title: Correlates of physical activity among U.S. young adults, 18 to 30 years of age, from NHANES III.
abstract: Young adults are often in periods of transition, and lifestyle changes such as a decline in physical activity can occur during this period. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between demographic, biologic, lifestyle, social support index, environmental factors, and physical activity in young adults. The participants were 4,152 young adults from 18 to 30 years of age enrolled in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). A moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) score was calculated from responses to nine activities and up to four activities not previously listed. Multiple regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between MVPA and independent variables separately for men and women. Non-Hispanic Blacks were more active than non-Hispanic White or Mexican American men, whereas, among women, non-Hispanic Whites were more active. Education, social support index, and trying to lose weight were positively associated with MVPA, whereas being married was inversely related in both men and women. Among women, those who were unemployed, in better health, had smaller families, had lower body mass indexes (BMIs), and were not from the South had higher MVPA. Men who were in school during the past 12 months were more active than those who were not in school. The results from this study suggest that demographic and social factors are important determinants of physical activity in young adults and should be considered when planning interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science, Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, 29208, USA. mdowda@sc.edu
authors.forename: Marsha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dowda
authors.forename: Barbara E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Ainsworth
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Addy
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Riner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003710:Demography; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data