All are equal, but some are more equal than others: social determinants of leisure time physical activity through the lens of intersectionality

Gregore I Mielke,Bruno P Nunes,John Cairney,Deborah C Malta

doi:10.1186/s12889-021-12428-7

Abstract

BackgroundTo date, no research has investigated social determinants of leisure time physical activity through the lens of intersectionality in a low- and middle-income country. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the intersectionality in leisure time physical activity in a nationwide sample of Brazilian adults.MethodsData from the Brazilian National Health Survey conducted in 2013 were analysed (N = 58,429). Prevalence of sufficient leisure time physical activity (150+ minutes per week in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity) was estimated according to gender, racial identity, education and income, and according to multiple combinations of these sociodemographic characteristics (i.e., multiple jeopardy index).ResultsThe prevalence of sufficient leisure time physical activity was 22.9% (95%CI: 22.3 to 23.6). Overall, the prevalence of sufficient leisure time physical activity was highest among men, individuals with white skin colour, and among those in the highest group of education and income. Among men, white, with a university degree and in the highest quartile of income (3% of the population), the prevalence of sufficient leisure time physical activity was 48%. Among non-white women with low education and low income (8.1% of the population), the prevalence of sufficient leisure time physical activity was 9.8%.ConclusionInformed by the theory of intersectionality, findings of this study have shown that intersections of gender, racial identity and socioeconomic position of the Brazilian society strongly influence leisure time physical activity at the individual level. Targeted interventions to increase leisure time physical activity should address the complexities of social status intersections.

Highlights

To date, no research has investigated social determinants of leisure time physical activity through the lens of intersectionality in a low- and middle-income country
Researchers interested in gender differences in physical activity behaviours focus on both the main effect and adjusted effect, with the assumption of no interaction to understand the impact of one specific marker of social disadvantage, as though it were largely independent of the influence of other social determinants
In this study we explored the role of intersectionality on leisure time physical activity in a large sample of Brazilian adults

Summary

Introduction

No research has investigated social determinants of leisure time physical activity through the lens of intersectionality in a low- and middle-income country. The aim of this study was to explore the intersectionality in leisure time physical activity in a nationwide sample of Brazilian adults In continents such as North America, South America, Western Europe, and Australasia, epidemiological research has documented consistent social status. Researchers interested in gender differences in physical activity behaviours focus on both the main effect (gender differences) and adjusted effect, with the assumption of no interaction (gender difference after statistically controlling for other variables related to the physical activity) to understand the impact of one specific marker of social disadvantage, as though it were largely independent of the influence of other social determinants Such an approach is consistent with social theories such as feminism or Marxism, which view a particular form of social inequality as dominant over others (e.g., gender and social class respectively) [7]. It is not the additive effects of being poor, non-white and a woman, but the combined synergistic effect of these statuses that together influence health inequalities

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