Exploring The Perspectives of West African Immigrant Families on Active Living Among Adolescent Children: A Grounded Theory of Study

Abstract

Accumulating evidence suggests that the risks of inactivity-related problems such as obesity are becoming a population health concern among younger age groups. High income countries show an elevated rate of physical inactivity among children. Low- and middle-income countries are beginning to experience a gradual increase in this trend. Canada is a highly industrialized multicultural society with nearly 22% of foreign-born individuals coming through the immigration process. Recent immigrants tend to experience a decline in their health status, over time as their years in Canada increase (negative acculturation effect). This phenomenon can be attributed to several factors including adaptation to the new sociocultural environment. While a great deal of research has focused on children, there is paucity of research in this area among West African children in Canada. With Saskatchewan being one of the fastest growing populations in Canada, this study sought to gain a deeper understanding of the perspectives of West African immigrant families in Saskatchewan and assess the impact of the sociocultural environment on active living among their adolescent children. Using purposive sampling, a total of 15 families residing in Saskatchewan were interviewed. Children between 10 to 17 years and their parents were interviewed in each family. A grounded theory methodological approach by Charmaz (2014) was used in this study. This involved an immersion phase, a conceptual phase, and a constant comparative analytical process. The analysis allowed for emergence of themes. Both the children and their parents reported having experiential knowledge of physical activity and benefits. The children and their parents also showed some negative acculturative experiences associated with active living. They reported facilitators of physical activity for the children such as school influence, peer influence, and parental role-modelling. The children showed an inherent interest in engaging in risky play. Both the children and their parents reported beneficial outcomes of engaging in physical activity together as a family. Finally, parental positive and negative reinforcements was reported in relation to domestic activities. This study contributes to a conceptual understanding of the knowledge regarding internal, external, and transitional factors impacting the active living and well-being of West African children in Canada.