ABSTRACT

Objective: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in Jamaica. Physical activity (PA) participation has positive effects on some risk factors for CVD. Despite this, many remain physically inactive. This study examined factors (social support, exercise barriers and benefits) associated with PA level in Jamaicans with CVD.

Methods: A total of 158 adults (112 females, 46 males), mean age 51.7 (15) years, were recruited from the medicine outpatient clinic of a large teaching hospital in Kingston, Jamaica, over the period 2012 to 2015. Exercise barriers and benefits, social support for exercise and PA level were assessed using questionnaires. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between PA level in MET-minutes/week, social support, exercise barriers and benefits. The relationship between the variables (social support, exercise barriers and exercise benefits) and categories of PA level was also determined using a one-way analysis of variance. Statistical significance was determined by p < 0.05.

Results: There was a statistically significant difference between ‘family’ social support scores across the three categories of PA (low, moderate, high) (F = 3.919; p = 0.023). Perceived exercise barriers and benefits had no significant association with PA level.

Conclusion: These results indicate that PA promotion strategies aimed at persons with CVD must consider the role of available social support.