”

“…Most articles in the collection exemplify community-based participatory research (CBPR) (Blanchet et al 2022;Cooper 2022;Ironside et al 2021;McEachern et al 2022;Robidoux et al 2021;Valaitis et al 2022). CBPR is a decolonizing research approach where researchers and community members are partners in the research process.…”

“…Ideally, community members contribute to all steps in the research process, including development of the research question, the research design, study implementation, and study evalua- There is little understanding of the social determinants of physical activity for Indigenous populations. From surveys, Ironside et al (2021) report on the associations between physical activity and unique Indigenous social determinants of health among Indigenous peoples in Saskatchewan, Canada.…”