Socioeconomic position and the tracking of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness from childhood to adulthood.

Full Abstract

This study examined the influence of childhood socioeconomic position (SEP) and social mobility on activity and fitness tracking from childhood into adulthood. In a prospective cohort of 2,185 Australian adults (aged 26-36 years), first examined in 1985 (at ages 7-15 years), self-reported physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness (subsample only) were measured. SEP measures included retrospectively reported parental education (baseline) and own education (follow-up). There was little evidence of a relation between childhood SEP and activity tracking, but high childhood SEP (maternal education) was associated with a 59% increased likelihood of persistent fitness, and medium childhood SEP (paternal and parental education) was associated with a 33%-36% decreased likelihood of persistent fitness. Upward social mobility was associated with a greater likelihood of increasing activity (38%-49%) and fitness (90%), and persistently high SEP was associated with a greater likelihood of increasing activity (males: 58%) and fitness (males and females combined: 89%). In conclusion, persistently high SEP and upward social mobility were associated with increases in activity and fitness from childhood to adulthood. Findings highlight socioeconomic differentials in activity and fitness patterns and suggest that improvements in education may represent a pathway through which physical activity levels can be increased and health benefits achieved.

Author information

Author/s: Cleland, Verity J (VJ); Ball, Kylie (K); Magnussen, Costan (C); Dwyer, Terence (T); Venn, Alison (A);

Affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. verity.cleland(-atsign-)deakin.edu.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: American journal of epidemiology (Am J Epidemiol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Nov; vol 170 (issue 9) : pp 1069-77

Dates: Created 2009/10/16; Completed 2009/11/04;

PMID: 19767351, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/4/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Nov 1;170(9):1078-81; discussion 1082-3. (PMID: 19767350)

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