Objective: The purposes of this study were to: (1) describe and compare lifestyle physical activity (leisure-time physical activity [LTPA], household physical activity [HPA], and occupational physical activity [OPA]), using both self-report and an objective measure of step counts, in self-employed Korean American married couples working together at dry cleaners, and (2) examine the relationship between self-report and objective measures of physical activity.
Design and sample: 70 couples participated in this cross-sectional, descriptive, face-to-face interview survey.
Measures: 2 self-reports (28-item Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors Physical Activity Questionnaire and Tecumseh Occupational Physical Activity Questionnaire) and 1 objective measure (New Lifestyles-800 pedometer) were used.
Results: The husbands spent significantly more time than their wives in moderate- to vigorous-intensity LTPA (207 vs. 122 min/week) and OPA (2,585 vs. 1,065 min/week). Most couples (91%) met recommended levels of physical activity based on their OPA. Pedometer steps correlated significantly only with LTPA.
Conclusions: Study findings suggest that to increase physical activity in Korean American couples who work in a small business, moderate-intensity lifestyle physical activity interventions across LTPA, HPA, and OPA will be more successful than traditional leisure-time interventions. In addition, results suggest that there is a need for interventions that target both members of the married couple.
© 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.