Exercise preferences for young people at-risk for and living with HIV: a short report

ABSTRACT

Exercise can improve physical and mental health for young people at risk for and with HIV, but prevalence rates remain low. This study explored exercise preferences and barriers among young people at risk for and with HIV, and potential gender differences. A total of 129 participants (66.7% male, mean age = 23.8 [SD = 2.1; range: 19–28], 35.7% Black/African American) at-risk for or with HIV were recruited from a larger study and completed an online survey of exercise preferences and barriers. Overall, participants preferred an exercise program that takes place at a fitness center, occurs alone, has a coach/instructor present, is between 30 and 60 minutes, lasts longer than 8 weeks, and includes aerobic and resistance exercises. The fatiguing nature of exercise and cost were common barriers among all genders. Few gender differences emerged. These results should be used to design exercise programs for young adults at risk for and with HIV.

KEYWORDS:

• Exercise preferences
• physical activity
• HIV
• physical health
• mental health

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the study participants for their time and responses, and Wilson Ramos along with other members of CHIPTS at UCLA for their time and effort in the preliminary stages of this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN) at the National Institutes of Health (U19HD089886). N.S.B's time was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (T32MH109205).