Year: 2007
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Purpose: This cross-sectional study examined potential differences in reported past-year leisure time, occupational, total (leisure plus occupational), vigorous and usual household physical activity among 737 women who self-identified as lesbian (n = 405) or heterosexual (n = 332), were 35-55 years of age (Mean = 45.2 ± 5.5), reported their race as either Black (n = 80, 11%) or White (n = 657, 89%), and were recruited for participation in the Epidemiologic STudy of HEalth Risk in women (ESTHER) project at the University of Pittsburgh, PA. Potential differences in predictors of past-year leisure time physical activity between the groups were also examined. Methods: Physical activity was assessed through verbal interview using the Modifiable Activity Questionnaire (MAQ) and a composite questionnaire for usual household physical activity. Physical activity, sociodemographic, behavioral and lifestyle variables were compared by sexual orientation using median, Chi-Square and independent t-tests. Predictors of past-year leisure time physical activity were determined using multivariate step-wise logistic regression. Results: The groups did not differ by age, race, education, income, employment, or marital or partner status. More heterosexuals (49%) reported children age <18 yrs living in the household compared to lesbians (15%) (p <.001). Body mass index (BMI), cigarette smoking and alcohol use were higher among lesbians (p <.05). There were no differences in reported time (hrs/wk) spent in past-year leisure time, occupational, total, or vigorous physical activity. Usual household physical activity (hrs/wk) was higher among heterosexuals than among lesbians (20.8 vs. 15.7 hrs/wk)(p< .001). Predictors of past-year leisure time physical activity included BMI for both groups. Additional predictors for lesbians were smoking status, educational attainment, and current committed marital or partner relationship status. Conclusions: Although time (hrs/wk) spent in past-year leisure time, occupational, vigorous and total physical activity were not different between lesbians and heterosexual women, time spent in usual household physical activity was higher among heterosexuals. Lesbians had four predictors of past-year leisure time physical activity while heterosexuals had only one. Therefore, although many aspects of physical activity are similar between lesbians and heterosexuals, some differences in physical activity exist among women based upon sexual orientation.
Author: Karen Michele Delfine
Language: English
Topic: Physical Activity and Health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1526383799