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Socioeconomic Position and the Tracking of Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness From Childhood to Adulthood
Citation
Cleland, VJ and Ball, K and Magnussen, C and Dwyer, T and Venn, A, Socioeconomic Position and the Tracking of Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness From Childhood to Adulthood, American Journal of Epidemiology, 170, (9) pp. 1069-1077. ISSN 0002-9262 (2009) [Refereed Article]
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.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | adult; child; motor activity; physical fitness; prospective studies; social class; social mobility |
| Research Division: | Medical and Health Sciences |
| Research Group: | Public Health and Health Services |
| Research Field: | Epidemiology |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) |
| Objective Field: | Behaviour and Health |
| UTAS Author: | Cleland, VJ (Dr Verity Cleland) |
| UTAS Author: | Magnussen, C (Dr Costan Magnussen) |
| UTAS Author: | Venn, A (Professor Alison Venn) |
| ID Code: | 72434 |
| Year Published: | 2009 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 73 |
| Deposited By: | Menzies Institute for Medical Research |
| Deposited On: | 2011-08-26 |
| Last Modified: | 2011-08-26 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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