title: Gender differences in social support and leisure-time physical activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify gender differences in social support dimensions' effect on adults' leisure-time physical activity maintenance, type, and time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal study of 1,278 non-faculty public employees at a university in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Southeastern Brazil. Physical activity was evaluated using a dichotomous question with a two-week reference period, and further questions concerning leisure-time physical activity type (individual or group) and time spent on the activity. Social support was measured with the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Scale. For the analysis, logistic regression models were adjusted separately by gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A multinomial logistic regression showed an association between material support and individual activities among women (OR = 2.76; 95%CI 1.2;6.5). Affective support was associated with time spent on leisure-time physical activity only among men (OR = 1.80; 95%CI 1.1;3.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All dimensions of social support that were examined influenced either the type of, or the time spent on, leisure-time physical activity. In some social support dimensions, the associations detected varied by gender. Future studies should attempt to elucidate the mechanisms involved in these gender differences.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Dimensões Sociais Aplicadas à Atividade Física e ao Esporte, Instituto de Educação, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Aldair J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Claudia S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Equity Studies, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rostila
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Guilherme Loureiro
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Werneck
authors.affiliation: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rosane Härter
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Griep
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Antônio Carlos Monteiro Ponce de
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Faerstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult