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Table 1 The characteristics of two groups with/without regular leisure time physical activity (≥ 10 MET·hr·wk-1) b among adults population from Southern Taiwan, 2007

From: The Correlates of Leisure Time Physical Activity among an Adults Population from Southern Taiwan

Variables a

< 10 MET·hr·wk-1

≥ 10 MET·hr·wk-1

p value

 

n = 411 (53.9)

n = 351 (46.1)

 

Age

  

***

   < 45

155 (37.7)

56 (16.0)

 

   45-64

189 (46.0)

173 (49.3)

 

   ≥ 65

67 (16.3)

122 (34.8)

 

Gender

   

   Male

185 (45.0)

174 (49.6)

 

   Female

226 (55.0)

177 (50.4)

 

Socioeconomic status

   

   Low

270 (65.9)

257 (73.2)

 

   Middle

82 (20.0)

49 (14.0)

 

   High

58 (14.1)

45 (12.8)

 

Care burden

  

**

   With

96 (23.4)

52 (14.8)

 

   Without

315 (76.6)

299 (85.2)

 

Marital status

  

**

   Married/Cohabiting

318 (77.4)

291 (82.9)

 

   Widowed/Divorced/Separated

37 (9.0)

41 (11.7)

 

   Single

56 (13.6)

19 (5.4)

 

Chronic disease

  

**

   With

119 (29)

138 (39.3)

 

   Without

292 (71)

213 (60.7)

 

Alcohol consumption

   

   Yes

63 (15.4)

44 (12.5)

 

   No

346 (84.6)

307 (87.5)

 

Cigarette smoking

   

   Yes

95 (23.2)

66 (18.9)

 

   No

314 (76.8)

284 (81.1)

 

School sports or exercise program

  

**

   Frequent

60 (14.6)

82 (23.4)

 

   Infrequent

351 (85.4)

269 (76.6)

 

Knowledge of health and exercise scores

7.7 (6.2)

8.5 (6.3)

 

Self efficacy scores

3.5 (4.4)

8.1 (5.4)

***

Sports media usage scores

3.2 (2.9)

3.8 (2.9)

**

General social support scores

16.2 (6.6)

17.9 (6.9)

***

   Social support from family

7.1 (3.2)

7.6 (3.4)

 

   Social support from friends

6.2 (3.2)

7.0 (3.5)

**

   Social support from medical staff

2.8 (2.6)

3.3 (2.6)

*

Home equipment numbers

3.4 (3.1)

3.9 (3.3)

 

Perceived convenience of facilities around home

  

***

   Great

304 (74.1)

309 (88.3)

 

   Poor

106 (25.9)

41 (11.7)

 
  1. Data expressed as Mean (SD) or No. of subjects (percent)
  2. Using independent-samples T test or Chi-square tests, *** p < 0.001; ** p < 0.01; * p < 0.05
  3. a Variables are defined as follows. (1) Care burden. Bearing caregiver responsibilities (family or children): "with" or "without". (2) Chronic diseases include hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, and heart disease: "with at least one" or "without". (3) Socio-economic status was determined from the modified Hollingshead's Two Factor Index of Social Position. The summed weighted scores were broken down into five social classes. The 1st & 2nd; 3rd; 4th & 5th classes were categorized as low, middle, and high socioeconomic status respectively. (4) Smoking was defined as having at least one cigarette per day for at least six months. (5) Alcohol consumption was defined as drinking alcoholic beverages at least once a week for six months or more. (6) School sports or exercise programs include school sport teams, inside-school sports competitions, informal sports teams, and specific sports lessons: "frequent"--frequently in one or more items; or "infrequent"--the others. (7) Knowledge of health and exercise includes 19 items about the benefits (e.g., exercise can lower blood pressure, provide sounder sleep, relieve stress, etc) and 11 items about disease-prevention (e.g., exercise can prevent diabetes mellitus, hypertension, etc). (8) Self-efficacy items include the following factors: lack of energy (too tired); lack of time due to occupation; lack of time due to housework or family responsibilities; lack of time due to some social activities; bad weather; lack of a partner. (9) Sport media usage items include watching sports TV programs, reading sports reports in newspaper or on the internet, reading sports magazines and watching live sports game. (10) General social support scores include support from family, friends, or medical staff. Score items include being reminded, or encouraged to exercise, exercising with someone or having someone objected to the respondent exercising. (11) Home exercise equipment consists of 30 items. (12) Perceived convenience of facilities around home: "inconvenient" and "acceptable"--"poor"; "convenient"--"great". b Based on the recommended levels for moderate physical activity (at least 30 min of moderate activity 5 d·wk-1 or 20 min of vigorous activity at least 3 d·wk-1) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005)
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BMC Public Health

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