Introduction: Among Hispanic/Latina women, sedentary behavior is associated with adverse cardiometabolic biomarker profiles, but little is known about which variables contribute to sedentary time more. Hypothesis: We tested the hypothesis that demographic variables (e.g., education, employment status), psychosocial variables (e.g., depressive symptoms, caregiver burden), and neighborhood-environmental variables (e.g., walkability, neighborhood aesthetics) would be associated with sedentary time among women of Mexican heritage. Methods: The SOL CASITAS study assessed women of Mexican heritage residing in southern San Diego. Sedentary time was measured using an accelerometer for one week. Demographic, psychosocial, and perceived neighborhood-environment variables were assessed using surveys. 3 separate unweighted linear models were used to examine the relative contribution of each variable on the outcome variable of percent sedentary time out of total wear time. Model 1 included demographic variables only; model 2 included demographic and psychosocial variables; and model 3 included demographic, psychosocial, and neighborhood-environmental variables. Results: 358 participants were included with a mean age of 59±10.5 years. Participants averaged 11.2±1.5 hours of sedentary time per day. 17.3% of participants had obtained at least a high school diploma. Only 29.5% were employed full time. The majority (85.28%) were born outside the U.S. There were no significant associations (p < 0.05) between demographic, psychosocial, or neighborhood-environmental variables with percent sedentary time in any model. However, there were a few suggestive associations: 1) Greater than high school education was associated with 23% higher percent sedentary time compared to less than a high school education (p-value 0.08); 2) Higher caregiver burden was associated with 20% higher percent sedentary time (p-value 0.09); and 3) Higher participant-rated score of neighborhood aesthetics was associated with 7% lower percent sedentary time (p-value 0.12). Conclusions: Additional research is needed to understand correlates of sedentary time among women of Mexican heritage, and future studies should consider additional domains such as characteristics of the home environment.
Bajwa et al. (Tue,) studied this question.