WHAT SEX SPECIFIC ROLES DO CULTURAL CONNECTEDNESS AND SOCIAL SUPPORT PLAY IN MEETING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES AMONG FIRST NATIONS AND MÉTIS PEOPLES IN SASKATCHEWAN?

Abstract

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) and social support (SS) lower chronic illness risks among males and females. How cultural connectedness (CC) and SS affect PA among Métis and First Nations-Status (FN) males and females is unknown. Objective: This study examines sex-specific associations of CC and SS on PA among Métis and FN-Status in Saskatchewan. Methods: Indigenous Peoples at the University of Saskatchewan completed online surveys evaluating sex, PA, CC, SS, family/friends SS for PA, home communities (HM), foster care (FC) and discrimination experiences. Identity and sex-specific analyses evaluated CC and SS scores on muscle strengthening (MS) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) guidelines. Across HM, discriminatory and FC experiences, identity, and sex-specific MS and MVPA were compared. Results: Participants included 66 Métis and 115 FN-Status. Métis females meeting MVPA guidelines reported lower SS from community than those not meeting MVPA guidelines (12.6±2.4 vs. 14.2±2.1, p=0.03). FN-Status females meeting MVPA guidelines reported lower CC spirituality (18.3±6.5 vs. 21.7±5.7, p=0.04) than FN-Status females not meeting MVPA guidelines. FN-Status males meeting MVPA guidelines reported higher identity (53.2±3.1 vs.41.8±7.8, p=0.003) and overall CC (97.9±13.4 vs. 74.0±16.0, p=0.02) than FN-Status males not meeting MVPA guidelines. FN-Status females reported higher MS when encouraged (2.0±2.1 times/week vs.1.1±1.6 times/week, p=0.04) or watched (1.9±2.0 times/week vs. 1.2±1.8 times/week, p=0.04) by family/friends or family/friends participated in PA (2.1±2.1 times/week vs.1.1±1.8 times/week, p=0.02) than those without SS for PA. FN-Status females reported higher MVPA when encouraged (195.6±220.8 min/week vs. 99.3±165.8 min/week, p=0.01) or watched (183.6±215.9 min/week vs. 124.9±188.0 min/week, p=0.02) by family/friends than those without SS for PA. FN-Status females meeting MS guidelines reported greater discriminatory experiences (6.7±1.7 vs. 5.7±1.7, p=0.01) than those not meeting MS guidelines. FN-Status females with personal/family FC experiences reported lower MVPA than those without FC experiences (135.5±194.8 min/week vs. 221.3±234.2 min/week, p=0.03). FN-Status females from off-reserve HM reported higher MVPA than on-reserve or both. FN-Status males and females from southern versus northern HM reported higher MVPA. Conclusion: Community SS is associated with lower MVPA among Métis females. Among FN-Status males and females, CC, family/friends SS for PA, FC and off-reserve or southern HM are associated with greater PA