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Socioeconomic Status and Physical Activity in Chinese Adults: A Report from a Community-Based Survey in Jiaxing, China

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Listed:
  • Mingling Chen
  • Yikang Wu
  • Hiroto Narimatsu
  • Xueqing Li
  • Chunmei Wang
  • Jianyong Luo
  • Genming Zhao
  • Zhongwen Chen
  • Wanghong Xu

Abstract

Objectives: This study examines the associations of socioeconomic status (SES) with intensity of different types of physical activity (PA) in Chinese adults, aimed at outlining and projecting socioeconomic disparities in PA among the population undergoing a rapid nutrition transition. Methods: A community-based survey was conducted among 3,567 residents aged 30–65 years old in Jiaxing, China, in 2010. SES and PA were assessed by a structured questionnaire. SES was assessed as socioeconomic index (SEI) score based on self-reported educational attainment, household income and occupation. Metabolic equivalents (METs) were calculated for each subject to quantify the total amount of PA from occupation, exercise, transportation and housework. Results: Intensity of overall PA in this population was 165 MET-hours/week, in which energy expenditure in occupational PA accounted for 82%. Both types and intensity of PA were significantly different by SES: middle SES groups had higher intensity of occupational activities; lower SES subjects engaged in more household work; whereas higher SES subjects were more likely to exercise, more active during commuting and had longer sedentary time. All the three components of SES, education attainment, income and occupation, contributed to socioeconomic disparities in PA in this population. Conclusions: Our results suggest an overall insufficiency and socioeconomic inequalities in PA among Chinese adults in Jiaxing, a typical city experiencing a rapid urbanization in China. There is an urgent need to promote leisure-time activities in this population.

Suggested Citation

  • Mingling Chen & Yikang Wu & Hiroto Narimatsu & Xueqing Li & Chunmei Wang & Jianyong Luo & Genming Zhao & Zhongwen Chen & Wanghong Xu, 2015. "Socioeconomic Status and Physical Activity in Chinese Adults: A Report from a Community-Based Survey in Jiaxing, China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(7), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0132918
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132918
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lisa Farrell & Bruce Hollingsworth & Carol Propper & Michael A Shields, 2013. "The Socioeconomic Gradient in Physical Inactivity in England," The Centre for Market and Public Organisation 13/311, The Centre for Market and Public Organisation, University of Bristol, UK.
    2. Cleland, Verity & Ball, Kylie & Crawford, David, 2012. "Socioeconomic position and physical activity among women in Melbourne, Australia: Does the use of different socioeconomic indicators matter?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(10), pages 1578-1583.
    3. Ng, Shu Wen & Norton, Edward C. & Popkin, Barry M., 2009. "Why have physical activity levels declined among Chinese adults? Findings from the 1991-2006 China health and nutrition surveys," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(7), pages 1305-1314, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alison Carver & Muhammad Akram & Anthony Barnett & Robin Mellecker & Ester Cerin, 2020. "Socioeconomic Status and Physical Activity among Mothers of Young Children in an Asian City: The Mediating Role of Household Activities and Domestic Help," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-16, April.
    2. Daniel Puciato, 2019. "Sociodemographic Associations of Physical Activity in People of Working Age," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-12, June.
    3. Qing Wang & Jay J Shen & Michelle Sotero & Casey A Li & Zhiyuan Hou, 2018. "Income, occupation and education: Are they related to smoking behaviors in China?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, February.
    4. Clément, Matthieu, 2017. "The income-body-size gradient among Chinese urban adults: A semiparametric analysis," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 253-270.
    5. Ping He & Yanan Luo & Xiangyang Hu & Rui Gong & Xu Wen & Xiaoying Zheng, 2018. "Association of socioeconomic status with hearing loss in Chinese working-aged adults: A population-based study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(3), pages 1-12, March.
    6. Lisa K. Micklesfield & Richard J. Munthali & Alessandra Prioreschi & Rihlat Said-Mohamed & Alastair Van Heerden & Stephen Tollman & Kathleen Kahn & David Dunger & Shane A. Norris, 2017. "Understanding the Relationship between Socio-Economic Status, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour, and Adiposity in Young Adult South African Women Using Structural Equation Modelling," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-12, October.
    7. Nan Chen & Chiung-Tzu Lucetta Tsai, 2020. "Rural-Urban Divide and the Social Stratification in Leisure Participation in China: Application of Multiple Hierarchy Stratification Perspective," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(5), pages 1535-1548, November.

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