Community-based social support for physical activity
Community-based social support interventions for physical activity combine physical activity opportunities and social support to build, strengthen, and maintain social networks that encourage positive behavior changes. Interventions can also include education, group or individual counseling, or plans tailored to individual needs. Examples of community-based social support interventions include walking groups, setting up an exercise buddy system, and making contracts, goals, or physical activity plans with others1, 2, 3.
What could this strategy improve?
Expected Benefits
Our evidence rating is based on the likelihood of achieving these outcomes:
Increased physical activity
Improved physical fitness
Improved health outcomes
Potential Benefits
Our evidence rating is not based on these outcomes, but these benefits may also be possible:
Improved mental health
What does the research say about effectiveness?
There is strong evidence that community-based social support interventions for physical activity increase physical activity1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 and physical fitness among adults1, 2. Such interventions have also been shown to provide health benefits such as reductions in cardiovascular disease risk factors2, 4, 5 and depression symptoms2.
Social support for physical activity increases physical activity among older adults8, especially when interventions include family support9 and are culturally appropriate10. Additionally, interventions may help reduce social isolation among older adults11. Middle-aged women enrolled in a weight loss program are more likely to lose weight when they experience social support from friends and family12. Community-based digital health interventions can increase social support for physical activity, and increase physical activity among adults, with positive effects in both workplace and college or university settings4. There is some evidence these interventions also improve dietary, weight-related, and clinical outcomes4.
Community-based social support interventions can increase physical activity in young children when parents are engaged, facilitate participation, and lead by example13. For adolescent girls, mothers are an important source of social support for physical activity and having more than two sources of support may result in greater increases in physical activity14. Overall, the effects of community-based social support interventions on physical activity and physical fitness among adolescents and children are unclear3, 15. Adolescents with low levels of perceived social support from family and friends appear more likely to engage in unhealthy weight control behaviors than peers with higher levels of social support16. Interventions have the potential to support mental health outcomes among adolescents and experts recommend including mental health components in interventions17. Additional evidence is needed to determine effects on adolescents and children.
Community-based social support interventions for physical activity with a duration of at least 6 months are more effective than shorter interventions. Interventions that focus on older adults are more effective than those for younger adults7. Some studies suggest that such interventions are more effective when designed for both genders7, while others suggest that tailoring interventions for women increases effectiveness6. Interventions led by lay people appear as effective as those led by professionals7. Interventions can be effective whether they are in-person or virtual4, 18. A Montana-based study suggests interventions can be effective in rural settings19.
Community-based social support interventions for physical activity are considered cost effective20. A cost-savings analysis of Shape Up Somerville in Somerville, Massachusetts estimated it generated $1.51 in savings for every $1 invested21.
How could this strategy advance health equity? This strategy is rated potential to decrease disparities: suggested by expert opinion.
Experts suggest community-based social support for physical activity has the potential to decrease disparities in health outcomes for Black communities27. Community-based social support for physical activity among racially diverse older adults may improve health outcomes28. Available evidence indicates that programs explicitly designed with community input and culturally relevant tailoring may increase physical activity and improve health29. Community-based social support for physical activity programs may be more effective among older adults from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds when offered nearby with easy transportation options and with culturally accessible and culturally meaningful activities, for example, when participants can engage in their native languages10, 28, 30. Additionally, interventions that increase perceptions of safety may increase participation in walking groups and other community-based social support interventions in socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhoods31.
Experts suggest community-based social support for physical activity has the potential to decrease disparities in physical activity levels among adults in low income communities3, 5. Residents of low income communities with more physically active social networks are more likely to meet recommended physical activity guidelines than residents with less active social networks32. Diabetes-specific social support among veterans was associated with improved physical activity and healthy eating outcomes, and improved diabetes self-management33.
Populations with lower incomes and Hispanic, Black, and Native American and Alaska Natives are less likely to engage in leisure time physical activity than those with higher incomes and white and Asian adults34, 35, 36, likely due in part to living in neighborhoods with less access to safe places for physical activity and lack of supports for active lifestyles37. Overall, communities whose residents are primarily people of color and have lower incomes have less access to parks and recreational facilities for physical activity than white and high income neighborhoods38, though quality of parks and the built environment can vary widely at the local level35.
What is the relevant historical background?
The built environment in under-resourced communities is a significant contributor to health inequities for people of color with low incomes39, 40, 41. During the Industrial Revolution, parks were largely developed to allow wealthy residents access to space that was free from unsanitary conditions and the congestion of crowded cities42. Discriminatory housing, lending, and exclusionary zoning policies led to concentrated poverty and entrenched residential segregation43, including segregation of parks and recreation facilities. Between 1930 and the 1970s, while the government invested in parks in wealthier, white neighborhoods, parks and facilities in minority areas were neglected42. City ordinances outlawed integrated forms of recreation44. Disinvestment in and unequal distribution of recreational facilities, parks, and green space means that communities with low incomes and communities of color have fewer places to engage in outdoor activities, have less access to cooling shade, and experience poorer air quality45, 46.
Today, these formerly redlined, low income neighborhoods are more likely to be considered physical activity deserts, without access to gyms, safe green spaces, and built environments conducive to physical activity47. Urban areas, which are often primarily populated by individuals of color, usually have the least amount of green space available per person, limiting people’s access to free physical activity. Four of the five cities in the U.S. with the least amount of green space are majority people of color48.
Equity Considerations
- Are there community-based social supports for physical activity in your community? Who can access them?
- Are there community-based social supports in neighborhoods with low incomes? Or for racially/ethnically diverse communities? Are they accessible and affordable?
- How can programs be tailored to encourage participation by different communities of color?
- What barriers exist to participation in community-based social supports for physical activity? Do some groups face more barriers than others? What can you do to eliminate or reduce the impact of those barriers?
Implementation Examples
Community-based social support interventions for physical activity are implemented throughout the country. Examples of community wide interventions include Detroit’s Walk Your Heart to Health22, Huntsville’s We Walk Huntsville23, Oregon Walks24, and Community Healthy Activities Model Program For Seniors25. StrongPeople Strong Bodies is a community-based strength-training program for older adults that has been successfully implemented in a variety of settings, including rural areas19, 26. Individuals can also set up their own walking group, buddy system, or workout partnership.
Implementation Resources
‡ Resources with a focus on equity.
LHC-Rockeymoore 2014 - Rockeymoore M, Moscetti C, Fountain A. Rural childhood obesity prevention toolkit. Leadership for Healthy Communities (LHC), Center for Global Policy Solutions, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; 2014.
America Walks-LC - America Walks. Learning center (LC): Resources for professionals, policy makers, and advocates.
Footnotes
* Journal subscription may be required for access.
1 CG-Physical activity - The Guide to Community Preventive Services (The Community Guide). Physical activity.
2 Hanson 2015 - Hanson S, Jones A. Is there evidence that walking groups have health benefits? A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2015;49(11):710-715.
3 Cleland 2012 - Cleland CL, Tully MA, Kee F, Cupples ME. The effectiveness of physical activity interventions in socio-economically disadvantaged communities: A systematic review. Preventive Medicine. 2012;54(6):371-380.
4 CG-TFFRS 2020 - Community Preventive Services Task Force. (2022, February). Community-based digital health and telephone interventions to increase healthy eating and physical activity.
5 Schulz 2015 - Schulz AJ, Israel BA, Mentz GB, et al. Effectiveness of a walking group intervention to promote physical activity and cardiovascular health in predominantly non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic urban neighborhoods: Findings from the Walk Your Heart to Health intervention. Health Education & Behavior. 2015;42(3):380-392.
6 Bock 2014 - Bock C, Jarczok MN, Litaker D. Community-based efforts to promote physical activity: A systematic review of interventions considering mode of delivery, study quality and population subgroups. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 2014;17(3):276-282.
7 Kassavou 2013 - Kassavou A, Turner A, French DP. Do interventions to promote walking in groups increase physical activity? A meta-analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2013;10(1):18.
8 Smith 2023 - Smith, G. S. E., Moyle, W., & Burton, N. W. (2023). The relationship between social support for physical activity and physical activity across nine years in adults aged 60–65 years at baseline. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5), 4531.
9 Smith 2017a - Smith GL, Banting L, Eime R, O’Sullivan G, van Uffelen JGZ. The association between social support and physical activity in older adults: A systematic review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2017;14(1):56.
10 Montayre 2020 - Montayre, J., Neville, S., Dunn, I., Shrestha‐Ranjit, J., & Wright‐St. Clair, V. (2020). What makes community‐based physical activity programs for culturally and linguistically diverse older adults effective? A systematic review. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 39(4), 331–340.
11 AHRQ- Veazie 2019 - Veazie, S., Gilbert, J., Winchell, K., Paynter, R., & Guise, J.-M. (2019). Addressing social isolation to improve the health of older adults: A rapid review (Nos. 19-EHC009-EF). Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
12 Kiernan 2012 - Kiernan M, Moore SD, Schoffman DE, et al. Social support for healthy behaviors: Scale psychometrics and prediction of weight loss among women in a behavioral program. Obesity. 2012;20(4):756–64
13 Moss 2022 - Moss, S., & Gu, X. (2022). Home- and community-based interventions for physical activity and early child development: A systematic review of effective strategies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 11968.
14 Robbins 2018 - Robbins, L. B., Ling, J., Dalimonte‐Merckling, D. M., Sharma, D. B., Bakhoya, M., & Pfeiffer, K. A. (2018). Sources and types of social support for physical activity perceived by fifth to eighth grade girls. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 50(2), 172–180.
15 van Sluijs 2011 - van Sluijs EMF, Kriemler S, McMinn AM. The effect of community and family interventions on young people’s physical activity levels: A review of reviews and updated systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2011;45(11):914-22.
16 Vander Wal 2012 - Vander Wal JS. The relationship between body mass index and unhealthy weight control behaviors among adolescents: The role of family and peer social support. Economics & Human Biology. 2012;10(4):395–404.
17 Hoare 2015 - Hoare, E., Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., Skouteris, H., Millar, L., Nichols, M., & Allender, S. (2015). Systematic review of mental health and well-being outcomes following community-based obesity prevention interventions among adolescents. BMJ Open, 5(1), e006586.
18 Howie 2021 - Howie, E. K., Daniels, B. T., Human, A., Gray, M., & Baum, J. I. (2021). Effectiveness and implementation of a virtual versus in-person walking program among employees on physical activity, fitness, and cognition. Health and Technology, 11(4), 909–917.
19 Fowler 2021 - Seguin-Fowler, R. A., Grocke, M., Graham, M. L., Tarabochia, D., Sriram, U., & Eldridge, G. D. (2021). Effects of StrongPeople Strong Bodies on functional fitness: A community-based randomized trial. Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, 6(4).
20 Roux 2008 - Roux L, Pratt M, Tengs TO, et al. Cost effectiveness of community-based physical activity interventions. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2008;35(6):578-88.
21 Coffield 2019 - Coffield, E., Nihiser, A., Carlson, S., Collins, J., Cawley, J., Lee, S., & Economos, C. (2019). Shape Up Somerville’s return on investment: Multi-group exposure generates net-benefits in a child obesity intervention. Preventive Medicine Reports, 16, 100954.
22 Detroit WYHH - Detroit! Walk Your Heart to Health (WYHH). Improving our health one step at a time: Become part of the walking movement in Detroit.
23 WWH-Group walks - We Walk Huntsville (WWH), Healthy Huntsville. Join us for a group walk!
24 Oregon-WG - Oregon Walks. Walking groups (WG).
25 CHAMPS - Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS). University of California San Francisco.
26 StrongPeople - StrongPeople. Lifting people and communities to better health.
27 Miezah 2024 - Miezah, D., Wright, J. A., & Hayman, L. L. (2024). Community-based physical activity programs for blood pressure management in African Americans: A scoping review. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 21(10), 1008–1018.
28 Kling 2018 - Kling HE, D’Agostino EM, Booth JV, et al. The effect of a park-based physical activity program on cardiovascular, strength, and mobility outcomes among a sample of racially/ethnically diverse adults aged 55 or older. Preventing Chronic Disease. 2018;15(E166).
29 Foster 2019 - Foster K, Stoeckle J, Silverio A, et al. Attitudes surrounding a community-based fitness intervention at an urban FQHC. Family Medicine. 2019;51(7):598-602.
30 Katigbak 2024 - Katigbak, C., Cheng, S.-F., Matz, C., & Jimison, H. (2024). Let’s Walk: A quasi-experimental multi-component intervention to improve physical activity and social engagement for older Chinese American adults. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 26(4), 651–659.
31 Kwarteng 2018 - Kwarteng JL, Schulz AJ, Mentz GB, et al. Does perceived safety modify the effectiveness of a walking-group intervention designed to promote physical activity? American Journal of Health Promotion. 2018;32(2):423-431.
32 Child 2017 - Child S, Kaczynski AT, Moore S. Meeting physical activity guidelines: The role of personal networks among residents of low-income communities. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2017;53(3):385-391.
33 Gray 2019 - Gray, K. E., Hoerster, K. D., Reiber, G. E., Bastian, L. A., & Nelson, K. M. (2019). Multiple domains of social support are associated with diabetes self-management among Veterans. Chronic Illness, 15(4), 264–275.
34 Hawes 2019 - Hawes AM, Smith GS, McGinty E, et al. Disentangling race, poverty, and place in disparities in physical activity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2019;16(7):1193-1205.
35 ACSM AFI-Sallis 2019 - Sallis J. Disparities in the quality of physical activity environments. American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) American fitness index. 2019.
36 CDC-API - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Adult physical inactivity outside of work.
37 CDC-Equitable access - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Physical activity: Equitable and inclusive access.
38 ALR-Disparities 2011 - Active Living Research (ALR). Do all children have places to be active? Disparities in access to physical activity environments in racial and ethnic minority and lower-income communities. Princeton: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF); 2011.
39 Prochnow 2022 - Prochnow T, Valdez D, Curran LS, et al. Multifaceted scoping review of Black/African American transportation and land use expert recommendations on activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations. Health Promotion Practice. 2022.
40 McAndrews 2022 - McAndrews C, Schneider RJ, Yang Y, et al. Toward a gender-inclusive Complete Streets movement. Journal of Planning Literature. 2022;38(1):3-18.
41 Brookings-Semmelroth 2020 - Semmelroth L. How Wilmington, Del. is revitalizing vacant land to rebuild community trust. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution; 2020.
42 NRPA-Equity 2021 - National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Equity in parks and recreation: A historical perspective.
43 Kaplan 2007 - Kaplan J, Valls A. Housing discrimination as a basis for Black reparations. Public Affairs Quarterly. 2007;21(3):255-273.
44 NRPA-Fleming 2021 - Fleming K. Observing from a lens of equity. National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). 2021.
45 CAP-Rowland-Shea 2020 - Rowland-Shea J, Doshi S, Edberg S, Fanger R. The nature gap: Confronting racial and economic disparities in the destruction and protection of nature in America. Washington, D.C.: Center for American Progress (CAP); 2020.
46 TPL-Chapman 2021 - Chapman R, Foderaro L, Hwang L, et al. Parks and an equitable recovery. San Francisco, CA: The Trust for Public Land (TPL); 2021.
47 VWH-Brown 2022 - Brown S. Do you live in an ‘exercise desert’? Verywell Health (VWH). 2022.
48 MH-Lawrence 2020 - Lawrence A. How race, class, and geography keep some people from great workouts. Men’s Health (MH). 2020.
Related What Works for Health Strategies
To see all strategies:
countyhealthrankings.org/whatworks