General social support and physical activity: An analysis of the Ontario health survey

In spite of the many benefits of regular physical activity, the majority of Canadians are sedentary. This paper examines the relationship between gene ral social support and physical activity levels. An analysis of data on 29, 135 individuals from the 1990 Ontario Health Survey was conducted. Hierarch ical multiple regression was used to determine die relationship between mea sures of general social support, derived from factor analysis, and physical activity levels. Sociodemographic and perceived health status measures wer e included as control variables. The results showed that general social sup port. in the form of Social Quantity and Social Frequency (number of friend s/ family members and frequency of contact), was significantly associated w ith higher levels of physical activity. Conversely, support in the form of Familial Structure (marital/cohabitation and parental status) was significa ntly associated with lower levels of physical activity The findings indicat e the types of general social support that facilitate or hinder participati on in physical activity.