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Socioeconomic position during childhood and physical activity during adulthood: a systematic review

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  • Published:
International Journal of Public Health

Abstract

Objectives

A growing body of evidence links socioeconomic position early in life and physical activity during adulthood. This systematic review aimed to summarize this evidence.

Methods

Medline and EMBASE were searched for studies that assessed socioeconomic position before age 18 years and physical activity at age ≥18 years. Studies were rated according to three key methodological quality criteria: (1) was childhood socioeconomic position assessed prospectively? (2) Was socioeconomic position during adulthood included in the statistical analysis? (3) Was a validated instrument used to measure of physical activity?

Results

Forty-two publications were included. Twenty-six (61.9 %) found a significant association between socioeconomic position early in life and physical activity during adulthood. Twenty-one studies met at least two methodological quality criteria. Among those, the proportion was higher: 15/21 (71.4 %). Associations were of weak to moderate strength, positive for physical activity during leisure time, and negative for transports and work.

Conclusions

The bulk of the evidence supports the notion that there is a life course association between socioeconomic position early in life and physical activity during adulthood. Studies using more rigorous methodology supported this conclusion more consistently.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (#204633), the University of Montreal, the University of Montreal Public Health Research Institute, the Quebec Inter-University Centre for Social Statistics, and the Centre Léa-Roback de recherche sur les inégalités sociales de santé de Montréal. None of the funding bodies had any input in the design, conduct, or reporting of this study.

Conflict of interest

We declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. École de Santé Publique, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-ville, C.P. 6128, Montreal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada

    C. E. Juneau, T. Benmarhnia, A. A. Poulin, S. Côté & L. Potvin

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  1. C. E. Juneau
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  2. T. Benmarhnia
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  3. A. A. Poulin
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  4. S. Côté
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Correspondence to C. E. Juneau.

Additional information

This review is part of the special issue “Driving the Best Science to Meet Global Health Challenges” edited on the occasion of the 9th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health 2015.

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Juneau, C.E., Benmarhnia, T., Poulin, A.A. et al. Socioeconomic position during childhood and physical activity during adulthood: a systematic review. Int J Public Health 60, 799–813 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0710-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0710-y

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