Korean J Sports Med.  2022 Mar;40(1):22-29. 10.5763/kjsm.2022.40.1.22.

Current Status of Physical Activity According to the Socioeconomic Status of Korean Adults: Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014‒2018

• Hei Y
• Yoon J
• Sung H
• Lim J
• Kim YS

• KMID: 2526685
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5763/kjsm.2022.40.1.22

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose was to estimate the socioeconomic status and physical activity level of Korean adults.
Methods
A total of 27,358 subjects aged over 19 years were included from the 2014‒2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The socioeconomic status, the main independent inheritance in this study, was used as the household income (first quartile=highest income) and education level (elementary, middle school, high school, and college graduates) variables as the quartile categorical variable values. We perform a regression analysis for sample survey data using the SURVEYREG procedure.
Results
In physical activity, If the household income level in men and the education level in women increased, weekly moderate to vigorous physical activity was likely to be increased significantly (p for trend ＜ 0.0001). In terms of domains of physical activity, if the level of household income and education level increased, the amount of physical activity at leisure time was likely to be increased in both men and women. On the contrary, the amount of physical activity spent on transportation was decreased. However, the relationship was not presented in the work-related moderate to vigorous physical activity (p for trend ＜ 0.0001).
Conclusion
The socioeconomic status, that is, to climb higher household income levels and education levels, was positively associated with physical activity in a representative Korean population. To reduce the health care costs of chronic diseases caused by lack of physical activity, the countries and communities provide opportunities for more physical activity to people.

Keyword

Socioeconomic status; Physical activity; Household income; Education; KNHANES; Health

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Flow diagram of participants excluded. KNHANES: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, GPAQ: Global Physical Activity Questionnaire.

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