Abstract
Background
Although participation in moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) results in
health benefits, the majority of adult lesbians are not sufficiently active. The purpose
of this study was to examine the relationships between sociodemographic factors (age,
education level, body mass index [BMI], race, partner status, employment status, annual
household income, general health status, diagnosis of chronic conditions, children
under 18 years living at home) and lesbian-specific factors (connection with the lesbian
community, public identification as a lesbian) to participation in MVPA.
Methods
Participants included 847 self-identified lesbians 18 to 74 years old (Mage = 40.5; SD = 11.6) who completed a 20-minute, web-based survey.
Findings
The binary logistic regression model that included the 10 demographic factors was
significantly associated with MVPA, χ2 (15, N = 847) = 105.62, p < .001. However, when the two lesbian-specific factors were added, the model did
not improve significantly, χ2 (2, N = 847) = 5.20, p = .07. BMI and general health status were significantly associated with MVPA (Wald
χ2 (2) = 19.5, p < .001) and (Wald χ2 (4) = 41.2, p < .001). Obese participants had 54.5% lower odds than healthy weight participants
to engage in sufficient amounts of MVPA. Participants who reported general health
status as excellent compared with those who reported poor had 12.7 times greater odds
of engaging in sufficient amounts of MVPA.
Conclusions
Future research should extend on this study by utilizing sampling methods that target
the recruitment of lesbian women not actively involved in lesbian-related activities.
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Biography
Danielle R. Brittain, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Community Health Program in the School of Human Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Brittain’s primary lines of research include the identification of perceived personal and situational correlates (e.g., barriers) to physical activity among adult lesbians and women with arthritis, the development of theoretically driven interventions targeting social and behavior change processes that aid in the self-management and maintenance of physical activity, and the examination of health-related behaviors among college students by sexual orientation.
Biography
Mary K. Dinger, PhD, CHES, is an Associate Professor of Community Health Program in the School of Human Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Dinger’s primary lines of research include physical activity assessment and physical activity promotion.
Biography
Susan R. Hutchinson, PhD, is a Full Professor in the Department of Applied Statistics and Research Methods at the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Hutchinson’s primary research interests include cross-cultural measurement, validity generalization, and methodologic issues related to structural equation modeling.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 11, 2013
Accepted:
December 3,
2012
Received in revised form:
November 30,
2012
Received:
June 21,
2012
Identification
Copyright
Published by Elsevier Inc.
