Journal of Physical Activity and Health
Volume 14, Issue 2, 2017, Pages 145-154

Are immigrants more physically active than native-born Australians and does it changes over time? Evidence from a nationally representative longitudinal survey (Article)

Joshi S.* , Jatrana S. , Paradies Y.
  • a Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus, Waurn Ponds, VIC, Australia
  • b Centre for Social Impact Swinburne, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
  • c Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood CampusVIC, Australia

Abstract

Background: We investigated the differences and over time changes in recommended physical activity among foreign-born (FB) from English speaking countries (ESC) and non-English speaking countries (NESC) relative to native-born (NB) Australians, and whether the association between nativity and duration of residence (DoR) and physical activity is mediated by English language proficiency, socioeconomic status and social engagement/membership. Methods: This study applies multilevel group-mean-centered mixed (hybrid) logistic regression models to 12 waves of longitudinal data (12,634 individuals) from the Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia survey with engagement in physical activities for more than 3 times a week as the outcome variable. Results: Immigrants from ESC had higher odds of physical activity, while immigrants from NESC had significantly lower odds of physical activity than NB Australians, after adjusting for covariates. There was no evidence that these differences changed by DoR among immigrants from NESC, whereas ESC immigrants had higher odds of physical activity when their DoR was more than 20 years. We also found a mediating role of English language proficiency on immigrants physical activities. Conclusion: Appropriate health promotion interventions should be implemented to foster physical activities among NESC immigrants, considering English language proficiency as an important factor in designing interventions. © 2017 Human Kinetics, Inc.

Author Keywords

Migrants Panel data Exercise Nativity Foreign-born

Index Keywords

physical activity immigrant longitudinal study health promotion Australia English (language) logistic regression analysis exercise indigenous people human epidemiology Longitudinal Studies middle aged Logistic Models ethnology family size Family Characteristics speech Surveys and Questionnaires Young Adult Humans migrant Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics questionnaire major clinical study household income adult United Kingdom outcome variable Australian statistical model
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85015923570&doi=10.1123%2fjpah.2016-0002&partnerID=40&md5=7a325f4950aa37f9e4374728fa707a0e
DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2016-0002
ISSN: 15433080
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English