| The relationship of personal characteristics, exercise attitudes, and environmental factors to regular exercise activity was examined in persons with physical disability and mobility impairments. A survey instrument was developed which compiled measures of demographic characteristics, limitations of activities of daily living, exercise self-efficacy, cognitive-emotional barriers, unmet need for limitations of activities of daily living, environmental barriers, social environmental support, physical environmental support, and physical activity levels. Data was collected with 102 subjects who self-reported physical disability and mobility impairments, recruited from the community. Eleven subjects were selected for follow-up semi-structured interviews which examined definitions of physical activity, routines of daily living, exercise attitude, exercise social support, environmental support, and facilitators and barriers to physical activity. The findings revealed significant associations to exercise activity at the levels of personal characteristics, exercise attitudes, and environmental factors. Younger age, lower income level, higher education, higher self-efficacy, lower cognitive-emotional barriers, and lower environmental barriers were associated with higher levels of exercise activity in persons with physical disability and mobility impairments. High self-efficacy and motivation for exercise, and the construction of exercise as a daily routine emerged as key concepts in interviews with subjects who reported regular exercise. Interview subjects who reported low or no levels of exercise expressed the need for transportation support, accessible facilities in their communities, and instrumental support for exercise. These findings suggest that the design of community based interventions for persons with physical disability should include transportation, accessible exercise facilities, instrumental support for exercise, and strategies to improve self-efficacy. |
