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The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on November 30, 2009
The European Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckp187
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Effects of childhood socio-economic conditions on educational differences in leisure-time physical activity

Tomi Mäkinen1, Laura Kestilä1,2, Katja Borodulin1,3, Tuija Martelin1, Ossi Rahkonen4 and Ritva Prättälä1

1 National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Living conditions, Health and Wellbeing Unit, Helsinki, Finland
2 Finnish Youth Research Network (FYRN), Helsinki, Finland
3 Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
4 Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Correspondence: Tomi Mäkinen, National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), PL 30, 00271 Helsinki, Finland, tel: +358 20 610 8690, fax: +358 20 610 8760, e-mail: tomi.makinen{at}thl.fi

Received April 8, 2009 , accepted October 19, 2009

Background: Our purpose was to assess the direct and indirect contribution of childhood socio-economic conditions to educational differences in leisure-time physical activity among women and men. Methods: Population-based data were derived from a representative sample of Finns aged ≥30 years (N = 7112) as part of Health 2000 Survey. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was applied. Leisure-time physical activity was divided into inactivity, moderate and high activity. Results: Childhood socio-economic conditions had both a direct and indirect effect through adulthood socio-economic conditions on educational differences in leisure-time physical activity. The direct effect of childhood socio-economic conditions on educational differences in inactivity was stronger than its indirect effects through adulthood socio-economic conditions and other health behaviours and related factors. Adulthood socio-economic conditions had a considerable indirect effect on educational differences in leisure-time physical activity through other adulthood health behaviours and related factors among men. Conclusions: In order to narrow educational differences in leisure-time physical activity, we should secure a childhood environment that enables a physically active lifestyle, support leisure-time physical activity in diverse occupational groups, guarantee equal physical activity possibilities across different educational careers and support those with insufficient material resources.

Keywords: adults, exercise, Finland, health behaviour, inequalities


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