Life Events and Change in Leisure Time Physical Activity

Abstract

The global epidemic of chronic non-communicable diseases is closely related to changes in lifestyle, including decreasing leisure time physical activity (PA). Physical inactivity is a major public health challenge. To respond to that challenge, it is essential to know which personal and environmental factors affect PA behaviour. Certain life events may be one contributing factor, by creating emotional distress and disrupting a person's daily routine. The aim was to examine the literature concerning the effects of life events on changes in PA. A systematic literature search was performed on studies that assessed at least one major change in life circumstances and a change in PA. To be included, studies had to assess PA at two timepoints at least (before and after the event). Diseases as life events were excluded from this review. Thirty-four articles met the inclusion criteria. The studies examined the following life-change events: transition to university; change in employment status; marital transitions and changes in relationships; pregnancy/having a child; experiencing harassment at work, violence or disaster; and moving into an institution. The studies reviewed showed statistically significant changes in leisure PA associated with certain life events. In men and women, transition to university, having a child, remarriage and mass urban disaster decreased PA levels, while retirement increased PA. In young women, beginning work, changing work conditions, changing from being single to cohabiting, getting married, pregnancy, divorce/separation and reduced income decreased PA. In contrast, starting a new personal relationship, returning to study and harassment at work increased PA. In middle-aged women, changing work conditions, reduced income, personal achievement and death of a spouse/partner increased PA, while experiencing violence and a family member being arrested or jailed decreased PA. In older women, moving into an institution and interpersonal loss decreased PA, while longer-term widowhood increased PA. In addition, experiencing multiple simultaneous life events decreased PA in men and women. Major life events have a strong effect on leisure PA behaviour. Consequently, people experiencing life events could be an important target group for PA promotion. More research is needed to examine the short- and long-term effects of different life events on PA, gender differences in the effects of life events and the specific determinants of PA change during life events.

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Longitudinal Changes in Leisure-Time Physical Activity From Adolescence to Young Adulthood

“…It should also be borne in mind that the idea that environmental influences may have more effect on leisure-time physical activity as people get older is not a finding from genetic studies alone. Several life events may decrease leisure-time physical activity behavior (Engberg et al, 2012), and it is generally known that major life transitions such as moving out of the parental home, starting work, continuing to tertiary education, and the formation of new interpersonal relationships are very common in young adulthood. Such changes have not been analyzed in the present article.…”

Long-term dynamics in physical activity behaviour across the transition to parenthood

“…There is increasing recognition that life-course events play a key role in promoting or deterring MVPA, with most of the attention focused on work-related transitions (Barnett et al 2014;Dai et al 2014;Engberg et al 2012), such as the retirement transition (Henkens et al 2008;Zantinge et al 2014). There is also some research on other major life events, including relationship transitions (Eng et al 2005) or the onset of certain health conditions (Oman and King 2000).…”

Plasma Steroids and Cardiorespiratory Fitness Response to Regular Exercise

“…Physical inactivity is a major public health challenge (Engberg et al 2012) and has been defined as the fourth leading cause of death worldwide (Kohl et al 2012). The health benefits of regular PA are well established, and elimination of physical inactivity would remove between 6 and 10% of NCDs and increase life expectancy (Lee et al 2012).…”