Examining the relationships between individual\u2019s time use and activity participations with their health indicators

Yusak O. Susilo,Chengxi Liu

doi:10.1007/s12544-017-0243-y

Abstract

PurposeUsing a three-week household activity-travel survey, this paper explores the relationship between individuals’ self-reported physical, mental and social health conditions and their time allocation for different types of in-home and out-of-home time activities.MethodsA path model is developed to investigate the roles of activity-travel time use on the self-reported health conditions, while the socio-demographics and residential environment characteristics are also considered.ResultsThe model results reveal heterogeneous impacts of different types of activities and intensities on individual’s self-reported health conditions. This study, however, did not find evidence of positive relationship between cycling and walking and self-reported physical health condition, which has been found in many developed countries. Presumably this is because in developing countries like Indonesia the individuals who walk and cycle are likely to be a part of economically disadvantaged groups who have less awareness to their own health conditions.ConclusionBeside activity and travel time use factors, age and working status were found significantly affecting the self-reported health conditions, regardless of respondents’ gender and income. Neighbourhood characteristics, such as population density, are also found positively correlated to self-reported respondents’ physical, social and mental health conditions.

Highlights

ResultsThe model results reveal heterogeneous impacts of different types of activities and intensities on individual’s self-reported health conditions
In the last decade, there has been a surge in the studies that investigate the positive health effects from the use of physically active travel modes such as walking and cycling
Together with an energy-dense diet, insufficient physical activities would lead to obesity epidemic, a condition that is associated with cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, cancer and impaired mental health [6,7,8,9]

Summary

Results

The model results reveal heterogeneous impacts of different types of activities and intensities on individual’s self-reported health conditions. This study, did not find evidence of positive relationship between cycling and walking and self-reported physical health condition, which has been found in many developed countries. This is because in developing countries like Indonesia the individuals who walk and cycle are likely to be a part of economically disadvantaged groups who have less awareness to their own health conditions

Conclusion

Introduction

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The study area and data description

The 2013 BMA dataset

26 Page 4 of 15 Table 1 Health survey questions Category Physical activities

Social and communication activities with other family members

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Summary