title: Leisure time physical activity and subsequent physical and mental health functioning among midlife Finnish, British and Japanese employees: a follow-up study in three occupational cohorts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine whether leisure time physical activity contributes to subsequent physical and mental health functioning among midlife employees. The associations were tested in three occupational cohorts from Finland, Britain and Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Finland, Britain and Japan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective employee cohorts from the Finnish Helsinki Health Study (2000-2002 and 2007, n=5958), British Whitehall II study (1997-1999 and 2003-2004, n=4142) and Japanese Civil Servants Study (1998-1999 and 2003, n=1768) were used. Leisure time physical activity was classified into three groups: inactive, moderately active and vigorously active.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mean scores of physical and mental health functioning (SF-36) at follow-up were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical activity was associated with better subsequent physical health functioning in all three cohorts, however, with varying magnitude and some gender differences. Differences were the clearest among Finnish women (inactive: 46.0, vigorously active: 49.5) and men (inactive: 47.8, active vigorous: 51.1) and British women (inactive: 47.3, active vigorous: 50.4). In mental health functioning, the differences were generally smaller and not that clearly related to the intensity of physical activity. Emerging differences in health functioning were relatively small.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vigorous physical activity was associated with better subsequent physical health functioning in all three cohorts with varying magnitude. For mental health functioning, the intensity of physical activity was less important. Promoting leisure time physical activity may prove useful for the maintenance of health functioning among midlife employees.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Jouni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lahti
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabia
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Singh-Manoux
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kivimäki
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tatsuse
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.
authors.forename: Michikazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sekine
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Tea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lallukka
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: PREVENTIVE MEDICINE; PUBLIC HEALTH; SPORTS MEDICINE