Job characteristics and leisure physical activity

Association between neighborhood health behaviors and body mass index in Northern Norway: evidence from the Tromsø Study

AIM

The prevalence of overweight and obesity has risen rapidly worldwide, and the ongoing obesity pandemic is one of the most severe public health concerns in modern society. The average body mass index (BMI) of people living in Northern Norway has also steadily increased since the late 1970s. This study aimed to understand how individuals' health behavior is associated with the general health behavior of the people in their neighborhood.

METHODS

Using the population-based Tromsø Study, we examined the life course association between average leisure time physical activity at the neighborhood level and the BMI of individuals living in the same neighborhood. We used a longitudinal dataset following 25,604 individuals living in 33 neighborhoods and performed a linear mixed-effects analysis.

RESULTS

The results showed that participants living in neighborhoods whose residents were more physically active during their leisure time, were likely to have a significantly lower BMI (-0.9 kg/m², 95% CI -1.5 to -0.4). Also, individuals living in neighborhoods whose residents were doing mainly manual work, had significantly higher BMIs (0.7 kg/m², 95% CI 0.4-1.0).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed a strong association between the average leisure time physical activity level of neighborhood residents and the higher BMI levels of residents of the same neighborhood.

Health Behavior Patterns and Associated Risk of Memory-Related Disorders Among Middle-Aged and Older Chinese Couples

Objectives: Studies on the interdependence of couples' health behaviors and subsequent cognitive outcomes remain limited. Methods: Longitudinal data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (2011-2018) were used (N = 1869 heterosexual couples). Latent class analysis identified the dyadic pattern of health behaviors in 2011 (i.e., alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical inactivity). Stratified Cox models examined the association of latent classes with risk of developing memory-related disorders in 2013-2018. Results: Three classes were identified: class 1 (21.25%, only husband smoke, and both active), class 2 (47.55%, both inactive, neither drink nor smoke), and class 3 (31.20%, both drink and smoke, and both active). Couples' sedentary lifestyle was associated with an increased risk of memory-related disorders among both husbands and wives. Conclusion: Couples were moderately concordant in their physical activity but weakly in smoking and drinking. Couple-based interventions, especially promoting physical activity, may reduce cognitive aging among middle-aged and older Chinese couples.

Dataset on social and psychological effects of COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey

This data was gathered to investigate how individuals' levels of intolerance to distress and instant anxiety are related to some of the behaviors that people can change in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We present a dataset based on a four-wave survey of the social and psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey (N = 2,817). Turkey was heavily impacted by the first waves of infections in 2020, and citizens were forced to adapt to governmental measures. So, the dataset provides unique opportunities to investigate the COVID-19 pandemic's role in shaping people's intolerance to distress and instant anxiety. The survey considered personal cleaning behavior, bank/credit card usage, online spending habits, individual security perception, and stockpile behavior. Furthermore, in this data, whether an individual or a household member was officially diagnosed with COVID-19 and socio-demographic indicators were determined. Hence, the resulting dataset can enable various analyses on social, psychological, perceived security, and self-rated health, influencing how individuals' levels of intolerance to distress and instant anxiety.

Physical activity and socio-economic status of single and married urban adults: a cross-sectional study

Background

Changing family models have resulted in a large increase in the number of single-person households. This phenomenon has certain implications for society and the economy as single people often exhibit different behaviours, including their engagement in health-related physical activity, than those who are married and living with partners. However, the results of studies on determinants of physical activity in people of different marital status have been inconclusive. The aim of this study was to identify associations between physical activity and socioeconomic status in single and married urban adults.

Methods

The study material consisted of 4,460 persons (1,828 single and 2,632 married and living with partners). A cross-sectional study was conducted in Wroclaw (Poland). A diagnostic survey-direct interview method was used. Two research tools were applied: the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and the Socioeconomic Status Questionnaire (S-ESQ). The level of respondents’ physical activity was assessed following WHO recommendations. The descriptive statistics included the number and frequency of categories of dependent and independent variables as well as measures of association between them, i.e., crude and adjusted odds ratios.

Results

The odds ratio of meeting the WHO physical activity recommendations was almost 70% higher in single than in married respondents (OR = 1.67; CI [1.46–2.19]), and slightly more than 40% higher after adjusting for sex, age and education (aOR = 1.42; CI [1.21–1.67]). In both groups socioeconomic the respondents’ status revealed a significant and slightly different association with their levels of physical activity. Occupational status and financial savings significantly affected the level of physical activity in single respondents, while net disposable income was a significant modifier of physical activity levels in respondents who were married or lived with their partners.

Conclusions

Assessment of the levels and determinants of physical activity among people of different marital status should be continued and extended to other subpopulations. This will allow effective preventive and therapeutic measures to be taken for groups most at risk of hypokinesia. Programs aimed at improving physical activity accounting for the socioeconomic status and marital status of their beneficiaries are particularly important.

Changes in work factors and concurrent changes in leisure time physical activity: a 12-year longitudinal analysis

OBJECTIVES

There is a paucity of longitudinal population-based studies examining whether changes in work factors are associated with concurrent changes in leisure time physical activity (LTPA). This study examines this issue using 12 years of longitudinal survey data.

METHODS

Data were drawn from the Canadian National Population Health Survey. The initial analytical sample in 1994 of 6407 working individuals was followed every 2 years from 2000 to 2010. Seven work factors were measured as independent variables: skill discretion, decision authority, psychological demands, physical exertion, number of jobs, hours at work and shift schedule. LTPA was categorised as inactive, moderately active or active based on metabolic equivalent task values. Fixed-effects multinomial logistic models were used to examine associations between work factors and LTPA controlling for time-invariant effects and adjusted for covariates.

RESULTS

Workers with lower skill discretion (OR=0.96; 95% CI 0.92 to 0.99), higher psychological demands (OR=0.95; 95% CI 0.92 to 0.99), higher physical exertion (OR=0.93; 95% CI 0.88 to 0.99) and longer work hours (OR=0.97; 95% CI 0.95 to 098) were associated with a lower odds of transitioning from inactive to active and moderately active. There was no evidence of effect modification by age or sex.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that as participants' skill discretion decreased, and their physical and psychological demands, and work hours increased, their likelihood of becoming more active and moderately active also decreased, supporting the value of targeting improvements in these work factors for physical activity interventions.

Physical fitness and psycho-cognitive performance in the young and middle-aged workforce with primarily physical versus mental work demands

Aim

The purpose of this study was to examine physical fitness and psycho-cognitive performance and their associations in young and middle-aged workers with primarily physical versus mental work demands.

Subjects and methods

Healthy young and middle-aged workers (73 men, age = 33 ± 7 years; 75 women, age = 35 ± 9 years) were recruited from German small-to-medium-sized enterprises (< 250 employees) and classified into groups with primarily mental (MD) or physical demands (PD) at work. Participants were tested for cardiorespiratory fitness, trunk flexor/extensor muscular endurance, handgrip strength, balance, leg muscle power, perceived stress, cognitive performance, and work ability.

Results

Ninety-four workers were allocated to the MD (53% females) and 54 to the PD (46% females) groups. The MD group showed significantly better balance, trunk extensor muscular endurance, and cognitive performance (p < 0.035, 0.35 ≤ d ≤ 0.55) and less stress compared with the PD group (p < 0.023, d = 0.38). Group-specific Spearman rank correlation analysis (rS) revealed significant small-to-medium-sized correlations between physical fitness and cognitive performance (− 0.205 ≤ rS ≤ 0.434) in the MD and PD groups. Significant small-to-medium-sized correlations were found for physical fitness and stress/work ability (0.211 ≤ rS ≤ 0.301) in the MD group only. Further, associations of trunk extensor muscular endurance and work ability were significantly higher in the MD group (rS = 0.240) compared with the PD group (rS = − 0.141; z = 2.16, p = 0.031).

Conclusions

MD workers showed better physical fitness measures (balance, trunk extensor muscular endurance) and cognitive performance and lower levels of perceived stress compared with PD workers. Small-to-medium-sized associations between physical fitness and psycho-cognitive performance measures indicate that gains in physical fitness may at least partly contribute to psycho-cognitive performance and/or vice versa, particularly in MD workers.

Blue-collar work and women's health: A systematic review of the evidence from 1990 to 2015

Despite the implications of gender and sex differences for health risks associated with blue-collar work, adverse health outcomes among blue-collar workers has been most frequently studied among men. The present study provides a "state-of-the-field" systematic review of the empiric evidence published on blue-collar women's health. We systematically reviewed literature related to the health of blue-collar women published between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2015. We limited our review to peer-reviewed studies published in the English language on the health or health behaviors of women who were presently working or had previously worked in a blue-collar job. Studies were eligible for inclusion regardless of the number, age, or geographic region of blue-collar women in the study sample. We retained 177 studies that considered a wide range of health outcomes in study populations from 40 different countries. Overall, these studies suggested inferior health among female blue-collar workers as compared with either blue-collar males or other women. However, we noted several methodological limitations in addition to heterogeneity in study context and design, which inhibited comparison of results across publications. Methodological limitations of the extant literature, alongside the rapidly changing nature of women in the workplace, motivate further study on the health of blue-collar women. Efforts to identify specific mechanisms by which blue-collar work predisposes women to adverse health may be particularly valuable in informing future workplace-based and policy-level interventions.

Active work, passive leisure? Associations between occupational and non-occupational physical activity on weekdays

Research from recent years reports that physical inactivity is a major risk factor for global mortality. Several societal trends in the last decades are likely to have contributed to the increasing prevalence of sedentary lifestyles. Physical activity throughout the day has become much less self-evident and much more a matter of personal effort. Its presumed discretionary character made leisure the time par excellence to compensate for daily inactivity in non-discretionary time. The historical dichotomy of leisure and paid work led to a large body of research assessing the association between occupational and non-occupational physical activity, almost always equated with leisure time physical activity. This study investigates the relationship between occupational and non-occupational physical activity and adds to existing knowledge by breaking down non-occupational physical activity to physical activity in different non-occupational domains of life. Using Belgian time-use data from 2013 coupled with metabolic equivalent of task scores, reveals no direct association between occupational physical activity and physical activity in the domains of leisure, household work and family care, and transport on weekdays after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. The association between women's occupational physical activity and physical activity in household work and family care is the sole exception. The results suggest that a holistic, naturalistic approach to physical activity taking into account that individuals have to synchronize needs other than paid work (e.g. reproductive and social productive needs) with the institutional and cultural temporal structures of the society they live in, is more appropriate.

The association between low frequency of having breakfast and dyslipidemia in South Korean men and women

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the association between frequency of having breakfast and dyslipidemia in South Korean adults aged 30 or over.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

This study, including 10,874 participants, was based on the Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2013 and 2016. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, we examined the associations between frequency of having breakfast (and other covariates) and dyslipidemia in men and women.

RESULTS

Dyslipidemia was more common among male participants with lower frequency of having breakfast in a week and was significantly high in "0 times a week" group (OR = 1.42, 95% CI, 1.13-1.78) compared with 5-7 times/week. This trend was observed in those aged 40-59 years, white collar workers, those living with their spouse, and overweight or obese participants among males and in females aged 40-49 and ≥ 60 years. Statistically significant tendency of having dyslipidemia was observed with decreasing frequency of having breakfast in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides in males (LDL-C: p for trend < 0.0001, TG: p for trend = 0.0004), but not in females.

CONCLUSION

Frequency of having breakfast was associated with reduced dyslipidemia rate. The risk of dyslipidemia with a low frequency of breakfast was particularly observed in males aged 40-59, white collar workers, those living with a spouse, and postmenopausal females aged ≥ 60.

The association between long work hours and leisure-time physical activity and obesity

Obesity affects approximately one-third of all U.S. adults, presenting a large economic and public health burden. Long work hours may be contributing to the rising obesity problem by reducing time for physical activity, particularly for individuals working in sedentary occupations. This study sought to investigate the association between long work hours, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and obesity across levels of occupational activity in order to identify potentially vulnerable groups. Cross sectional analysis was performed in 2017 using data from the 2015 Georgia Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and prevalence ratios were estimated across work hour and occupational activity groups. Ability to meet guidelines for LTPA did not differ significantly across work hour categories overall. Those working in low activity occupations were more likely to meet aerobic guidelines for LTPA compared to those in intermediate and high activity occupations (χ2: 19.3; P-value: <0.01). Results of interaction assessment demonstrate that the effects of work hours on obesity risk and meeting aerobic guidelines are significantly different across OA categories, indicating OA to be an effect modifier of the relationship between long work hours and obesity (χ2: 13.33; P-value: <0.001; χ2: 4.42; P-value: <0.05). Employees in intermediate activity occupations working long hours were found to be at the greatest risk for obesity. Further research is required to better understand the mechanisms impacting the relationship between long work hours, domains of physical activity, and obesity risk as well as to identify effective intervention and prevention programs for employees in intermediate activity occupations.

Health or harm? A cohort study of the importance of job quality in extended workforce participation by older adults

BACKGROUND

As people are living longer, they are being encouraged to work longer. While it is assumed that extended employment will be good for health, the evidence has been mixed. This study considers whether employment and job quality exert an influence on four indicators of health status in older workers.

METHODS

Data for this study came from 836 older workers (440 men and 396 women) aged 50-59 years at baseline who participated in the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. Using linear regression, we examine within-person change in self-rated, physical and mental health and one health behaviour (physical activity) at two time points over a nine year follow-up period.

RESULTS

There were minimal differences in the way health changed for older adults who continued working compared to those who retired voluntarily. However, when we decomposed employment in terms of job quality, health outcomes diverged. Compared to voluntary retirees, older workers who had worked in good quality jobs reported marginally better self-rated health (0.14,-0.02-0.29); but did not differ in their physical (2.31,-1.09-5.72) or mental health (0.51,-1.84-2.87). In contrast, older workers who held poor quality jobs for most of the follow-up period declined in their self-rated (-1.13,-0.28 - -0.02), physical (-4.90, 8.52- - 1.29) and mental health (-4.67, 7.69- - 1.66) relative to voluntary retirees. Older workers who held poor quality jobs for just some of the follow-up period did not differ from voluntary retirees in terms of their health. However there was evidence of a linear relationship between length of exposure to poor quality jobs and decline in health outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Extended working lives mean that people will be 'exposed' to work for longer, and this exposure will occur at a life stage characterised by declining health for many. Our findings show that ensuring older workers have access to secure jobs which allow for control over work time, skill use and fair rewards will be essential if policy goals to boost participation and productivity, as well as reduce the health and care costs of the elderly, are to be met.

Cohort study of physical activity and injury among Latino farm workers

INTRODUCTION

This study characterized physical activity and its association with injury among Latino farm workers.

METHODS

An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect baseline and follow-up data on 843 and 640 Latino farm workers, respectively. Participants were 18-55 years old, engaged in farm work and residing in Mendota, CA at baseline interview. The questionnaire assessed self-reported physical activity and risk of injury.

RESULTS

The 12 month prevalence of injury decreased from 9.0% at baseline to 6.9% at follow up interview. In GEE models adjusted for age, follow-up time, gender, smoking, income and years working in agriculture, poor/fair self-assessed health status (OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.18-2.82) and 2-3 hr per day of sitting/watching TV/using a computer (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.30-0.83) were significantly associated with injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Physical activity was not associated with injury in this population. Efforts to reduce injuries should focus on known risk factors such as poor health status.

Long working hours and physical activity

BACKGROUND

It is widely believed that persons employed in jobs demanding long working hours are at greater risk of physical inactivity than other workers, primarily because they have less leisure time available to undertake physical activity. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis using prospective data obtained from a nationally representative sample of employed persons.

METHODS

Longitudinal data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (93,367 observations from 17,893 individuals) were used to estimate conditional fixed effects logistic regression models of the likelihood of moderate or vigorous physical exercise for at least 30 min, at least four times a week.

RESULTS

No significant associations between long working hours and the incidence of healthy levels of physical activity were uncovered once other exogenous influences on activity levels were controlled for. The odds of men or women who usually work 60 or more hours per week exercising at healthy levels were 6% and 11% less, respectively, than those of comparable persons working a more standard 35-40 h/week; however, neither estimate was significantly different from 0 at 95% CI.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that there is no trade-off between long working hours and physical activity in Australia. It is argued that these findings are broadly consistent with previous research studies from Anglo-Saxon countries (where long working hours are pervasive) that employed large nationally representative samples.

Objectively measured and self-reported sedentary time in older Canadians

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine objectively measured total and self-reported leisure sedentary time among older Canadians by work status.

METHODS

The analysis was based on 1729 older adults (60-79 years) from the 2007/09 and 2010/11 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Work status, functional limitations, smoking, and perceived health were assessed by self-report and waist circumference (WC) was measured. Total sedentary time (ST) and physical activity (PA) were objectively measured by accelerometer and leisure sedentary activities were assessed by questionnaire.

RESULTS

93.6% of individuals were sedentary for 8 or more hours per day. Measured ST did not differ by work status, while self-reported leisure ST was higher in those not working compared to those working (239 vs. 207 minutes/day, p < 0.05). Correlates of measured ST were fair/poor perceived health (β: 28.76, p < 0.01), smoking (β: 17.12, p < 0.05), high-risk WC (β: 13.14, p < 0.05), and not meeting PA guidelines (β: 35.67, p < 0.001). For self-reported leisure ST, working status (β: 33.80, p < 0.001) and functional limitations (β: 16.31, p < 0.05) were significant correlates.

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults accumulate substantial ST regardless of their working status and ST is correlated with indicators of health risk. Older adults are an important target population for interventions to reduce ST.

The association between retirement and age on physical activity in older adults

BACKGROUND

retirement is a major life change that is likely to affect lifestyles and yet little is still known about its influence on physical activity (PA). This study objectively quantified sedentary behaviour and ambulatory activity outcomes in retired and non-retired older, community-dwelling adults.

METHODS

PA was quantified in 98 community-dwelling older adults (69.1 ± 7.6 years) who wore an activPAL PA monitor (accelerometer) for seven consecutive days. Outcomes representing the volume, pattern and variability of sedentary behaviour and ambulatory activity were derived from the cross-sectional accelerometer data. The association between retirement, ageing and their interaction on sedentary and ambulatory outcomes were examined.

RESULTS

being retired was associated with a reduced percentage of sedentary behaviour; reduced long bouts of sitting (>55 min) and increased the percentage of ambulatory activity. The volume of sedentary behaviour increased with age, whereas ambulatory activity reduced with age. Measures of pattern and variability did not change with retirement or age. With respect to recommended amounts of PA, there was no difference between retired and employed adults and only 21% achieved the recommended 150 min/week (accumulated in ≥10 min bouts of walking).

CONCLUSION

while retirement was associated with a greater volume of PA, most older adults do not meet current recommended PA guidelines. Interventions are needed to increase PA in older adults in the years leading to and after the transition to retirement.

The determinants of participation in physical activity in malaysia

Objectives

In light of the importance of physical activity, the aim of the present study is to examine the factors affecting participation in physical activity among adults in Malaysia.

Methods

A logistic regression model and the Third National Health and Morbidity Survey consisting of 30,992 respondents were used.

Results

Age, income, gender, education, marital status, region, house locality, job characteristics, and medical conditions are significantly associated with participation in physical activity. In particular, old individuals, high income earners, females, the well-educated, widowed or divorced individuals, East Malaysians, urban dwellers, the unemployed, and individuals who are not diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia are less likely to be physically active than others.

Conclusion

Because sociodemographic and health factors play an important role in determining physical activity, the government should take them into account when formulating policy.

The effects of stress on physical activity and exercise

BACKGROUND

Psychological stress and physical activity (PA) are believed to be reciprocally related; however, most research examining the relationship between these constructs is devoted to the study of exercise and/or PA as an instrument to mitigate distress.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper was to review the literature investigating the influence of stress on indicators of PA and exercise.

METHODS

A systematic search of Web of Science, PubMed, and SPORTDiscus was employed to find all relevant studies focusing on human participants. Search terms included "stress", "exercise", and "physical activity". A rating scale (0-9) modified for this study was utilized to assess the quality of all studies with multiple time points.

RESULTS

The literature search found 168 studies that examined the influence of stress on PA. Studies varied widely in their theoretical orientation and included perceived stress, distress, life events, job strain, role strain, and work-family conflict but not lifetime cumulative adversity. To more clearly address the question, prospective studies (n = 55) were considered for further review, the majority of which indicated that psychological stress predicts less PA (behavioral inhibition) and/or exercise or more sedentary behavior (76.4 %). Both objective (i.e., life events) and subjective (i.e., distress) measures of stress related to reduced PA. Prospective studies investigating the effects of objective markers of stress nearly all agreed (six of seven studies) that stress has a negative effect on PA. This was true for research examining (a) PA at periods of objectively varying levels of stress (i.e., final examinations vs. a control time point) and (b) chronically stressed populations (e.g., caregivers, parents of children with a cancer diagnosis) that were less likely to be active than controls over time. Studies examining older adults (>50 years), cohorts with both men and women, and larger sample sizes (n > 100) were more likely to show an inverse association. 85.7 % of higher-quality prospective research (≥ 7 on a 9-point scale) showed the same trend. Interestingly, some prospective studies (18.2 %) report evidence that PA was positively impacted by stress (behavioral activation). This should not be surprising as some individuals utilize exercise to cope with stress. Several other factors may moderate stress and PA relationships, such as stages of change for exercise. Habitually active individuals exercise more in the face of stress, and those in beginning stages exercise less. Consequently, stress may have a differential impact on exercise adoption, maintenance, and relapse. Preliminary evidence suggests that combining stress management programming with exercise interventions may allay stress-related reductions in PA, though rigorous testing of these techniques has yet to be produced.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the majority of the literature finds that the experience of stress impairs efforts to be physically active. Future work should center on the development of a theory explaining the mechanisms underlying the multifarious influences of stress on PA behaviors.

Physical activity in England: who is meeting the recommended level of participation through sports and exercise?

Background: Little is known about the correlates of meeting recommended levels of participation in physical activity (PA) and how this understanding informs public health policies on behaviour change. Objective: To analyse who meets the recommended level of participation in PA in males and females separately by applying ‘process’ modelling frameworks (single vs. sequential 2-step process). Methods: Using the Health Survey for England 2006, (n = 14 142; ≥16 years), gender-specific regression models were estimated using bivariate probit with selectivity correction and single probit models. A ‘sequential, 2-step process’ modelled participation and meeting the recommended level separately, whereas the ‘single process’ considered both participation and level together. Results: In females, meeting the recommended level was associated with degree holders [Marginal effect (ME) = 0.013] and age (ME = −0.001), whereas in males, age was a significant correlate (ME = −0.003 to −0.004). The order of importance of correlates was similar across genders, with ethnicity being the most important correlate in both males (ME = −0.060) and females (ME = −0.133). In females, the ‘sequential, 2-step process’ performed better (ρ = −0.364, P < 0.001) than that in males (ρ = 0.154). Conclusion: The degree to which people undertake the recommended level of PA through vigorous activity varies between males and females, and the process that best predicts such decisions, i.e. whether it is a sequential, 2-step process or a single-step choice, is also different for males and females. Understanding this should help to identify subgroups that are less likely to meet the recommended level of PA (and hence more likely to benefit from any PA promotion intervention).

The demand for sports and exercise: results from an illustrative survey

There is a paucity of empirical evidence on the extent to which price and perceived benefits affect the level of participation in sports and exercise. Using an illustrative sample of 60 adults at Brunel University, West London, we investigate the determinants of demand for sports and exercise. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews that covered indicators of sports and exercise behaviour; money/time price and perceived benefits of participation; and socio-economic/demographic details. Count, linear and probit regression models were fitted as appropriate. Seventy eight per cent of the sample participated in sports and exercise and spent an average of £27 per month and an average of 20 min travelling per occasion of sports and exercise. The demand for sport and exercise was negatively associated with time (travel or access time) and 'variable' price and positively correlated with 'fixed' price. Demand was price inelastic, except in the case of meeting the UK government's recommended level of participation, which is time price elastic (elasticity = -2.2). The implications of data from a larger nationally representative sample as well as the role of economic incentives in influencing uptake of sports and exercise are discussed.

The role of the work context in multiple wellness outcomes for hospital patient care workers

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationships among low back pain (LBP), inadequate physical activity, and sleep deficiency among patient care workers, and of these outcomes to work context.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey of patient care workers (N = 1572, response rate = 79%).

RESULTS

A total of 53% reported LBP, 46%, inadequate physical activity, and 59%, sleep deficiency. Inadequate physical activity and sleep deficiency were associated (P = 0.02), but LBP was not significantly related to either. Increased risk of LBP was significantly related to job demands, harassment at work, decreased supervisor support, and job title. Inadequate physical activity was significantly associated with low decision latitude. Sleep deficiency was significantly related to low supervisor support, harassment at work, low ergonomic practices, people-oriented culture, and job title.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings point to shared pathways in the work environment that jointly influence multiple health and well-being outcomes.

Occupation correlates of adults' participation in leisure-time physical activity: a systematic review

CONTEXT

The rapid changes to the labor force (e.g., advances in technology, overtime hours) have increased obesogenic behaviors (e.g., lack of physical activity, sedentariness on the job).

PURPOSE

The purpose of this review was to unite and appraise the existing research examining occupation correlates of adults' participation in leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) to establish direction for future research targeting habitual inactivity.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

Eligible studies were searched from January 2009 to July 2010 in English peer-reviewed journals. A total of 62 studies passed the inclusion criteria. Major findings were summarized based on common subtopics of occupation category/status, occupational physical activity (OPA), work hours, psychological work demands, and LTPA.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Included articles were published between 1984 and 2010, with sample sizes ranging from 158 to 203,120. Occupation factors correlated with LTPA, but the magnitude of the effect was difficult to determine because of heterogeneous measures. Occupation category/status was directly associated with LTPA, with white-collar/professionals showing the highest LTPA compared to blue-collar workers. When OPA was measured, a positive association with LTPA was found. Work hours appeared to have a negative threshold effect on LTPA. Some preliminary evidence found psychosocial work demands (e.g., job strain) to be negatively correlated with LTPA levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Convincing evidence supports the premise that those employed in occupations demanding long work hours and low OPA are at risk of inactivity. Existing research has focused heavily on cross-sectional data and study-created self-report measures. Longitudinal evaluations using robust research measures (e.g., accelerometry, National occupation classification tool) are a priority for future research.

Age differences and social stratification in the long-term trajectories of leisure-time physical activity

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed how and why the social stratification of leisure-time physical activity changes as adults at different points in the life course, and from different birth cohorts, grow older.

METHODS

A series of multilevel models were estimated using longitudinal data from a national sample of more than 3,000 adults from the Americans' Changing Lives study.

RESULTS

On average, rates of leisure-time physical activity increased within younger adults and decreased within middle-aged and older adults, throughout the study period. Initial Black-White differences in activity converged over time, whereas initial men advantages over women widened, particularly among older adults. Gender-based differences did not remain after accounting for differences in health; however, significant age and race differences in the trajectories of physical activity persisted, even after accounting for the effects of health and social relationships on leisure-time physical activity.

DISCUSSION

American adults appear to be reducing their levels of physical activity relatively early in the life course and at increasingly steep rates among older age groups. The changing patterns of stratification in physical activity, as well as the associations between several time-varying predictors and physical activity, provide insight into the forces that may be responsible for these declines.

Socioeconomic Disparities in Health Behaviors

The inverse relationships between socioeconomic status (SES) and unhealthy behaviors such as tobacco use, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition have been well demonstrated empirically but encompass diverse underlying causal mechanisms. These mechanisms have special theoretical importance because disparities in health behaviors, unlike disparities in many other components of health, involve something more than the ability to use income to purchase good health. Based on a review of broad literatures in sociology, economics, and public health, we classify explanations of higher smoking, lower exercise, poorer diet, and excess weight among low-SES persons into nine broad groups that specify related but conceptually distinct mechanisms. The lack of clear support for any one explanation suggests that the literature on SES disparities in health and health behaviors can do more to design studies that better test for the importance of the varied mechanisms.

The impact of physical activity on physical health functioning--a prospective study among middle-aged employees

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether physical activity contributes to physical health functioning five to seven years later among middle-aged employees.

METHODS

Baseline data were collected in 2000-2002 by questionnaire surveys among 40-60-year-old employees of Helsinki City. A follow-up survey was conducted among baseline respondents in 2007 (n=7330, response rate 83%). Physical activity during leisure time or commuting within the previous 12 months was asked at baseline. Physical health functioning was measured by physical component summary (PCS) of the Short-Form 36 questionnaire. PCS mean scores were examined, as were poor and good PCS scores.

RESULTS

Vigorously active and conditioning exercisers had better subsequent physical health functioning than did the inactive and moderately active. Baseline health and functioning explained a major part of the differences found. Smoking, alcohol use and BMI further explained some of the differences. No clear differences in physical health functioning mean scores emerged during follow-up. In good physical health functioning, however some differences between conditioning and inactive women remained after adjustments.

CONCLUSIONS

Prospective associations between physical activity and physical health functioning were relatively weak, but high physical activity may help in maintaining good physical health functioning. Vigorous activity may be more beneficial than moderate activity.

Effects of childhood socio-economic conditions on educational differences in leisure-time physical activity

BACKGROUND

Our purpose was to assess the direct and indirect contribution of childhood socio-economic conditions to educational differences in leisure-time physical activity among women and men.

METHODS

Population-based data were derived from a representative sample of Finns aged >or=30 years (N = 7112) as part of Health 2000 Survey. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was applied. Leisure-time physical activity was divided into inactivity, moderate and high activity.

RESULTS

Childhood socio-economic conditions had both a direct and indirect effect through adulthood socio-economic conditions on educational differences in leisure-time physical activity. The direct effect of childhood socio-economic conditions on educational differences in inactivity was stronger than its indirect effects through adulthood socio-economic conditions and other health behaviours and related factors. Adulthood socio-economic conditions had a considerable indirect effect on educational differences in leisure-time physical activity through other adulthood health behaviours and related factors among men.

CONCLUSIONS

In order to narrow educational differences in leisure-time physical activity, we should secure a childhood environment that enables a physically active lifestyle, support leisure-time physical activity in diverse occupational groups, guarantee equal physical activity possibilities across different educational careers and support those with insufficient material resources.

Leisure-time physical activity levels of the US workforce

BACKGROUND

Few studies in the US have assessed physical activity levels across worker groups, despite the increasingly sedentary milieu of contemporary US occupations and increasing obesity rates among US workers. The present study determined the proportion of US workers meeting the Healthy People 2010 Guidelines for leisure-time physical activity levels in major US occupational groups.

METHODS

Self-reported leisure-time physical activity was defined as: a) light-moderate activity > or =30 min five or more times per week; and/or b) vigorous activity > or =20 min three or more times per week. Findings collected on over 150,000 US workers, who participated in the 1997-2004 National Health Interview Surveys, were stratified by occupational group.

RESULTS

On average, the proportions of US workers meeting recommended leisure-time physical activity levels were 31% in female and 36% in male US workers. There was substantial variation in the gender-specific rates of leisure-time physical activity levels by occupation (range: 16-55%) with the lowest rates noted in blue collar groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Leisure-time physical activity levels were sub-optimal among all major US worker groups, with substantial variability across occupations. As part of disease prevention, health professionals should promote increased physical activity levels among those occupations identified with very low rates of leisure-time physical activity.

Does race/ethnicity moderate the association between job strain and leisure time physical activity?

BACKGROUND

Racial/ethnic minorities report myriad barriers to regular leisure time physical activity (LTPA), including the stress and fatigue resulting from their occupational activities.

PURPOSE

We sought to investigate whether an association exists between job strain and LTPA, and whether it is modified by race or ethnicity.

METHODS

Data were collected from 1,740 adults employed in 26 small manufacturing businesses in eastern Massachusetts. LTPA and job strain data were self-reported. Adjusted mean hours of LTPA per week are reported.

RESULTS

In age and gender adjusted analyses, reports of job strain were associated with LTPA. There was a significant interaction between job strain and race or ethnicity (p = .04). Whites experiencing job strain reported 1 less hr of LTPA per week compared to Whites not reporting job strain. Collectively, racial/ethnic minorities reporting job strain exhibited comparatively higher levels of LTPA compared to their counterparts with no job strain, although patterns for individual groups did not significantly differ.

CONCLUSIONS

Job strain was associated with LTPA in a lower income, multiethnic population of healthy adult men and women. The association between job strain and LTPA was modified by race or ethnicity, highlighting the importance of investigating the differential effects of psychosocial occupational factors on LTPA levels by race or ethnicity.

Effort/reward imbalance and sedentary lifestyle: an observational study in a large occupational cohort

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the association between effort/reward imbalance (ERI) at work and sedentary lifestyle.

METHODS

Cross sectional data from the ongoing Finnish Public Sector Study related to 30,433 women and 7718 men aged 17-64 were used (n = 35,918 after exclusion of participants with missing values in covariates). From the responses to a questionnaire, an aggregated mean score for ERI in a work unit was assigned to each participant. The outcome was sedentary lifestyle defined as <2.00 metabolic equivalent task (MET) hours/day. Logistic regression with generalised estimating equations was used as an analysis method to include both individual and work unit level predictors in the models. Adjustments were made for age, marital status, occupational status, job contract, smoking, and heavy drinking.

RESULTS

Twenty five per cent of women and 27% of men had a sedentary lifestyle. High individual level ERI was associated with a higher likelihood of sedentary lifestyle both among women (odds ratio (OR) = 1.08, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.16) and men (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.33). These associations were not explained by relevant confounders and they were also independent of work unit level job strain measured as a ratio of job demands and control.

CONCLUSIONS

A mismatch between high occupational effort spent and low reward received in turn seems to be associated with an increased risk of sedentary lifestyle, although this association is relatively weak.

Job strain and leisure-time physical activity in female and male public sector employees

BACKGROUND

High work stress could decrease physical activity but the evidence of the relationship has remained equivocal. The present study examined the association between job strain and leisure-time physical activity in a large sample of employees.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data related to a cohort of 46,573 Finnish public sector employees aged 17-64 years. Job strain was measured by questions derived from Karasek's Demand/Control model. Leisure-time physical activity was defined using activity metabolic equivalent task (MET) index. Analysis of variance was used to compare means of MET-hours/week by job strain categories and by tertiles of job control and job demands.

RESULTS

Women and men with high strain (low control and high demands), passive jobs (low control and low demands), and low job control had 2.6 to 5.2 MET-hours/week less than their counterparts with low strain and high control, respectively, even after the effects of age, marital status, socioeconomic status, job contract, smoking, heavy drinking, and trait anxiety were taken into account. Active jobs (high control and high demands) were additionally associated with lower mean of MET-hours in men and in older workers.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest an independent, albeit substantially weak, association between higher work stress and lower leisure-time physical activity.

Occupational physical activity across occupational categories

This study investigated the amount of physical activity that occurs during normal working hours, highlighting the occupational differences in physical activity by occupational category. Data were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire (Tecumseh Occupational Physical Activity Questionnaire [TOQ]), which measures past year Occupational Physical Activity (OPA) and by a motion-sensing device (Yamax DigiWalker Pedometer SW - 700). Ninety male and female participants aged 18-62 years participated in the study. Participants were stratified by occupational category according to the Australian Standard Classification of Occupations (ASCO), which was then condensed into professional, white-collar and blue-collar workers. The results showed significant (p < .05) increases in OPA from the professional category (least active) through to the blue-collar workers (most active) in terms of walking activity. Mean daily step counts were 2,835, 3,616 and 8,757 for professional, white-collar and blue-collar respectively. Occupational Physical Activity Scores and Work Activity Units (WAU) in MET - min x wk(-1) from the TOQ showed similar patterns, with blue collar reporting significantly (p < .05) more past year OPA than their white-collar and professional workers. Significant correlations were also shown between the pedometer (step-count data) and the TOQ (r = .38 - .74, p < .01).