Physical activity related to mastery and vitality in a Swedish adult population with economic difficulties

Abstract

Background People with low socio-economic status report lower levels of physical activity (PA). There is insufficient knowledge about the availability of psychological resources for those who are physically active despite having a low socio-economic status. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between PA level and mastery and vitality, respectively, within an adult population with self-reported economic difficulties. Method Data from a cross-sectional, population-based study (n = 817) were used. Linear regression was used to estimate the unstandardised regression coefficient (β) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), describing associations between PA levels (independent variable) and scale scores of psychological resources in terms of mastery and vitality (outcome variables). Three models were constructed: Model I unadjusted; Model II adjusted for sex and age; and Model III adjusted for sex, age, smoking and food quality. Result After adjusting for sex, age, smoking and food quality and using low-level PA as the reference, high-level PA, but not intermediate-level PA, was related to higher scale scores of mastery (β = 0.72 [95% CI 0.08 to 1.37]). For vitality, both high-level PA and intermediate-level PA were related to higher scale scores (β = 9.30 [95% CI 5.20 to 13.40] and β = 6.70 [95% CI 1.40 to 12.00] respectively). Conclusion In an adult population with self-reported economic difficulties, higher levels of physical activity were related to higher mastery and vitality. Our results support that the association between physical activity and psychological resources in terms of mastery and vitality should be considered in the context of targeted health dialogues. Trial registration number Not applicable.

Vitality Revisited: The Evolving Concept of Flourishing and Its Relevance to Personal and Public Health

“…Vitality is a unidimensional construct that considers both negative and positive states; that is, the presence of energy (energy as a positive asset) and the absence of fatigue (fatigue as a negative indicator/hinderance to vitality) [ 14 ]. Vitality also links integrated biopsychosocial theories of human functioning along a health continuum [ 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 ]. The research shows that vitality is positively associated with an individual’s quantity and quality of social contacts [ 113 ], and while vitality appears to be a factor in the promotion/maintenance of healthy lifestyle behaviors, intervention studies suggest that vitality is also a product of healthy dietary practices and regular physical activity [ 114 , 115 ].…”

Salutogenic outcomes and their personality predictors in participants of year-long Antarctic expeditions

“…We believe that such results are quite natural because, as we pointed out in the introduction, the concept of general resistant resources occupies an important place in the salutogenic approach and describe one's capability to successfully cope inherent stress factors of human existence (Johansson et al 2021). In our opinion, this concept is quite closely related to the concept of 'hardiness', which reveals the psychological mechanisms of a person's capability to maintain their health regardless of highly stressful life events (Kobasa 1979;Kobasa et al 1982), which is especially important in the stressful conditions of life at the Antarctic station.…”

“…The concept of general resistant resources is another important component of the salutogenic approach. It describes a person's capability to successfully cope with the inherent stressors of human existence (Johansson et al 2021).…”

The Association between Physical Activity and Intrinsic Capacity in Chinese Older Adults and Its Connection to Primary Care: China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS)

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