Pacific Islander Physical Activity Project

This proposed longitudinal study will examine the influences of neighborhood factors and momentary contextual and psychosocial factors, which the investigators call acute precipitants, on physical activity (PA) adoption and maintenance among Pacific Islanders (PcIs). Specifically, the investigators will enroll 150 sedentary PcI adults and examine their PA adoption and maintenance based on measurements at five separate weeks during a 20-month period. The investigators will use MotionSense, an innovative and proven mHealth kit developed by team members, Global Positioning System (GPS), and ecological momentary assessment to measure PA and its key determinants. Our central hypotheses are that individual and neighborhood factors are associated with PA adoption and maintenance among previously sedentary PcIs, and that psychosocial precipitants mediate these associations.

Inclusion Criteria: * age 18 years of age or older (because children and adolescents are different from adults in terms of PA level, PA mechanisms, psychosocial factors, and measurement accuracy); * being Tongan American (TA); being currently sedentary which is defined as self-reported PA less than 3 days/week for less than 20 minutes/day over the last 6 month; * no underlying functional impairment; * valid home address; * functioning telephone number; * can speak, read, and write in English; * marginal or adequate health literacy. Exclusion Criteria: * currently in a physical activity program or participated in a physical activity program in the past year; * have a pacemaker or implanted cardiac device; * have any dietary/exercise restrictions or limitations, and/or co-morbid conditions that would have precluded them from fully participating in the study; * physically unable to wear equipment and provide a good reading or use a smartphone; * pregnancy or lactation; * with active diagnoses of major depression, cognitive impairment (of any etiology), or any functional impairment; or any uncontrolled medical or psychiatric problem.