Exploring the Roles of Societal Influences on Black Men’s Lifelong Physical Activity Behaviors

Abstract

Introduction: Emerging adulthood is a formative period for establishing lifelong health behaviors, yet physical activity (PA) often declines during this stage (Oesterle, 2013; Wood et al., 2017). National trends show that most adults do not meet recommended PA guidelines, and this gap is especially pronounced among Black men (Patel et al., 2022). Understanding PA within this population requires attention not only to individual behaviors but also to the broader sociocultural and structural forces that shape engagement. Purpose: Guided by the socioecological model, this mixed-methods study examined how societal, cultural, and environmental factors influence PA behaviors among Black men in emerging adulthood and how these influences contribute to long‑term patterns of activity. Methods: Participants (N = 30; age = 24.9 ± 3.69 years) completed demographic and health history questionnaires, along with validated measures of PA engagement, life satisfaction, discrimination, motivation, personal social networks, and meaning in life, followed by a semi‑structured interview. Results: Quantitatively, participants reported a mean weekly PA engagement score of 61.17 ± 28.17 units. Average scores included 24.93 ± 6.94 for life satisfaction, 26.23 ± 9.68 for discrimination, and 38.53 ± 6.61 for motivation. On the personal network measure, participants scored 11.4 ± 2.65 for connectedness and 11.2 ± 2.48 for belongingness. Meaning in life scores averaged 23.5 ± 7.47 for presence and 24.57 ± 6.72 for searching. Thematic analysis revealed five overarching themes: (1) facilitators of PA, (2) PA accessibility and environmental context, (3) PA messaging across the life course, (4) social support for PA, and (5) cultural determinants of PA. Discussion: Across these themes, findings challenge common assumptions that diminishing social support, weak societal messaging, or experiences of discrimination reduce PA engagement among Black men during emerging adulthood. Instead, participants described PA as anchored in personal meaning, cultural identity, and community-based support systems. Their engagement reflected resilience and adaptive strategies rather than vulnerability to external pressures. This study contributes to the literature by centering a population underrepresented in PA research and by integrating quantitative and qualitative insights within a socioecological framework. Strengths include age diversity, a mixed-methods design, and the amplification of Black men’s lived experiences. Limitations include geographic constraints, self‑selection bias, reliance on self‑report measures, and the cross‑sectional nature of the study.