Cai Lian Tam, Bonn Gregory, Si Han Yeoh, Chin Choo Yap, Chee Piau Wong
Department of Psychology, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan.
PLoS One. 2016 Jun 22;11(6):e0157730. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157730. eCollection 2016.
Obesity and rates of non-communicable diseases linked to physical inactivity have increased dramatically in Malaysia over the past 20 years. Malaysia has also been identified as one of the least physically active countries in the world with over 60% of adults being essentially sedentary. This study examines the relationship of socio-demographic factors to physical activity among 770 adults from 3 Malaysian states. Physical activity levels were significantly related to ethnicity, gender, age, occupation and educational level. Controlling for inter-relationships among these variables; age, gender, Chinese ethnicity and education level were found to have unique effects on total physical activity, as well as moderate and vigorous exercise. As would be expected, younger people were more physically active, engaging more in both moderate and vigorous types of exercise and males were generally more active than females. Contrary to findings from many developed countries, however, more educated Malaysians were less likely to engage in all types of physical activity. Ethnic Chinese participants, and to a lesser degree Indians also consistently reported lower levels of activity. Possible intervention strategies are discussed that specifically target ethnic and cultural norms related to physical activity. Future research programs exploring barriers to participation and perceptions of physical activity, as well as programs to encourage active life styles among youths are also suggested.
在过去20年里，马来西亚与缺乏身体活动相关的肥胖和非传染性疾病发病率急剧上升。马来西亚还被认定为世界上身体活动最少的国家之一，超过60%的成年人基本久坐不动。本研究调查了马来西亚3个州的770名成年人的社会人口学因素与身体活动之间的关系。身体活动水平与种族、性别、年龄、职业和教育程度显著相关。在控制这些变量之间的相互关系后发现，年龄、性别、华裔和教育程度对总体身体活动以及适度和剧烈运动有独特影响。不出所料，年轻人身体活动更多，在适度和剧烈运动类型中参与度都更高，而且男性总体上比女性更活跃。然而，与许多发达国家的研究结果相反，受教育程度较高的马来西亚人参与各类身体活动的可能性较小。华裔参与者以及程度稍轻的印度裔参与者一直报告较低的活动水平。讨论了针对与身体活动相关的种族和文化规范的具体干预策略。还建议开展未来研究项目，探索参与身体活动的障碍和对身体活动的认知，以及鼓励年轻人养成积极生活方式的项目。
