Childhood adversities and socioeconomic position as predictors of leisure-time physical inactivity in early adulthood.
BACKGROUND
Limited knowledge exists on how childhood social, health-related and economic circumstances predict adult physical inactivity. Our aim was a) to examine how various childhood adversities and living conditions predict leisure-time physical inactivity in early adulthood and b) to find out whether these associations are mediated through the respondent's own education.


METHODS
Young adults aged 18-29 were used from the Health 2000 Study of the Finnish. The cross-sectional data were based on interviews and questionnaires including retrospective information on childhood circumstances. The analyses were carried out on 68% of the original sample (N = 1894). The outcome measure was leisure-time physical inactivity.


RESULTS
Only a few of the 11 childhood adversities were related with physical activity in early adulthood. Having been bullied at school was associated with physical inactivity independently of the other childhood circumstances and the respondent's own education. Low parental education predicted leisure-time physical inactivity in men and the association was mediated by the respondent's own education. Respondents with only primary or vocational education were more likely to be physically inactive during leisure-time compared with those with secondary or higher education.


CONCLUSIONS
There is some evidence that few specific childhood adversities, especially bullying at school, have long-lasting effects on physical activity levels.
Dept of Social and Health Care Systems, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
Laura
L
Kestilä
Tomi
T
Mäki-Opas
Anton E
AE
Kunst
Katja
K
Borodulin
Ossi
O
Rahkonen
Ritva
R
Prättälä
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D058445:Bullying / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult