Ineke Vergeer1, Jason A Bennie2, Melanie J Charity3, Jannique G Z van Uffelen4, Jack T Harvey3, Stuart J H Biddle2, Rochelle M Eime3. 1. University of Southern Queensland, Institute for Resilient Regions, Physically Active Lifestyles Research Group, Springfield, Queensland, Australia; Victoria University, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Active Living & Public Health Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: ineke.vergeer@usq.edu.au. 2. University of Southern Queensland, Institute for Resilient Regions, Physically Active Lifestyles Research Group, Springfield, Queensland, Australia. 3. Victoria University, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Active Living & Public Health Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Federation University Australia, Faculty of Health, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. 4. University of Southern Queensland, Institute for Resilient Regions, Physically Active Lifestyles Research Group, Springfield, Queensland, Australia; Victoria University, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Active Living & Public Health Program, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Movement Sciences, Physical Activity, Sports and Health Research Group, B-c000 Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of users of holistic movement practices in Australia to people who were physically active but not using holistic movement practices. A second aim was to compare characteristics of users of specific holistic movement practices (yoga/Pilates and t'ai chi/qigong). DESIGN: We performed a secondary data analysis on pooled data of a nationally-representative physical activity survey conducted yearly 2001-2010 (n = 195,926). SETTING: Australia-wide Exercise, Recreation, and Sport Survey (ERASS). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A range of socio-demographic and participation characteristics were documented and compared between users and non-users of holistic movement practices and between yoga/Pilates and t'ai chi/qigong users, employing descriptive statistics, chi square, and multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Users of holistic movement practices (n = 6826) were significantly more likely than non-users to be female, older, have fewer children at home, and have higher levels of education, socio-economic background, and physical activity involvement (p < 0.001). Yoga/Pilates (n = 5733) and t'ai chi/qigong (n = 947) users were also found to differ on a number of characteristics, including age, sex, socioeconomic background, and marital status. CONCLUSION: As a group, Australian users of holistic movement practices differ on a range of characteristics from those Australians active in other types of physical activities. However, differences between yoga/Pilates and t'ai chi/qigong users suggest these practices attract somewhat different sub-populations. To what extent these differences are due to characteristics inherent to the practices themselves or to differences in delivery-related parameters needs to be examined in future research.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of users of holistic movement practices in Australia to people who were physically active but not using holistic movement practices. A second aim was to compare characteristics of users of specific holistic movement practices (yoga/Pilates and t'ai chi/qigong). DESIGN: We performed a secondary data analysis on pooled data of a nationally-representative physical activity survey conducted yearly 2001-2010 (n = 195,926). SETTING: Australia-wide Exercise, Recreation, and Sport Survey (ERASS). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A range of socio-demographic and participation characteristics were documented and compared between users and non-users of holistic movement practices and between yoga/Pilates and t'ai chi/qigong users, employing descriptive statistics, chi square, and multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Users of holistic movement practices (n = 6826) were significantly more likely than non-users to be female, older, have fewer children at home, and have higher levels of education, socio-economic background, and physical activity involvement (p < 0.001). Yoga/Pilates (n = 5733) and t'ai chi/qigong (n = 947) users were also found to differ on a number of characteristics, including age, sex, socioeconomic background, and marital status. CONCLUSION: As a group, Australian users of holistic movement practices differ on a range of characteristics from those Australians active in other types of physical activities. However, differences between yoga/Pilates and t'ai chi/qigong users suggest these practices attract somewhat different sub-populations. To what extent these differences are due to characteristics inherent to the practices themselves or to differences in delivery-related parameters needs to be examined in future research.