Correlates of physical activity among blacks and whites with arthritis

Objective: To evaluate the correlates of physical activity (PA) participation among white and black individuals with diagnosed arthritis. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design, grounded in the Social Ecological Model. Participants (N = 205) completed a survey regarding PA participation and potential correlates of PA. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine the correlates of PA. Results: Nearly 30% of the population met the current guidelines for aerobic PA. A greater proportion of Whites (35.3%) than Blacks (20.9%) met current guidelines (÷2 = 4.98, p =.03). In bivariate analyses, ethnicity, income, body mass index, selfefficacy for exercise, exercise outcome expectations, physical function, physician advice to exercise, and perceived safety from neighborhood crime and traffic were associated with meeting PA guidelines (p <.05). In regression analyses adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics, exercise self-efficacy and physician's advice to exercise were the only significant predictors of PA (p <.05). This finding was confirmed with stepwise forward regression. Conclusions: PA interventions for people with arthritis should focus on enhancing self-efficacy for exercise and include strategies to optimize communication about PA by healthcare providers.