Correlates of sedentary behaviour among adolescents and adults with hazardous, harmful or dependent drinking in South Africa

Abstract

Background: There is lack of information on the correlates of sedentary behaviour among persons with alcohol use disorders. The study aimed to examine socio-demographic and health correlates among adolescents and adults with hazardous, harmful or probable dependent alcohol use (= problem drinking).

Method: Data from the cross-sectional South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1) 2011–12 were analysed. From a total sample of 15 085 persons aged 15 years and older, 2849 adolescents and adults (mean age = 37.1 years, standard deviation [s.d.] = 15.1) were identified as problem drinkers, based on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C). Multivariable logistic and linear regression were used to determine the associations between socio-demographic characteristics, health variables and high sedentary behaviour (≥8 h/day) and total minutes of sedentary behaviour a day.

Results: The prevalence of high sedentary behaviour (≥ 8 h/day) was 11.9% overall (11.9% among men and 12.1% among women), and the mean (s.d.) duration of sedentary behaviour was 263 (169) min/day. In bivariate analysis, older age, population group, functional disability, cognitive impairment, having hypertension, having had a stroke and posttraumatic symptoms were correlated with high sedentary behaviour. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, older age and being Indian or Asian were positively, and having been diagnosed with angina was negatively, associated with high sedentary behaviour. In linear regression analysis, older age, not employed and having had a stroke were positively, and being of mixed race and having angina were negatively, associated with total minutes (up to 960 min/day) of sedentary behaviour in a day.

Conclusion: The study provides socio-demographic and health correlates of sedentary behaviour among problem drinkers. This information can guide possible future interventions in reducing sedentary behaviour among problem drinkers.