Childhood and current socioeconomic position as determinants of sedentary time among young and early midlife employees

Socioeconomic position (SEP) is one of the primary determinants of sedentary behaviour. The study investigated the associations between life-course socioeconomic circumstances and sedentary time (ST) among young and early midlife municipal employees. We used data from the 2017 Helsinki Health Study (N = 4532), which targeted 19- to 39-year-old employees of the City of Helsinki. SEP was assessed through both childhood and current indicators: parental and own educational level, childhood and current economic difficulties, occupational class, income, and wealth. ST was self-reported in minutes per weekday across five behavioural domains. Linear regression models examined differences in STs between socioeconomic groups, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All SEP indicators except childhood economic difficulties were associated with total ST. Participants in the highest income quartile reported 76 min (95% CI 60–92) more ST per day than those in the lowest quartile. Similarly, participants with higher education sat 69 min (95% CI 55–84) longer than those with lower education. The largest differences were observed during working hours, with higher education and income associated with more ST. In contrast, lower SEP was associated with more ST spent at home in front of a television/computer and in vehicles. Although individuals with higher SEP often engage in more physical activity and have better health behaviours overall, they are also the most sedentary, especially during work hours. The association between SEP and ST varies across behavioural domains, emphasizing the importance of context-specific interventions.