RELATING PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY TO HEALTH-STATUS, SOCIAL CONNECTIONS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES

An important public health goal is to increase the population's partic ipation in regular, moderate physical activity. Descriptive epidemiolo gical studies that focus only on associations between physical activit y and demographic and psychological factors are not sufficient to info rm exercise promotion strategies, and a broader view of health is requ ired. This study investigates the additional factors of health status, social connections and satisfaction with local area facilities by ana lysing data from a 1987 community health survey of 1765 residents of A delaide. Factors associated with low activity were age group, educatio n, general health (women), reduced mobility, number of social connecti ons (men) and degree of satisfaction with recreation facilities. Inclu ding social and structural factors is valuable for research into inter ventions, policy and theory relating to physical activity as it brings theoretical perspectives and links to other areas of public health an d social research.