Fisieke aktiwiteit, lewenstyl en enkele sosio-ekonomiese aspekte se verband met die gesondheidstatus van mans

Abstract

The relationship between physical activity, lifestyle and a few socio-economic factors with the health status of men. Epidemiologic studies have shown that a low socio-economic status (SES) is related to negative lifestyle choices and a higher tendency for premature disease and all-cause mortality. Socio-economic status (SES) is seen by some researchers as the best and most consistant indicator of morbidity and mortality. Individuals with a high level of socio-economic status (SES) report the best lifestyles and health status. These relationships are, however, influenced by the race and sex of the individual. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of two socio-economic factors namely income and educational attainment with the lifestyle, physical activity profile and health status of a group of men. The subjects of this study were 525 caucasion male inhabitants of Potchefstioom, a city in the North West Province of South Africa. Subjects between the ages of 30 and 60 were selected at random according to street addresses. The quality of participation in physical activity was determined with Sharkey's physical activity index, the quality of lifestyle was determined by using the seven Belloc and Breslow habits and Walker's health promoting lifestyle profile, while health status was measured by Wyler's seriousness of illness rating scale. Educational attainment showed a direct and statistically significant (p≤0.05) relationship with lifestyle, participation in physical activity and health status. The higher the educational attainment of the participants the better the lifestyle, quality of participation in physical activity and state of health. However,income showed only a statistically significant (p≤0.05) relationship with the quality of participation in physical activity. The higher the income the more prone

the individual to participate in physical activity. No statistically significant (p≤0.05) relationship was found between income, lifestyle and health status. In the two-way analysis of variance that was done, educational attainment showed no relationship with health status, independent from participation in physical activity and lifestyle. Although the active (moderate and high) individuals showed the best lifestyle, participation in physical activity and health status throughout the study, educational attainment seems to have an affect on the health status of inactive individuals. A stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that participation in physical activity contributes 7.05% to the variance of health status. Because educational attainment has an effect on the health status of inactive individuals, a second stepwise multiple regression analysis was done to determine which lifestyle or socio-economic factor contributed to the variarice of health status of inactive individuals. Self actualization showed a 6.90% contribution to the variance of health status of inactive individuals. It therefore seems that it is not only educational attainment that influences the health status of individuals, but rather the way in which a person becomes more self-actualized during the process of educational attainment. In a two-way analysis of variance, self actualization showed a positive relationship with health status independent of the educational attainment. The results of this study therefore seem to indicate that socio-economic status (SES), and in particular educational attainment, influence health through the effect this have on the lifestyle, quality of participation in physical activity, and selfactualization of an individual.