Sex Differences in the Physical Inactivity and Health-Related Quality of Life Relationship among Rural Adults

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical inactivity (PIA) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in rural adults and examine the extent to which sex differences exist in this relationship. Methods: A total of 5617 adults 18 years of age and older who indicated residing in a rural county was included in this analysis. PIA status was assessed by questions regarding recreational physical activity during the previous month. Five HRQOL measures (physical health, mental health, inactivity health, general health, & unhealthy days) were used as primary outcome variables. PIA and HRQOL prevalence estimates were computed with 95% CIs. Multiple logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs adjusted for age, ethnicity, and income. Results: Physically inactive rural adults were significantly more likely to report poor HRQOL in all overall crude models with ORs ranging from 1.59 to 2.16. Additionally, sex-by-PIA interactions were significant across all crude HRQOL models with ORs ranging from 2.27 to 3.08 and 1.56 to 2.42 for women and men, respectively. Sex differences were maintained in fully adjusted models, except for mental health and inactivity health with ORs ranging from 1.80 to 2.58 and 1.41 to 1.79 for women and men, respectively. Conclusion: Results from this study show that PIA is a strong predictor of poor HRQOL even after controlling for confounding variables. Furthermore, physically inactive rural women appear more likely to report poor levels of HRQOL than physically inactive rural men.

Using Structural Equation Modeling to Examine the Effects of Sex and Physical Activity on the Metabolic Syndrome and Health-related Quality of Life Relationship

“…To some extent, these findings are shown to be consistent with other studies. For example, a recent study using a representative sample of rural adults showed that females who are physically inactive are significantly more likely to report poor HRQOL than their male counterparts [18]. Therefore, the current study showing sex differences in the MetS, MVPA, and HRQOL relationship is a reasonable extension from published evidence.…”

“…And PA is a preventive health behavior associated with both HRQOL [17][18][19] and MetS [20][21][22]. Given these known associations between MetS, PA, and HRQOL, supporting evidence specifically showing how much PA facilitates the MetS and HRQOL relationship is limited.…”

Sex differences in relation patterns between health-related quality of life of older adults and its correlates: a population-based cross-sectional study in Madeira, Portugal

“…For example, while sex differences in older adults’ HRQoL (with men reporting higher HRQoL) and related inequalities have been extensively discussed in prior research (Skar et al , 2014; Katz and Calasanti, 2015; Olmedo-Alguacil et al ., 2016), such sex differences, remain to be further explained. Yet, in this regard, evidence on sex differences in the relation between HRQoL and its correlates in old age is insufficient so far (Orfila et al ., 2006; Noh et al ., 2015; Hajek et al ., 2016; Hart, 2016).…”

Metabolic Syndrome, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Social Risk: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

“…Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a broad measure that most often involves an individual's subjective view of their own physical and/or mental health status [18]. HRQOL is an outcome measure commonly used in health science research, including both cross-sectional correlation studies and longitudinal behavioral interventions [19][20][21][22].…”