Health Education Research Advance Access published online on October 29, 2008
Health Education Research, doi:10.1093/her/cyn054
Personal, social and environmental correlates of resilience to physical inactivity among women from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds
Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood Victoria 3125, Australia
Correspondence to: * correspondence to: V. J. Cleland. E-mail: verity.cleland{at}deakin.edu.au
While sex and socio-economic disparities in physical activity have been well documented, not all disadvantaged women are inactive. This study aimed to examine correlates of achieving recommended levels of physical activity among women of low socio-economic position. In 2005, a population-based sample of 291 women with low educational attainment provided survey data on leisure time physical activity (LTPA). Participants reported potential personal (enjoyment and self-efficacy; barriers; intentions; guilt and priorities; routines and scheduling; occupational physical activity; television viewing), social (support from family/friends; social participation; sport/recreation club membership; dog ownership) and environmental (aesthetics; safety; local access; footpaths; interesting walks; busy roads to cross; heavy traffic) correlates of physical activity. Nearly 40% of participants achieved recommended LTPA (150 min week–1). Multivariable analyses revealed that higher levels of self-efficacy for walking [prevalence ratio (PR) 2.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19–3.53], higher enjoyment of walking (PR 1.48, 95% CI 1.04–2.12), greater intentions to be active (PR 1.97, 95% CI 1.12–3.45) and having set routines for physical activity (PR 1.91, 95% CI 1.18–3.09) were significantly associated with achieving recommended LTPA. Personal factors were the characteristics most strongly associated with achieving recommended levels of LTPA among women from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Received on February 3, 2008; accepted on September 5, 2008