The Relationship between Community Participation and Physical Activity among Individuals with Serious Mental...

The importance of physical activity (PA) and health outcomes for individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI) has been well documented. It is also established that individuals with SMI engage in high amounts of sedentary behavior and low amounts of physical activity, which contributes to poor health outcomes. This study explores the relationship between community participation, physical activity, and sedentary behavior among individuals with SMI.

This study used a sample of individuals with SMI who were receiving community mental health services in a large urban area of the United States. Of the 526 individuals approached, 308 were interested in the study; 173 consented and completed data collection. This study reports on 152 participants who had complete data. Using the Temple University Community Participation Scale, participants reported on community-based activities completed independently in the previous 30 days. Additionally, participants were asked to wear a tri-axial accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X) on the non-dominant wrist for seven days. The total number of community participation days was correlated with PA variables including steps, sedentary, light, and moderate-vigorous PA. Two groups of step data were analyzed using t-tests: ≥7500 steps, and ≥ 10,000 steps. Logistic regressions were run to examine the relationship between amount, breadth and sufficiency of community participation and having +/- 7,500 steps and +/- 10,000 daily steps, controlling for age, gender, and income.

Amount of community participation was inversely associated with the % of time in sedentary activity and positively associated with the % of time in moderate to vigorous PA. Those with at or more than 7500 steps and 10,000 steps reported significantly more days of community participation.

This study highlights the contribution of everyday activities for increased physical activity and reduced time spent in sedentary activity. Practitioners should consider recommendations for engagement in the community to increase opportunities for walking.