Neighborhood characteristics and effects on physical activity in an urban minority community–application of Health Belief Model to findings from Creighton University Center for Promoting Health and Health Equity (CPHHE-REACH) initiative

Physical activity has been strongly associated with better physical and mental health outcomes. However, physical activity for better health outcomes depends on many factors, including the nature of the environment. In resource-challenged settings, the configurations of physical activities for salutogenic effects is rarely characterized. Using the Health Belief Model (HBM), this paper reviews and analyses factors that influence 150–300 minutes per week of Mild to Moderate Physical Activity (MMPA-150) among urban minority residents. Residents of a Racial and Ethnic Approach to Community Health (REACH)-targeted campaign funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including schools, housing projects, community health center and faith-based organizations in minority neighborhoods in a mid-west city were surveyed with a REACH Health Activity Assessment questionnaire. Using HBM constructs, multinomial logistic regression analyses were applied to determine levels of factors that impact MMPA-150. Black/African Americans were significantly more likely than others to engage in MMPA-150. Perceived vulnerability also predicted MMPA-150 in the bivariate model. There is need for planning and implementation, based on differences in resource access/availability. It is essential to clearly identify salutogenic activities that are living style based, which may not be vulnerable to lack of ‘resources’, for their implementation. Targeting these living style-based activities with health promotion and education interventions may help move the needle forward regarding the salutogenic effects of physical activities, and engaging in them.