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Re-assessing the social climate of physical (in)activity in Canada

Authors :
Matthew James Fagan
Leigh M. Vanderloo
Ananya Banerjee
Leah J. Ferguson
Eun-Young Lee
Norman O’Reilly
Ryan E. Rhodes
John C. Spence
Mark S. Tremblay
Guy Faulkner
Source :
BMC Public Health, Vol 23, Iss 1, Pp 1-12 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
BMC, 2023.

Abstract

Abstract Social-ecological models suggest that a strategy for increasing population physical activity participation is to reconstruct the “social climate” through changing social norms and beliefs about physical activity (PA). In this study, we assessed whether the PA social climate in Canada has changed over a five-year period after controlling for sociodemographic factors and PA levels. Replicating a survey administered in 2018, a sample of adults in Canada (n = 2,507) completed an online survey assessing social climate dimensions, including but not limited to descriptive and injunctive norms. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and binary logistic regressions were conducted to assess the associations of sociodemographic factors and year of the survey with social climate dimensions. Results suggest some social climate constructs are trending in a positive direction between 2018 and 2023. Physical inactivity was considered a serious public health concern by 49% of respondents, second to unhealthy diets (52%). Compared to those who participated in the 2018 survey, participants in 2023 were less likely to see others walking or wheeling in their neighbourhood (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.41, 1.78), but more likely to see people exercising (OR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.73, 0.92) and kids playing in their neighbourhood (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.66, 0.85). No changes were reported between 2018 and 2023 in individuals’ perceptions of whether physical inactivity is due to individual versus external factors (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.87, 1.13). The findings of this work indicate a modest positive shift in some measured components of the social climate surrounding PA although attributing causes for these changes remain speculative.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14712458
Volume :
23
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
BMC Public Health
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.3b179a8aa1d94f2d858e3e23d49dde69
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17436-3