THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIOCULTURAL ENVIRONMENT ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: A PhotoVoice Documentation

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THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIOCULTURAL ENVIRONMENT ON
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY A PhotoVoice Documentation
Presenting Author Ana Paula Belon,
PhD Co-Authors Laura Nieuwendyk, MSc Helen
Vallianatos, PhD Candace Nykiforuk, PhD
May 26-29th, 2014 Public Health 2014
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Objective

• The aim of this PhotoVoice study was to identify
  perceptions of the role of sociocultural
  environment in enabling and hindering physical
  activity participation among residents of four
  communities in Alberta, Canada.

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Community Health the Built Environment

• The purpose of the CBHE project was to understand
  how community environment influence physical
  activity and healthy eating choices.
• 4 communities
• Medicine Hat and the Town of Redcliff
• North Central Edmonton
• Town of St. Paul
• Town of Bonnyville
• www.chbeprojects.com

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PhotoVoice

• 35 participants (74.3 females 71.4 aged 25-64
  years)
• Data collection Spring of 2009
• Photographs and narratives were shared in
  one-on-one semi-structured interviews.
• Inductive approach
• Line-by-line coding of the interview transcripts
  was done independently by two researchers using
  NVivo 10 software.

Nykiforuk CIJ, Vallianatos H, Nieuwendyk LM.
Photovoice as a Method for Revealing Community
Perceptions of the Built and Social Environment.
Inter Inst Qual Methodology 2011 10(2)103-23
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ANGELO Framework
Physical
Economic
What is available?
What are the costs?
ENVIRONMENT
Political
Sociocultural
What are the attitudes and beliefs?
What are the rules?
Swinburn B, Egger G, Raza F. Dissecting
obesogenic environments the development and
application of a framework for identifying and
prioritizing environmental interventions for
obesity. Prev Med 199929(6)563-70.
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Sociocultural Environment

• The sociocultural environment encompasses a
  communitys social and cultural context.
• This context shapes beliefs, values, and
  practices, which influence individual efforts to
  participate in physical activity.

Swinburn B, Egger G, Raza F. Dissecting
obesogenic environments the development and
application of a framework for identifying and
prioritizing environmental interventions for
obesity. Prev Med 199929(6)563-70.
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Overview of Selected Findings
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Figure 1. Themes and subthemes for sociocultural
environment.
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AestheticsTrash and Debris
"A picture of some coffee cup litter I got
right down to take this picture because litter is
a psychological barrier to me, to my enjoyment of
the outdoors and being more physically active."
(-) (Male, Adult)
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Motivation for Physical Activity Domestic Chores

• "Okay, this one is my lawnmower, that keeps me,
  that is a form of exercise for me in my yard
  ... So, I mean that is good exercise, its good
  cardio .... This is actually a free physical
  activity." ()
• (Female, Adult)

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Conclusion

• Through the participants lenses, this study
  revealed a set of aspects of the sociocultural
  environment influencing peoples abilities to be
  physically active.
• Strategies to decrease sedentary behaviours
  should
• build on diverse ideas of recreation and physical
  activity
• promote the beautification and maintenance of
  communities
• increase feelings of safety
• challenge car culture
• enhance social cohesion and support among
  community members

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• For more information about this research
• Ana Paula Belon, PhD
• Email address ana.belon_at_ualberta.ca
• For more information about PLACE Research Lab or
  conversation
• Website placeresearchlab.com
• Project Coordinator Laura Nieuwendyk, MSc
• Email address laura.nieuwendyk_at_ualberta.ca
• Tel [phone]
• Funders

KILLAM RESEARCH FUND (University of Alberta)
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Extra slides
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5 PHASES
Summarizing participants photographs (top five)
Taking the photographs (2 weeks)
Physical activity

• 1st individual semi-structured interview
• (1h)

2nd individual semi-structured interview (1.5h)
Display of the photographs in the community
Nykiforuk CIJ, Vallianatos H, Nieuwendyk LM.
Photovoice as a Method for Revealing Community
Perceptions of the Built and Social Environment.
Inter Inst Qual Methodology 2011 10(2)103-23
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N 952
Figure 1. Type of environment discussed in the
follow-up interviews. (sources)
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Safety Prostitution

• "Oh, this one I took because there was a girl
  standing outside the library, which is like a
  naked, I think maybe that is why people dont
  walk in our neighborhood, because you know " (-)
• (Female, Senior)

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Recommendations for Research

• Exploring how individuals perceive their
  community environments can be used to complement
  objective (audits) and perceived (questionnaires
  in surveys) environmental measures.
• ANGELO framework helps organize the emergent
  qualitative themes from the photovoice project.
• Focus on particular groups Elderly (Mahmood et
  al., 2012) and Children (Hennessy et al., 2010).

Nykiforuk CIJ, Vallianatos H, Nieuwendyk LM.
Photovoice as a Method for Revealing Community
Perceptions of the Built and Social Environment.
Inter Inst Qual Methodology 2011 10(2)103-23