title: Socioeconomic position during childhood and physical activity during adulthood: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A growing body of evidence links socioeconomic position early in life and physical activity during adulthood. This systematic review aimed to summarize this evidence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medline and EMBASE were searched for studies that assessed socioeconomic position before age 18 years and physical activity at age ≥18 years. Studies were rated according to three key methodological quality criteria: (1) was childhood socioeconomic position assessed prospectively? (2) Was socioeconomic position during adulthood included in the statistical analysis? (3) Was a validated instrument used to measure of physical activity?
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two publications were included. Twenty-six (61.9 %) found a significant association between socioeconomic position early in life and physical activity during adulthood. Twenty-one studies met at least two methodological quality criteria. Among those, the proportion was higher: 15/21 (71.4 %). Associations were of weak to moderate strength, positive for physical activity during leisure time, and negative for transports and work.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The bulk of the evidence supports the notion that there is a life course association between socioeconomic position early in life and physical activity during adulthood. Studies using more rigorous methodology supported this conclusion more consistently.
authors: École de Santé Publique, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-ville, C.P. 6128, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada. carl-etienne.juneau@umontreal.ca.
authors: C E
authors: CE
authors: Juneau
authors: École de Santé Publique, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-ville, C.P. 6128, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Benmarhnia
authors: École de Santé Publique, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-ville, C.P. 6128, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada.
authors: A A
authors: AA
authors: Poulin
authors: École de Santé Publique, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-ville, C.P. 6128, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Côté
authors: École de Santé Publique, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-ville, C.P. 6128, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Potvin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic
keywords: Epidemiology; Longitudinal studies; Physical activity; Public health; Socioeconomic position; Systematic review