Date of Award

Fall 11-5-2015

Level of Access Assigned by Author

Open-Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Kinesiology and Physical Education

Advisor

Steve Butterfield

Second Committee Member

Brian Doore

Third Committee Member

Robert Lehnhard

Abstract

This study focuses on reporting the occupational, household, transportation and leisure time physical activity of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township. This study also focuses on health measures and the presence of chronic disease and how they are affected by physical activity, risk factors, and other health related measures.

An interview-administered questionnaire, developed by the CDC, was given to participants age 25-44 years old, with one small change. The original Intertribal Heart Project (ITHP) questionnaire used a shortened version of the WHO’s Monica Optional Study of Physical Activity (MOSPA), in order to reduce the time it takes to administer the questionnaire. However, since the results were “less than optimal” because of this, we decided to use the MOSPA questionnaire in its entirety. Interviews were conducted primarily at the Passamaquoddy Health Center or at the participant’s home.

Participants who used “diet and exercise” to control their weight were 1.6 times as likely to rate their health as excellent, very good, or good, compared to participants who did not use “diet nor exercise”. Also, there was a negative correlational relationship between current smokers and high blood pressure. No correlational relationship was found between genders and participating in no leisure time physical activity (no-LTPA), most likely because of a low number of participants. However, more women than men participated in no-LTPA. And weight lifting was the most reported on LTPA for all participants.

Compared to the general population in the United States, the Passamaquoddy Tribe participates in far less leisure time physical activity. Leisure time physical activity is associated with the most health benefits. Only 8.3% of participants, age 25-44, met American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommendations on a weekly basis all year round compared to 27.7% of the adults in the United States. Occupational and Household activity levels were relatively high; this is consistent with other AI groups around the country. For example, 83.3% of participants did at least 30 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous household chores.

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