Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 19, Issue 2, 2017, Pages 484-488

Length of Residence and Vehicle Ownership in Relation to Physical Activity Among U.S. Immigrants (Article)

Terasaki D.* , Ornelas I. , Saelens B.
  • a Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 359455, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
  • b Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 359455, Seattle, WA 98195, United States
  • c Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 359455, Seattle, WA 98195, United States

Abstract

Physical activity among U.S. immigrants over time is not well understood. Transportation may affect this trajectory. Using a survey of documented immigrants (N = 7240), we performed simple, then multivariable logistic regression to calculate ORs and 95 % CIs between length of residence (LOR) and both light-to-moderate (LPA) and vigorous (VPA) activity. We adjusted for demographic variables, then vehicle ownership to assess changes in ORs. Compared to new arrivals, all four LOR time-intervals were associated with lower odds of LPA and higher odds of VPA in simple analysis. All ORs for LPA remained significant after including demographics, but only one remained significant after adding vehicle ownership. Two ORs for VPA remained significant after including demographics and after adding vehicle ownership. Immigrants lower their light-to-moderate activity the longer they reside in the U.S., partly from substituting driving for walking. Efforts to maintain walking for transportation among immigrants are warranted. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Transportation Length of residence immigrants physical activity

Index Keywords

demography exercise human middle aged statistics and numerical data Logistic Models Residence Characteristics United States Young Adult car Humans Automobiles migrant Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation Socioeconomic Factors female socioeconomics cultural factor walking Transportation adult traffic and transport statistical model
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84957641884&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-016-0361-y&partnerID=40&md5=6f30629b846c4f71455b12474eee514f
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-016-0361-y
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English