title: Longitudinal person-related determinants of physical activity in young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to examine the longitudinal associations of person-related factors with physical activity (PA) behavior in young adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed longitudinal self-reported time spent in moderate-intensity PA (MPA; 4-7 METs) and vigorous-intensity PA (VPA; >7 METs) from 499 young adults (49% male) who participated in the Amsterdam Growth and Health Longitudinal Study at the age of 21, 27, 32, and 36 yr. Sociodemographic factors (i.e., marital and employment status), physical factors (i.e., skinfolds, aerobic fitness, neuromotor fitness, back problems, and general health status), psychological factors (i.e., problem and emotion focused coping, mild health complaints, and personality), and behavioral factors (i.e., alcohol consumption, smoking, and energy intake) were assessed at each time point. We performed sex-specific univariable and multivariable generalized estimating equations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Men and women with higher aerobic fitness were more moderately and vigorously active. Not having paid work was associated with more MPA in both men and women. Men with part-time paid work, lower scores on dominance, higher scores on hostility, and above moderate alcohol consumption (i.e., ≥140 g of alcohol per week) were more moderately active. Divorced women and those with better physical flexibility spent more time in MPA. Men having full-time paid work, with a good general health status and nonsmokers, were more vigorously active. Women being married/living together, who had better physical flexibility, lower scores on inadequacy, higher scores on dominance, and low caloric intake (around 2000 kcal·d) were more vigorously active.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several sociodemographic, physical, psychological, and behavioral factors were associated with PA in Dutch young adults. Determinants were different for MPA and VPA and for men and women.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS; 2Department of Health Sciences, Section Methodology and Applied Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS; 3Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS; 4Body@Work, Research Center Physical Activity, Work and Health, TNO-VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, THE NETHERLANDS; and 5Division Work and Employment, TNO, Hoofddorp, THE NETHERLANDS.
authors.forename: Léonie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Uijtdewilligen
authors.forename: Jos W R
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Twisk
authors.forename: Mai J M
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Chinapaw
authors.forename: Lando L J
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Koppes
authors.forename: Willem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van Mechelen
authors.forename: Amika S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009426:Netherlands; D010809:Physical Fitness; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult