Social influences and low leisure-time physical activity in young Danish adults

Background: Many youths and adults maintain a sedentary life style and a be tter understanding of the factors which influence physical activity is need ed, This study analyses the association between social factors and low leis ure-time physical activity in young adults. Methods: Three hundred and seve nteen children aged 6-18 years participated in a health survey in 1979 and again 13 years later. In this cohort the influence of family factors during childhood on the subsequent risk of low leisure-time activity was analysed using multiple logistic regression. Results: Young women were significantl y less physically active during leisure time if over 25 years of age, poorl y educated and smokers. In multivariate analysis, childhood smoking was the only variable significantly related to low leisure-time physical activity (OR=5.6 and 95% CI: 1.4-23.6) in young women, In young men, low leisure-tim e physical activity was associated with parental work activity. Men whose p arents had reported high physical activity during work at the examination i n 1976-1978 were less often physically inactive during leisure time (OR=0.2 and 95% CI: 0.1-0.6) at the follow-up in 1992. Conclusions: Young smoking girls seem to be a key group in the prevention of both smoking and a sedent ary life style.