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General Social Support and Physical Activity: An Analysis of the Ontario Health Survey

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Abstract

In spite of the many benefits of regular physical activity, the majority of Canadians are sedentary. This paper examines the relationship between general social support and physical activity levels. An analysis of data on 29,135 individuals from the 1990 Ontario Health Survey was conducted. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to determine the relationship between measures of general social support, derived from factor analysis, and physical activity levels. Socio-demographic and perceived health status measures were included as control variables. The results showed that general social support, in the form of Social Quantity and Social Frequency (number of friends/ family members and frequency of contact), was significantly associated with higher levels of physical activity. Conversely, support in the form of Familial Structure (marital/cohabitation and parental status) was significantly associated with lower levels of physical activity. The findings indicate the types of general social support that facilitate or hinder participation in physical activity.

Résumé

Malgré les nombreux avantages de l’activité physique régulière, la majorité des Canadiens sont sédentaires. L’étude porte sur la relation entre le soutien social global et les niveaux d’activité physique. Nous avons extrait de l’Enquête sur la santé en Ontario de 1990 des données sur 29 135 personnes. Une analyse de régression hiérarchique multiple a permis de déterminer le lien entre les mesures du soutien social global (dérivées d’une analyse factorielle) et les niveaux d’activité physique. Comme variables de contrôle, nous avons inclus des mesures socio-démographiques et des mesures de l’état de santé perçu. Les résultats montrent que le soutien social global, vu sous l’angle de la quantité des contacts sociaux (nombre d’amis/de membres de la famille) et de leur fréquence, présente une corrélation significative avec des niveaux d’activité physique élevés. Réciproquement, le soutien vu sous l’angle de la structure familiale (état matrimonial/cohabitation et qualité parentale) présente une corrélation significative avec de faibles niveaux d’activité physique. Ces constatations permettent de déterminer les types de soutien social global qui favorisent ou entravent l’activité physique.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Department of Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Health, University of Toronto, 55 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 2W6, Canada

    Paul A. Spanier MSc

  2. Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario Ministry of Health Career Scientist, Canada

    Kenneth R. Allison PhD (Associate Professor)

Authors
  1. Paul A. Spanier MSc
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  2. Kenneth R. Allison PhD
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Correspondence to Paul A. Spanier MSc.

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Spanier, P.A., Allison, K.R. General Social Support and Physical Activity: An Analysis of the Ontario Health Survey. Can J Public Health 92, 210–213 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404308

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404308

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