GENTRIFICATION AND ITS ROLE IN THE DISPARITIES IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS OF HISPANIC/LATINO ADULTS
Location
SU-216
Start Date
2-5-2025 9:20 AM
Department
Physical Education, Exercise Science, and Recreation
Abstract
The role of physical activity (PA) in maintaining general health and preventing chronic diseases is well established (Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2018). Hispanic/Latino communities face challenges in reaching recommended PA levels despite these benefits (Arredondo et al., 2016; CDC, 2022). By altering the physical space as well as the sociocultural context, gentrification, the process of transforming a neighborhood through the entrance of higher-income inhabitants and redevelopment (Oxford, 2023), makes the challenge more difficult to overcome. Using a stronger comprehensive mixed-methods approach, this Master’s thesis proposal aims to build on my undergraduate pilot study about the impacts of gentrification on PA among Hispanic/Latino communities. Literature shows that access to quality recreational spaces and safe neighborhood environments are essential for maintaining PA (Physical Activity Guidelines, 2018). Research suggests that gentrification brings in newer amenities, while also risking existing PA routines by displacing long-time residents (Oxford, 2023). For instance, in Hispanic/Latino communities, only 65.4% of individuals meet PA guidelines (Arredondo et al., 2016), which suggests that such changes may exacerbate existing disparities. Besides, it has been found that rural residents tend to have longer working hours and less leisure time, which in turn leads to the disparity (Domagalla et al., 2021; Qi et al., 2015). In order to investigate how gentrification influences PA behaviors in Hispanic/Latino communities a qualitative study was conducted as a pilot study. Ten open-ended, semi-structured interviews were conducted with consenting participants for 30-45 minutes each. A lack of green spaces, high crime rates, sense of alienation, high cost of goods and services, and inadequate physical literacy were among the themes that emerged from the rigorous coding of participant responses. The themes provide a strong foundation for describing the various obstacles gentrification imposes. The research will continue to develop with the addition of a quantitative component to enhance the methodology. A survey modeled after the CDCs Barriers to Being Active Questionnaire has begun to circulate as a means of recruiting more participants. By implementing a mixed-methods approach the study will gain layers of vast information from the completed surveys along with the ongoing interviews. This approach will produce more nationally representative results that support the preliminary findings with the hopes to present at the 2027 national convention.
Faculty Sponsor
Kimberly Maljak
GENTRIFICATION AND ITS ROLE IN THE DISPARITIES IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS OF HISPANIC/LATINO ADULTS
SU-216
The role of physical activity (PA) in maintaining general health and preventing chronic diseases is well established (Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2018). Hispanic/Latino communities face challenges in reaching recommended PA levels despite these benefits (Arredondo et al., 2016; CDC, 2022). By altering the physical space as well as the sociocultural context, gentrification, the process of transforming a neighborhood through the entrance of higher-income inhabitants and redevelopment (Oxford, 2023), makes the challenge more difficult to overcome. Using a stronger comprehensive mixed-methods approach, this Master’s thesis proposal aims to build on my undergraduate pilot study about the impacts of gentrification on PA among Hispanic/Latino communities. Literature shows that access to quality recreational spaces and safe neighborhood environments are essential for maintaining PA (Physical Activity Guidelines, 2018). Research suggests that gentrification brings in newer amenities, while also risking existing PA routines by displacing long-time residents (Oxford, 2023). For instance, in Hispanic/Latino communities, only 65.4% of individuals meet PA guidelines (Arredondo et al., 2016), which suggests that such changes may exacerbate existing disparities. Besides, it has been found that rural residents tend to have longer working hours and less leisure time, which in turn leads to the disparity (Domagalla et al., 2021; Qi et al., 2015). In order to investigate how gentrification influences PA behaviors in Hispanic/Latino communities a qualitative study was conducted as a pilot study. Ten open-ended, semi-structured interviews were conducted with consenting participants for 30-45 minutes each. A lack of green spaces, high crime rates, sense of alienation, high cost of goods and services, and inadequate physical literacy were among the themes that emerged from the rigorous coding of participant responses. The themes provide a strong foundation for describing the various obstacles gentrification imposes. The research will continue to develop with the addition of a quantitative component to enhance the methodology. A survey modeled after the CDCs Barriers to Being Active Questionnaire has begun to circulate as a means of recruiting more participants. By implementing a mixed-methods approach the study will gain layers of vast information from the completed surveys along with the ongoing interviews. This approach will produce more nationally representative results that support the preliminary findings with the hopes to present at the 2027 national convention.