This study describes the physical activity behavior of Korean immigrant women and examines the relationships among leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) behavior, background, and intrapersonal correlates of behavior in Korean immigrant women in the United States using a cross-sectional survey design. A convenience sample of Midwestern Korean immigrant women completed the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire in Korean. Among the participants, 78% were physically active, meeting the Healthy People 2010 goal for physical activity when all physical activity behaviors were considered, whereas 23% met the goal when only LTPA was considered. Women who were older, did not have a child younger than 5, used environmental resources for physical activity, had lower depressive symptoms, and had higher confidence for overcoming exercise barriers were spent more time in LTPA. Accommodating those with young children, enhancing environmental resource use, and improving exercise self-efficacy are important considerations for interventions aimed at increasing LTPA in Korean immigrant women. © 2008 Sage Publications.

Decisional balance Lifestyle physical activity Leisure-time physical activity self-efficacy Depressive symptoms

depression Models, Psychological lifestyle leisure Life Style psychological model regression analysis psychological aspect exercise nursing methodology research human Health Behavior middle aged social support ethnology Cross-Sectional Studies Self Efficacy United States cross-sectional study Humans Asian Americans Emigrants and Immigrants Asian American Acculturation female questionnaire self concept cultural factor Article Questionnaires adult Women migration Leisure Activities attitude to health Midwestern United States Korea