Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research (IPP), University of Bremen, Grazer Straße 2a, 28359, Bremen, Germany.
BMC Geriatr. 2022 May 6;22(1):396. doi: 10.1186/s12877-022-03075-7.
Regular physical activity (PA) is an important strategy for healthy ageing. Socioeconomic status was found to be a key determinant of PA, however, evidence on associations between socioeconomic status and PA among older adults is limited. The aim of this study was to contribute to research on the associations of socioeconomic status and PA among older adults by including self-reported and objectively measured PA data. Furthermore, we examined the self-reported PA data more closely by looking at the activities separately.
Cross-sectional data of 1507 participants (52.5% female) of the OUTDOOR ACTIVE study between 65 and 75 years, residing in Bremen, Germany, were included in the analyses. Self-reported PA was assessed via questionnaire and comprised all organised and non-organised activities. For analyses, mean hours per week of total and moderate to vigorous PA, and mean metabolic equivalents per week were used. Objectively measured PA was assessed using accelerometers over seven consecutive days. Socioeconomic status was included as an additive social class index containing education, income, and occupation. To test for associations between PA and socioeconomic status, linear regressions were carried out.
Self-reported PA showed significant negative associations with socioeconomic status for both men and women. Objectively measured PA was positively associated with socioeconomic status, which was significant in men but not in women. When examining physical activities separately, time spent on housework, gardening, biking, and walking decreased with increasing socioeconomic status. Women in the second SES quintile and men in the third quintile reported the most, and women in the first quintile and men in the fifth quintile the least hours per week spent on exercise.
The results of this study contributed to the existing research gap on the associations of socioeconomic status and PA among older adults. Moreover, we provided information on both self-reported and objectively measured PA, and showed the discrepancies in the two methods' results. These findings can help to develop PA promotion interventions targeting specific socioeconomic status groups and to develop accurate, valid, and reliable self-reported and objective measurements of PA for older adults.
有规律的身体活动（PA）是健康老龄化的重要策略。社会经济地位被认为是 PA 的一个关键决定因素，然而，关于老年人社会经济地位与 PA 之间关系的证据有限。本研究旨在通过纳入自我报告和客观测量的 PA 数据，为老年人社会经济地位与 PA 之间关系的研究做出贡献。此外，我们通过分别观察活动更仔细地研究了自我报告的 PA 数据。
本研究分析了德国不来梅的 OUTDOOR ACTIVE 研究中 1507 名 65 至 75 岁参与者（52.5%为女性）的横断面数据。自我报告的 PA 通过问卷进行评估，包括所有有组织和无组织的活动。对于分析，使用每周总 PA 和中到剧烈 PA 的平均小时数以及每周平均代谢当量。使用连续七天的加速度计来客观测量 PA。社会经济地位包括教育、收入和职业的附加社会阶层指数。为了测试 PA 与社会经济地位之间的关联，进行了线性回归。
自我报告的 PA 与男女两性的社会经济地位呈显著负相关。客观测量的 PA 与社会经济地位呈正相关，这在男性中显著，但在女性中不显著。当分别检查体育活动时，随着社会经济地位的提高，花在做家务、园艺、骑自行车和散步上的时间减少。第二 SES 五分位数的女性和第三五分位数的男性报告每周锻炼的时间最多，而第一五分位数的女性和第五五分位数的男性报告每周锻炼的时间最少。
本研究的结果有助于填补关于老年人社会经济地位与 PA 之间关系的现有研究空白。此外，我们提供了自我报告和客观测量的 PA 信息，并展示了两种方法结果的差异。这些发现有助于针对特定社会经济地位群体制定 PA 促进干预措施，并为老年人制定准确、有效和可靠的自我报告和客观测量 PA 的方法。
