Personal, social, and environmental correlates of physical activity in rural Midwestern white women

Background: Physical activity is a promising component of cardiovascular disease prevention among women. Research in this area is expanding, but much needs to be done to assess subgroups of the population (e.g., people living in rural environments). The study goal was to determine personal, social environmental, and physical environmental correlates of physical activity among rural white women aged 20 to 50 years. Methods: A survey was conducted by using randomly selected numbers in rural areas in Missouri and Illinois. The Women and Physical Activity Survey was administered to assess physical activity status and personal, social environmental, and physical environmental factors. Physical activity status was the dependent variable in analyses comparing inactive women with women who performed any activity and comparing women who met current recommendations for moderate or vigorous physical activity with those women did not meet recommendations. Results: Of the 1000 women in the study, 52% met recommendations for physical activity, 40.1% were insufficiently active, and 7.9% were inactive. Younger women (20-29 years) were more likely than the oldest age (40-50 years) category to perform some activity than to be inactive. Women in excellent or very good general health were much more likely to perform some physical activity than to be inactive. Higher income and employment were factors in meeting the recommendations. Attending religious services and a higher social roles score were significant factors. Having street lighting was the only physical environmental factor that emerged as statistically significant. Conclusions: More research is needed on the assessment of important issues regarding physical activity in women. Interventions should use assessment information to tailor programs and to address personal, social environmental, and physical environmental components.