Abstract
BackgroundPhysical activity is known to have health benefits across population groups. However, less is known about changes over time in socioeconomic differences in leisure-time physical activity and the reasons for the changes. We hypothesised that class differences in leisure-time physical activity would widen over time due to declining physical activity among the lower occupational classes. We examined whether occupational class differences in leisure-time physical activity change over time in a cohort of Finnish middle-aged women and men. We also examined whether a set of selected covariates could account for the observed changes.MethodsThe data were derived from the Helsinki Health Study cohort mail surveys; the respondents were 40-60-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki at baseline in 2000-2002 (n = 8960, response rate 67%). Follow-up questionnaires were sent to the baseline respondents in 2007 (n = 7332, response rate 83%). The outcome measure was leisure-time physical activity, including commuting, converted to metabolic equivalent tasks (MET). Socioeconomic position was measured by occupational class (professionals, semi-professionals, routine non-manual employees and manual workers). The covariates included baseline age, marital status, limiting long-lasting illness, common mental disorders, job strain, physical and mental health functioning, smoking, body mass index, and employment status at follow-up. Firstly the analyses focused on changes over time in age adjusted prevalence of leisure-time physical activity. Secondly, logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for covariates of changes in occupational class differences in leisure-time physical activity.ResultsAt baseline there were no occupational class differences in leisure-time physical activity. Over the follow-up leisure-time physical activity increased among those in the higher classes and decreased among manual workers, suggesting the emergence of occupational class differences at follow-up. Women in routine non-manual and manual classes and men in the manual class tended to be more often physically inactive in their leisure-time (<14 MET hours/week) and to be less often active (>30 MET hours/week) than those in the top two classes. Adjustment for the covariates did not substantially affect the observed occupational class differences in leisure-time physical activity at follow-up.ConclusionsOccupational class differences in leisure-time physical activity emerged over the follow-up period among both women and men. Leisure-time physical activity needs to be promoted among ageing employees, especially among manual workers.
Highlights
Physical activity is known to have health benefits across population groups
The prevalence of physically active increased among the professionals and semi-professionals and remained stable or decreased in the lower classes, leading to socioeconomic differences over the follow-up
The results showed that there were no considerable class differences in leisure time physical activity at baseline, but hierarchical occupational class differences in leisure-time physical activity emerged over the follow-up
Summary
Physical activity is known to have health benefits across population groups. less is known about changes over time in socioeconomic differences in leisure-time physical activity and the reasons for the changes. We examined whether occupational class differences in leisure-time physical activity change over time in a cohort of Finnish middle-aged women and men. We examined whether a set of selected covariates could account for the observed changes Health behaviours, such as leisure-time physical activity tend to be socioeconomically patterned. Cross-sectional studies suggest that people in higher education [3,4] and occupational class [5] are more often physically active in their leisure time than counterparts in lower positions. The prevalence of adult Finns engaging in leisure-time physical activity at least twice a week increased from 37% to 55% among women and from 38% to 62% among men between 1978-2002 [6]. In Australia, the prevalence of those who were physically inactive in leisure-time has been remained almost stable [9]
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