Utilizing Relative Autonomy Index Scores to Evaluate the Impact of Age on Motivation to Exercise in Black Women

Overview

Journal J Racial Ethn Health Disparities

Specialties Public Health
Social Sciences

Date 2024 Sep 4

PMID 39230654

Authors

Amber Perrier

Aishwarya Kakar

Natasha R Brown

LaMarcus T Wingate

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Black women are disproportionately affected by overweight and obesity. One theory that may have utility in increasing the amount of exercise among Black women is self-determination theory, a psychology-based theory commonly used to investigate motivation in the context of exercise. The objective of this study was to determine whether motivation towards exercise behavior differs between younger and older Black women.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by administering a survey to Black women in the Midwestern United States to elicit factors which may impact their motivation to exercise. The survey consisted of questions to gather sociodemographic information as well as responses to the Behavioral Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-2). Responses on the BREQ-2 were utilized to derive the Relative Autonomy Index (RAI) which is a direct measure of self-determination that provides insight into the extent of an individual's motivation to exercise. Multiple linear regression was utilized to determine if age was predictive of relative RAI scores after adjusting for marital status and receipt of a memorable message regarding health.

Results: Mean RAI scores among respondents at least 40 years old were significantly higher in comparison to the RAI among respondents younger than 40. When adjusting for marital status and receipt of a memorable message regarding health, women at least 40 had a mean RAI score approximately 4.2 points higher than those under age 40. Women at least 40 years of age also had significantly higher scores on the identified regulation and intrinsic regulation subscales of the BREQ-2 questionnaire when compared to women younger than 40 after adjusting for marital status and recalling a memorable message related to health.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that exercise motivations differ among age groups of Black women. Additionally, these results highlight the importance of understanding exercise motivations to further improve health outcomes.

References

Hales C, Fryar C, Carroll M, Freedman D, Aoki Y, Ogden C . Differences in Obesity Prevalence by Demographic Characteristics and Urbanization Level Among Adults in the United States, 2013-2016. JAMA. 2018; 319(23):2419-2429. PMC: 6583043. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2018.7270. View

Cozier Y, Yu J, Coogan P, Bethea T, Rosenberg L, Palmer J . Racism, segregation, and risk of obesity in the Black Women's Health Study. Am J Epidemiol. 2014; 179(7):875-83. PMC: 3969538. DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwu004. View

Masters R, Reither E, Powers D, Yang Y, Burger A, Link B . The impact of obesity on US mortality levels: the importance of age and cohort factors in population estimates. Am J Public Health. 2013; 103(10):1895-901. PMC: 3780738. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301379. View

Albuquerque D, Nobrega C, Manco L, Padez C . The contribution of genetics and environment to obesity. Br Med Bull. 2017; 123(1):159-173. DOI: 10.1093/bmb/ldx022. View

Silveira E, Mendonca C, Delpino F, Elias Souza G, Pereira de Souza Rosa L, de Oliveira C . Sedentary behavior, physical inactivity, abdominal obesity and obesity in adults and older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2022; 50:63-73. DOI: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2022.06.001. View

Unick J, Beavers D, Jakicic J, Kitabchi A, Knowler W, Wadden T . Effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for individuals with severe obesity and type 2 diabetes: results from the Look AHEAD trial. Diabetes Care. 2011; 34(10):2152-7. PMC: 3177753. DOI: 10.2337/dc11-0874. View

Fujioka K . Management of obesity as a chronic disease: nonpharmacologic, pharmacologic, and surgical options. Obes Res. 2002; 10 Suppl 2:116S-123S. DOI: 10.1038/oby.2002.204. View

Ryan R, Deci E . Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. Am Psychol. 2001; 55(1):68-78. DOI: 10.1037//0003-066x.55.1.68. View

Lock M, Post D, Dollman J, Parfitt G . Development of a Self-Determination Theory-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Aged Care Workers: Protocol for the Activity for Well-being Program. Front Public Health. 2018; 6:341. PMC: 6275311. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2018.00341. View

10.

Andrade A, Kresge D, Teixeira P, Baptista F, Melanson K . Does eating slowly influence appetite and energy intake when water intake is controlled?. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2012; 9:135. PMC: 3544627. DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-9-135. View

11.

Bland V, Sharma M . Physical activity interventions in African American women: A systematic review. Health Promot Perspect. 2017; 7(2):52-59. PMC: 5350550. DOI: 10.15171/hpp.2017.11. View

12.

King D, Duello T, Miranda P, Hodges K, Shelton A, Chukelu P . Strategies for Recruitment of Healthy Premenopausal Women into the African American Nutrition for Life (A NULIFE) Study. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2010; 19(5):855-62. PMC: 2940542. DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2009.1682. View

13.

Farmanbar R, Niknami S, Hidarnia A, Lubans D . Psychometric Properties of the Iranian Version of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire-2 (BREQ-2). Health Promot Perspect. 2014; 1(2):95-104. PMC: 3963623. DOI: 10.5681/hpp.2011.010. View

14.

Singh A, Vik F, Chinapaw M, Uijtdewilligen L, Verloigne M, Fernandez-Alvira J . Test-retest reliability and construct validity of the ENERGY-child questionnaire on energy balance-related behaviours and their potential determinants: the ENERGY-project. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011; 8:136. PMC: 3293727. DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-8-136. View

15.

Wilson P, Rodgers W, Fraser S, Murray T . Relationships between exercise regulations and motivational consequences in university students. Res Q Exerc Sport. 2004; 75(1):81-91. DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2004.10609136. View

16.

Teixeira P, Carraca E, Markland D, Silva M, Ryan R . Exercise, physical activity, and self-determination theory: a systematic review. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2012; 9:78. PMC: 3441783. DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-9-78. View

17.

Duncan L, Hall C, Wilson P, Jenny O . Exercise motivation: a cross-sectional analysis examining its relationships with frequency, intensity, and duration of exercise. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2010; 7:7. PMC: 2835648. DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-7-7. View