What shapes physical activity attitudes within an ethnic minority? An intergenerational comparison of British Indian women

Abstract Background: Survey data indicate that second-generation UK South Asian women are more physically active than first-generation women, but less active than White British women. In the 2011 UK census, approximately 50% of UK South Asian ethnic groups were born in the UK, and this group is increasing as the second-generation also have children. Qualitative work is needed to determine why these changes in physical activity have occurred and how we might further reduce the gap in physical activity levels between White British women and British Indian women. Methods : We used qualitative methods to understand attitudes, barriers and motivations for physical activity in two generations of British Indian women, using a socioecological model to take into account the wider social and physical contexts. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 28 Indian women living in Manchester, England. Respondents completed a 7-day exercise diary prior to the interview. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, thematically coded and analysed using a grounded theory approach. Results : Gender strongly influenced the physical activity of both the first and second-generation. Physical activity lessons in school and the media influenced second-generation Indian women's attitudes to physical activity. Consequently, their motivations and barriers to physical activity were very similar to those reported for White British women. Second-generation Muslim women reported their religion affecting the way they exercise, however this was not the case for the Hindu and Sikh women in this study. First-generation Indian women reported prioritising family and housework over leisure-time physical activity; this is similar to findings reported in previous research on physical activity in South Asian women. Conclusions : Among second-generation Indian women, gender-related barriers to physical activity were very similar to those already reported for White British women. Therefore public health measures aimed at combating conflicts between femininity and being physically active may also positively affect second-generation Indian women. First-generation Indian women are likely to respond better to culturally tailored interventions. Future research should further explore the effects of religion on the physical activity on women and generational differences in the physical activity attitudes of other ethnic minorities.