Contribution of Individual and Environmental Factors to Physical Activity Level among Spanish Adults

Abstract

BackgroundLack of physical activity (PA) is a major risk for chronic disease and obesity. The main aims of the present study were to identify individual and environmental factors independently associated with PA and examine the relative contribution of these factors to PA level in Spanish adults.Methodology/Principal FindingsA population-based cross-sectional sample of 3,000 adults (18–75 years old) from Gran Canaria (Spain) was selected using a multistage stratified random sampling method. The participants were interviewed at home using a validated questionnaire to assess PA as well as individual and environmental factors. The data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. One demographic variable (education), two cognitive (self-efficacy and perceived barriers), and one social environmental (organized format) were independently associated with PA in both genders. Odds ratios ranged between 1.76–2.07 in men and 1.35–2.50 in women (both p<0.05). Individual and environmental factors explained about one-third of the variance in PA level.Conclusions/SignificanceSelf-efficacy and perceived barriers were the most significant factors to meet an adequate level of PA. The risk of insufficient PA was twofold greater in men with primary or lesser studies and who are employed. In women, living in rural environments increased the risk of insufficient PA. The promotion of organized PA may be an efficient way to increase the level of PA in the general population. Improvement in the access to sport facilities and places for PA is a prerequisite that may be insufficient and should be combined with strategies to improve self-efficacy and overcome perceived barriers in adulthood.

Physical Activity and Its Related Factors in Southeast Iran

“…We demonstrated that participants with university ed-ucation have a higher level of PA compared to those with a pre-college education; this was similar to results of studies in Spain and Oman (22,23). It seems that academic education improves the knowledge of participants about the benefits of PA. Students were significantly less active than individuals who were unemployed in the current study.…”

“…The level of PA was higher in unemployed participants than employers, however, not to a significant extent in this study. Some studies have revealed that employment is a risk factor for inactivity (22).…”

Barreras percibidas para la práctica de actividad física en estudiantes universitarios. Diferencias por género y niveles de actividad física

“…políticas saludables; Keating, Guan, Piñero, & Bridges, 2005). De los factores individuales, la literatura científica muestra que la identificación de las barreras para la realización de la AF, debe ser uno de los objetivos prioritarios para facilitar una conducta más activa entre los universitarios (Serrano-Sánchez, LeraNavarro, Dorado-García, González-Henriquez, & Sanchis-Moysi, 2012). En este sentido, algunos estudios en población universitaria encontraron que las barreras para la realización de práctica de AF se relacionan negativamente con los niveles de AFMV (e.g.…”

Validación de un instrumento de medición de actividad física y propuesta de percentiles para su valoración en jóvenes universitarios

“…Además, ayudaban a resolver algunas dudas y dificultades que se suelen presentar cotidianamente. El instrumento fue aplicado en dos oportunidades a un De hecho, algunos estudios efectuados en adolescentes han señalado que existe una tendencia a la disminución progresiva de los niveles de AF conforme la edad avanza [9][10][11] , inclusive otros estudios sostienen que se acentúa más entre la última fase de la adolescencia y en la primera fase de la adultez 12,13 , lo cual, es producto de reducidos niveles de actividad física, sedentarismo y mayor consumo de grasas en sus dietas durante los años de estudio 14 .…”