Demographic and Regional Determinants of Participation in Specific Exercise Activities
Abstract
Although reliable information regarding participation in specific exercise activities would appear central to the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of health promotion policies, little is known of the determinants of exercise participation. The objective of this present study was to assess the regional and demographic determinants of the self-reported adoption and level of participation in specific exercise activities among U.S. Navy personnel. Participants were 3038 U.S. Navy active duty personnel who had been selected to participate in a Navy-wide evaluation of the Health and Physical Readiness Program. Questionnaires included self-report measures of the frequency and duration of 10 common exercise activities and a number of demographic variables including sex, age, race, education, and region. Separate loglinear analyses were computed to assess associations between demographic factors and the adoption and level of participation in each of the 10 exercise activities. Results indicated that older people were less likely to adopt calisthenics, weightlifting, swimming, or baseball as exercise activities. Men were more likely to play basketball and job, while women were more likely to participate in aerobics. Blacks were more likely than Whites to play basketball and do aerobics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 28, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA198925
Entities
People
- Brock K. Kilbourne
- D. S. Nice
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center