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Perspectives on Physical Activity Among Immigrants and Refugees to a Small Urban Community in Minnesota

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Abstract

Immigrants and refugees to the United States exhibit relatively low levels of physical activity, but reasons for this disparity are poorly understood. 16 gender and age-stratified focus groups were conducted among 127 participants from heterogenous immigrant and refugee groups (Cambodian, Mexican, Somali, Sudanese) in a small Minnesota urban community. We found many similarities in perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity between heterogeneous immigrant and refugee groups. While the benefits of physical activity were widely acknowledged, lack of familiarity and comfort with taking the first steps towards being physically active were the most significant barriers to physical activity. Participants described being motivated by social support from family, friends, and communities to be physically active. Our findings suggest that shared experiences of immigration and associated social, economic, and linguistic factors influence how physical activity is understood, conceptualized and practiced.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all RHCP partners who contributed to the organization, implementation, and dissemination of this work, especially Tiffany Palmer, Miriam Goodson, John Lasuba, Sam Ouk, Sheena Loth, Kim Sin, Jennifer Lopez, and Fatuma Omer. This publication was supported by NIH Grant No. R01 HL 111407 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and by CTSA Grant No. UL1 TR000135 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Mark L. Wieland & Irene G. Sia

  2. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Université Lumière Lyon 2, Lyon, France

    Kristina Tiedje

  3. Department of Nursing, Winona State University, Rochester, MN, USA

    Sonja J. Meiers

  4. College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Ahmed A. Mohamed

  5. Department of Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Christine M. Formea

  6. Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Jennifer L. Ridgeway & Gladys B. Asiedu

  7. Rochester Community and Technical College, Rochester, MN, USA

    Ginny Boyum

  8. Center for Translational Science Activities, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Jennifer A. Weis

  9. Hawthorne Education Center, Rochester, MN, USA

    Julie A. Nigon

  10. Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Christi A. Patten

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  1. Mark L. Wieland
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Correspondence to Mark L. Wieland.

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Wieland, M.L., Tiedje, K., Meiers, S.J. et al. Perspectives on Physical Activity Among Immigrants and Refugees to a Small Urban Community in Minnesota. J Immigrant Minority Health 17, 263–275 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9917-2

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