Comparison of the effects of childhood demographic characteristics on physical activity during adulthood across 22 countries

Abstract

Background: This study examines the impact of childhood demographic characteristics, such as socioeconomic status, health and well-being status, family dynamics and relationships, and religious and spiritual status, on physical activity levels in adulthood across 22 countries. Methods: We analyzed data from the Global Flourishing Study (GFS), which includes 202,898 participants across 22 countries. The study examined whether childhood characteristics predict physical activity levels in adulthood and whether these relationships differ by country. Results: The relationships between childhood predictors and physical activity in adulthood varied across countries. However, the overall results showed that self-rated health and religious service attendance during childhood, as well as age and gender, were significantly associated with physical activity levels in adulthood. Conclusions: The findings highlight the critical role of childhood self-rated health and religious involvement in shaping physical activity habits in adulthood across 22 countries. These results lay the groundwork for future GFS data (2024 through 2027) to guide interventions promoting physical activity among adults globally.