Parenting Status And Physical Activity Levels In Rural Working-class Adults

Abstract

Purpose To examine differences in physical activity levels based on parenting status in rural working-class adults. Methods A total of 61 extension agents (57% male) responded to a survey available at the annual North Dakota extension conference in the fall of 2003. The survey included demographic and physical activity questions. The main outcome measure was MET-min per week, obtained with the seven-day self-administered short form International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Demographic variables included personal income, number of children living at home, marital status and perceived body weight. Results: The majority of subjects reported being married (n=52, 86%), having children living at home (n=32, 53%), or both (n=31, 50.8%). The mean amount of weekly physical activity was 1682.16 MET-min per week (0 - 7783.00, SD 1779.94). No significant differences for activity were noted between genders, personal income groups, perceived body weights or marital status. Subjects with no children living at home were almost twice as active as those with children at home (2293.0 v. 1162.1 MET-min per week, p <0.001) and similarly, of the married couples, those without children at home were almost twice as active as those with children at home (2203.3 vs. 1184.9 MET-min per week, p=0.001). Discussion Both traditional and novel factors predicting physical activity were assessed in this survey using the IPAQ. MET-min per week revealed a significant difference in activity levels based on whether or not an adult had children living at home. Adults without children living at home were almost twice as active as those with children at home, regardless of marital status, gender, personal income or perceived body weight. Given the considerable time commitment involved in parenting, it seems apparent that time is the greatest barrier to activity for this population. Therefore, future efforts to promote or increase physical activity in adult parents may be most effective if they include activities that are time-efficient and/or family-friendly. Future research from this lab will investigate the effect of the U.S. governments Small Steps campaign, which attempts to address this issue, on this same population.