PURPOSE: The present study investigated an unexplored health behavior pathway: the association between living with a smoker and physical inactivity. DESIGN: The study performed an analysis of cross-sectional data from the second wave of the Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (2004-2006). SUBJECTS: The sample included 1050 women and 945 men, ages 30 to 84 years (mean, 56.5 years). MEASURES: In addition to control variables, survey items indexed presence of a smoker in the respondent's home, and physical inactivity and low health commitment on the part of the respondent. ANALYSIS: Analysis employed multiple logistic regression analyses, controlling for sociodemographic factors as well as health restrictions on physical activity and respondents' current smoking status. RESULTS: Living with a smoker was linked to 56% higher odds of physical inactivity. Low health commitment mediated this association. Living with a smoker was linked to lower health commitment (B = .31), and low health commitment was linked in turn to increased odds of physical inactivity (odds ratio, 1.36). CONCLUSIONS: The increased health risk among individuals living with a smoker is assumed to be a function of exposure to secondhand smoke. We demonstrate an unexplored behavioral pathway involving a link between living with a smoker and physical inactivity. These findings suggest that household smoking bans may have broad health behavior effects beyond reducing smoking.
PURPOSE: The present study investigated an unexplored health behavior pathway: the association between living with a smoker and physical inactivity. DESIGN: The study performed an analysis of cross-sectional data from the second wave of the Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (2004-2006). SUBJECTS: The sample included 1050 women and 945 men, ages 30 to 84 years (mean, 56.5 years). MEASURES: In addition to control variables, survey items indexed presence of a smoker in the respondent's home, and physical inactivity and low health commitment on the part of the respondent. ANALYSIS: Analysis employed multiple logistic regression analyses, controlling for sociodemographic factors as well as health restrictions on physical activity and respondents' current smoking status. RESULTS: Living with a smoker was linked to 56% higher odds of physical inactivity. Low health commitment mediated this association. Living with a smoker was linked to lower health commitment (B = .31), and low health commitment was linked in turn to increased odds of physical inactivity (odds ratio, 1.36). CONCLUSIONS: The increased health risk among individuals living with a smoker is assumed to be a function of exposure to secondhand smoke. We demonstrate an unexplored behavioral pathway involving a link between living with a smoker and physical inactivity. These findings suggest that household smoking bans may have broad health behavior effects beyond reducing smoking.
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Health focus: smoking control/physical activity; Outcome measure: behavioral; Physical Activity, Health Attitudes, Prevention Research. Manuscript format: research; Research purpose: modeling/relationship testing; Setting: home; Smoking; Strategy: policy; Study design: nonexperimental; Target population age: adults; Target population circumstances: national sample of men and women