Physical Activity Among Bangladeshi Immigrant Families Living in the United States: A Qualitative Study of Multi-Family Member Interviews

BACKGROUND: South Asian immigrants (SAIs) are at an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). One way to decrease CVD risk is by increasing physical activity (PA). Research on increasing PA among SAIs has identified the family as having an important influence, yet little research has incorporated a family perspective. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe PA at the family-level, drawing on qualitative interviews from families who immigrated from Bangladesh to the United States (US). METHODS: Multi-family member interviews, conducted in English or Bengali, were coded using a thematic analysis, with the family as the unit of analysis. RESULTS: Ten families were interviewed (80% in Bengali, 20% in English). The 10 families included 25 individuals (M age = 48.7 years; 68% female). Most family members (79.2%) reported they had engaged in PA in the week before the interview. Examples of PA included structured exercise, culturally-specific practices (eg, Muslim prayer), and activities of daily living. PA was described as a shared health behavior that aligns with a collective value of health consciousness. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest a family-level approach to research and intervention design may be beneficial to increase PA among SAIs living in the US at risk of CVD.