Using a Health Belief Model to investigate the walking behaviour of residents living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the level of walking behaviour of three major ethnic groups living in Kuala Lumpur and to ascertain the main influencing factors on walking behaviour using a Health Belief Model as the theoretical base. An explanatory mixed method research design was used in this study. A total of 2150 questionnaires were mailed to a randomly selected sample from the Kuala Lumpur enumeration block, of which 478 were returned, consisting of 169 Malays, 164 Chinese, and 145 Indians. In the qualitative phase 30 respondents were equally selected from the three ethnic groups. A comparison of the walking behaviour levels between the three ethnic groups found that only 18.9% of Chinese, 37.9% of Malays, and 49.7% of Indian respondents reported that they had reached the recommended level for walking activity per week to receive the recommended health benefits. The study findings demonstrated that the perceived health beliefs from walking were found to influence respondent walking behaviour. Generally, the motivations for walking behaviour resulted from the respondents' perceptions and beliefs about the benefits gained from engaging in the activity, such as the positive health benefits, recreational benefits, to shape a beautiful body, and to reach a particular destination. In contrast, the personal constraints to engage in walking were derived from their perceptions and experiences, such as lack of time, a belief that outdoor walking can cause skin darkening, unsupportive weather, negative attitudes towards walking, threats from crime, unsafe traffic, danger of stray dogs, and unsupportive health conditions.

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