Time Commitment, Self-Efficacy, Social Environment and the Physical Activity Participation of Selected Hypertensive African Americans

The purpose of this study was to investigate time commitment, self-efficacy and social environment as it relates to physical activity in a selected sample of hypertensive African Americans. In addition, this study focused on identifying additional research areas in regards to hypertensive African Americans. This study utilized a quantitative method for data collection. The survey instrument utilized contained the following subtopics: (1) demographics;(2)hypertension risk factors;(3) prevention and treatment;(4)hypertension knowledge, and (5)physical activity participation.

Data collected did not support the hypotheses or information contained in the review of literature. It was revealed from data collection that 69% of the respondents (n=90) disagreed with the survey statement that "exercise takes too much of my time (time commitment)." Fifty-two percent of the respondents (n=68) either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement "exercise tires me (self-efficacy belief)." Forty-three percent of the respondents (n=56) disagreed with the statement "my spouse (or significant other) does not encourage exercise."

There is a need for future investigation to examine how additional barriers to physical effect activity African Americans individually, and is there a culmination of specific barriers to physical activity that work in conjunction to inhibit African Americans to engage in physical activity.