Leader Behaviors, Group Cohesion, and Participation in a Walking Group Program

Authors

Betty T. Izumi, Portland State UniversityFollow
Amy J. Schulz, University of Michigan - Ann ArborFollow
Graciela Mentz, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Barbara A. Isreal, University of Michigan - Ann ArborFollow
Sharon L. Sand, University of Michigan - Ann ArborFollow
Angela G. Reyes, Detroit Hispanic Development CorporationFollow
Bernadine Hoston, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Dawn Richardson, Portland State UniversityFollow
Cindy Gamboa, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Zachary Rowe, Friends of Parkside, Detroit
Goys Diaz, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Sponsor

The work presented here was supported through a grant from the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities (R24 MD001619) and through the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Kellogg Health Scholars Program.

Published In

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Document Type

Post-Print

Publication Date

7-7-2015

Subjects

Physical fitness, Program development, Health promotion, Exercise -- Psychological aspects, Motivation (Psychology)

Abstract

Background—Fewer than half of all U.S. adults meet the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines. Leader behaviors and group cohesion have been associated with increased participation or adherence in sports team and exercise class settings. Physical activity interventions in community settings that encompass these factors may enhance intervention adherence.

Purpose—To examine the impact of Community Health Promoter leader behaviors and group cohesion on participation in a walking group intervention among racially/ethnically diverse adults in low-to-moderate income communities in Detroit, Mich.

Design—Data for the current study were drawn from the Walk Your Heart to Health (WYHH) data set. WYHH was a multi-site cluster randomized controlled study with a lagged intervention and outcome measurements at baseline, four, eight, and 32 weeks. Pooled survey data from both intervention arms is used for the current study. Data were analyzed between August 2013 and October 2014.

Setting/participants—A total of 603 non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic adults across five cohorts that began the 32-week WYHH intervention between March 2009 and October 2011.

Intervention—A 32-week long walking group program hosted by community- and faith-based organizations and facilitated by Community Health Promoters. Walking groups met three times per week for 90-minutes per session. To promote participation in or adherence to WYHH, Community Health Promoters used evidence-based strategies to facilitate group cohesion. Group members assumed increasing leadership responsibility for facilitating sessions over time.

Main outcome measures—Participation in WYHH as measured by consistency of attendance.

Results—Community Health Promoter leader behaviors were positively associated with participation in WYHH. Social but not task cohesion was significantly associated with consistent participation. Social cohesion may mediate the relationship between leader behaviors and walking group participation.

Conclusions—Providing leaders with training to build socially cohesive groups may help motivate individuals to continue participation in community-based physical activity programs

Description

Copyright 2015 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

DOI

10.1016/j.amepre.2015.01.019

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/15694

Citation Details

Izumi, B. T., Schulz, A. J., Mentz, G., Israel, B. A., Sand, S. L., Reyes, A. G., ... & Diaz, G. (2015). Leader Behaviors, Group Cohesion, and Participation in a Walking Group Program. American journal of preventive medicine, 49(1), 41-49.