Perceived ethnic discrimination may be associated with lower levels of leisure-time physical activity, according to a recently published study in Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. Among the authors are CHESS researchers Viviane S. Straatmann, Lisa Berg and Mikael Rostila.
Grounded in the Minority Stress Model, which conceptualises discrimination as a chronic social stressor affecting health among minority populations, the study examined the association between perceived ethnic discrimination and leisure-time physical activity among adults in Sweden.
Using representative cross-sectional data from the Health on Equal Terms survey, the researchers analysed a sample of 64,273 individuals aged 16 to 84 years living in Sweden. Perceived discrimination was measured as offensive treatment, while leisure-time physical activity was measured through a question about physical movement during free time.
Logistic regressions were performed to examine the association between perceived discrimination and leisure-time physical activity. The relative excess risk due to interaction was also estimated to assess the contribution of region of birth to the relationship between discrimination and leisure-time physical activity.
The findings showed a low prevalence of perceived discrimination in the population, at 1.3 per cent, and a high prevalence of leisure-time physical activity, at 86.6 per cent. However, a significant negative association was observed between perceived ethnic discrimination and engagement in leisure-time physical activity.
Migrants born in Asia who reported discrimination were more likely to engage in leisure-time physical activity compared with those born in Nordic countries. No significant interactions were found for other birth regions, including South America, Africa, North America and Oceania.
The results suggest that perceived discrimination may shape health-related behaviours in the Swedish context. The researchers conclude that future research should further investigate the mechanisms linking discrimination and health behaviours using longitudinal designs and multidimensional measures of social integration and stress processes.
Read more: https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948261444129