Background: The South Asian population in the U.S. experience disproportionately high rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, partly attributable to low levels of physical activity (PA), especially among women. This inactivity pattern may extend to South Asian American youth; however, PA data specific to this population remain limited. This study aimed to examine associations between acculturation, social support and PA among South Asian American female adolescents.
Methods: This cross-section study used baseline data from the South Asians Active Together (SAATH) trial, which included a convenience sample of 126 South Asian females aged 11–16 years residing in the Chicago area. Data were collected between 2020 and 2023 using ActiGraph accelerometers and an online survey comprising the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation (SL-ASIA), the Activity Support Scale for Multiple Groups (ACTS-MG), the Friend Support subscale from the Patient-Centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise (PACE), the Self-efficacy and Attitudes subscales from the Social-Cognitive Determinants of PA, and the Perceived Barriers to PA scale. Multivariable linear regressions examined associations of acculturation categories (bicultural, Asian, Western, and separated) and parental and peer support scores with PA-related variables, adjusting for age, weight status, maternal education, and neighborhood resources. Data were analyzed using R version 4.4 between 2024 and 2025.
Results: On average, participants engaged in 20 min/day of moderate- and vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA; 95% CI = 16–24). Participants in Asian and bicultural acculturation categories reported higher parental PA support than those in the Western category (p = 0.02). Compared to participants in the bicultural category, those in the Asian category reported greater perceived barriers to PA (p = 0.02). Higher parental support was associated with greater PA self-efficacy (p < 0.01) and lower perceived barriers (p < 0.01). Higher peer support was associated with more positive PA attitudes (p < 0.05). However, acculturation, parental support, or peer support was not significantly associated with MVPA levels.
Conclusions: Findings suggest that promoting PA-supportive parenting practices may enhance PA self-efficacy and reduce barriers to PA, while peer support may foster positive PA attitudes among South Asian American female adolescents.
Trial registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04400253.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12887-025-06442-6.
Keywords: ActiGraph accelerometers; Immigrants; Indian; Pakistani; Parenting; Peer support.