Barriers to Physical Activity Among Asian Indian Women in the United States

Barriers to Physical Activity Among Asian Indian Women in the United States by Anjana Mathews MSN, California State University Dominguez Hills, 2011 BSN, Christian Medical College, Vellore, 2005 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy NursingInterdisciplinary Health Walden University February 2020 Abstract Asian Indian women have a higher prevalence of cardio-metabolic diseases compared to women from other ethnicities and Asian Indian men in the United States. This is due to the lower level of physical activity behaviors among this population. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived barriers to physical activity among Asian Indian women living in the United States. The theoretical framework that guided this study wasAsian Indian women have a higher prevalence of cardio-metabolic diseases compared to women from other ethnicities and Asian Indian men in the United States. This is due to the lower level of physical activity behaviors among this population. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived barriers to physical activity among Asian Indian women living in the United States. The theoretical framework that guided this study was Bandura’s social cognitive theory and the research design used was qualitative ethnographic approach. Participants were recruited from 2 Christian churches in Southern California using purposive and snowballing sampling strategies. Fifteen participants were selected for the study and 2 focus group interviews were conducted to collect the data. The data analysis was done using NVivo 12 plus software, and the information collected was coded and categorized into themes. Consistent with social cognitive theory, the findings of the study revealed a reciprocal relationship among personal, social, and environmental barriers to physical activity among Asian Indian women living in the United States. The study contributes to social change by providing an understanding of the barriers to assist healthcare providers when developing culturally sensitive interventions for Asian Indian women to improve their level of physical activity and reduce the risk of cardiometabolic disorders. Barriers to Physical Activity Among Asian Indian Women in the United States by Anjana Mathews MSN, California State University Dominguez Hills, 2011 BSN, Christian Medical College, Vellore, 2005 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy NursingInterdisciplinary Health Walden University February 2020 Dedication This research is humbly dedicated to my Appa, Mr. Mathews Abraham, who truly inspired me to achieve the highest standard of education and to pursue academic excellence. I am who I am today because of his solemn prayers and blessings. Acknowledgments I acknowledge the saving grace of my Lord and my personal savior, Christ Jesus, who guided my life thus far and lavished His strength and wisdom upon me to successfully achieve this degree. I once again experienced: “With God all things are possible. ” (Matthew 19:26 b, NKJV, Bible) I am honored and proud to be a part of the fabric of the prestigious Walden University and its education that matched my life and accelerated my career for a higher purpose. I am thankful to my committee chair, Dr. Linda Matheson, for her continual support and guidance to keep me on the right track and attain this goal. I am also thankful to my committee member, Dr. Eileen Fowles, for her insightful suggestions and recommendations. This accomplishment would have been impossible without the sacrificial adjustments and the love of my husband, Ben Cherian and our son, John Cherian. I am blessed and highly favored to have a wonderful family, friends and a community of faith, who always supported and encouraged me to complete this incredible journey. Thank you all!