Differential correlates of physical activity in urban and rural adults of various socioeconomic backgrounds in the United States
Open accessAbstract
Study objectives: Few studies have analysed the rates and correlates of physical activity in economically and geographically diverse populations. Objectives were to examine: (1) urban-rural differences in physical activity by several demographic, geographical, environmental, and psychosocial variables, (2) patterns in environmental and policy factors across urban-rural setting and socioeconomic groups, (3) socioeconomic differences in physical activity across the same set of variables, and (4) possible correlations of these patterns with meeting of physical activity recommendations. Design: A cross sectional study with an over sampling of lower income adults was conducted in 1999–2000. Setting: United States. Participants: 1818 United States adults. Main results: Lower income residents were less likely than higher income residents to meet physical activity recommendations. Rural residents were least likely to meet recommendations; suburban residents were most likely to meet recommendations. Suburban, higher income residents were more than twice as likely to meet recommendations than rural, lower income residents. Significant differences across income levels and urban/rural areas were found for those reporting neighbourhood streets, parks, and malls as places to exercise; fear of injury, being in poor health, or dislike as barriers to exercise and those reporting encouragement from relatives as social support for exercise. Evidence of a positive dose-response relation emerged between number of places to exercise and likelihood to meet recommendations for physical activity. Conclusions: Both income level and urban rural status were important predictors of adults’ likelihood to meet physical activity recommendations. In addition, environmental variables vary in importance across socioeconomic status and urban-rural areas.
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In prior studies, rural adults were less likely to meet physical activity recommendations than urban adults.
“In contrast, the 1998 NHIS6 and 2 national physical activity surveys conducted in the late 1990s based on modified BRFSS physical activity items21,22 showed rural adults were less likely to meet physical activity recommendations than urban adults.”
From Prevalence of Obesity Among Adults From Rural and Urban Areas of the United States: Findings From NHANES (2005‐2008) (2012) · cites this paper as [22]
Compared with rural and lower-income residents, suburban and higher-income residents more often meet physical activity recommendations, because they have better access to parks, sidewalks, and malls and less fear of injury or safety concerns.
“Suburban, higher income residents are more likely to achieve PA recommendations compared to rural, lower income residents due to accessibility of exercise spaces such as parks, sidewalks, and malls, as well as decreased fear of injury or concern for safety.120”
From The Impact of Physical Activity in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes (2025) · cites this paper as [120]
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- Authors
- Parks, S. E., Housemann, R. A., & Brownson, R. C.
- Affiliations
- Saint Louis University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Brownson, R C
- Venue
- Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2003-01
- Volume
- 57
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 29-35
- ISSN
- 0141-7681 (ISSN-L)
- 0143-005X
- 1470-2738
- PMC
- PMC1732269
- OpenAlex
- W2159967140
- Cited by
- 730
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 45 · 2015: 53 · 2014: 42 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 41
- FWCI
- 8.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U48/CCU 710806)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Social Sciences › Transportation › Urban Transport and Accessibility
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Keywords
- physical activity, urban-rural differences, socioeconomic status, income, rural health, physical activity guidelines, barriers to exercise, exercise social support, built environment, dose-response relationship
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Rural Health, Socioeconomic Factors, United States, Urban Health, Exercise, Logistic Models
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