Table 4.

Themes and selected quotes on social support and networks related to physical activity

Themes	Selected quotes
Family involvement	The truth is I never went to the gym. I rather go to a park with the children. I have a two year old and I took him and he rode his tricycle and I would push him…The girl would do it on her bike and he on his tricycle and we would run faster. Then [daughter] was like, “Mama, today we walk or ride a bike?” I went out every day with them, it was easier.” (Colombian, 33 years old)
	I am no longer able to walk slowly and I walk in a hurried, fast way. I almost make [husband] fall down. He says I help him maintain his weight and he feels very healthy, too. (Colombian, 55 years old)
	He really liked that I got into this study, that I learned. So he was always supportive but at the same time was pressing. He said, “Do this, look at that.” When I was with him, I felt pressured because he does so much. I would say, “I’m not used to it. It’s hard for me.” He would say, “Try, try!” And here we are in a fight. (Guatemalan, 47 years old)
Social roles	Look Latino culture neglects exercise a little bit. I realize that more. The neighborhood I live in is home to many Americans and they exercise. Even older people exercise. Our grandparents stay in the house. The lady who has many children and does not exercise. So we neglect it. We are dedicated to cooking, chores, cleaning. We forget ourselves as women. And that’s bad because exercise gives one motivation to do new things. And not just household things. A little time for oneself. (Guatemalan, 47 years old)
	I stopped exercising and this program reminded me that just because I have two children, I am the head of household, that I don’t have to stop taking care of health. Because for many people, many Latinas, we know that not exercising affects us, because one is healthier when one is active. I always like to keep myself fit but when I had my children, I was like I am not going to exercise. (Mexican, 23 years old)
	Yes because as Latinas we are stuck in the home. We do not give importance with respect to physical appearance. On the other hand, there are other races who care more about how they look, how they are physically. If they are active or not. The fact for us is that we are living in a country that never feels like our own. We limit ourselves to a certain space. I do feel that the program creates awareness that we need to be in motion. More than anything we need to be healthy. (Salvadorian, 32 years old)
Social integration	Well, it is only my children and I so I did not have someone to share any of this with. I alone motivated myself. (Mexican, 23 years old)
	My friend because she motivated me because I would go out with her to walk…My family is not here. I have my husband. No, my family is in Colombia. (Colombian, 53 years old)
	I don’t have a lot of family, but my physical activity with my friends, yes. (Dominican, 30 years old)
Social connectivity	It seems very important to us to meet with the people in the [study] in order to see what their personal experiences were. There was a bulletin that told us some things in writing, but if they had a meeting they would not be so alone, a meeting with other colleagues to share more activities. (Colombian, 55 years old)
	I think to have it done like in groups for one to be able to share the experiences… For example, here there was no communication with other people, I didn’t meet anyone. (Venezuelan, 26 years old)
	Involve the children. Like so that I can come with my children. They can be doing their activity so that they know for the future that exercise is good. Very important in our lives. (Dominican, 41 years old)
Social transmission	I bought a machine for walking. Then my mom would use it. My son placed it in front of the television, then when he goes to see television, I tell him, “You watch television if you walk for an hour.” Then that also involved them, my husband walks, do you understand? All of them like to use the machine. (Venezuelan, 26 years old)
	When I went with my pedometer I showed [friends] how many steps I had taken, the calories that I burned. I taught them what a moderate intensity pace was. They loved it. (Dominican, 22 years old)
	And with my co-workers…I take my books and they see me reading and [they] tell me “But, lend me your book.” They have already lost them all, “lend me your book,” because they say they want to do exercise. (Dominican, 41 years old)