Working out across Canada: Is there a gender gap?

Coen, Stephanie E.; Subedi, Rajendra P.; Rosenberg, Mark W.

Abstract

Globally, boys and men are more physically active than girls and women. Despite geographical variation in physical activity participation and gender differences across types of physical activities, physical activity is frequently assessed at national scales using only select indicators. Using 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey data, we undertake a gender‐based analysis using cross tabulations, chi‐square tests, and binary logistic regression models to investigate whether gender differences in physical activity vary across geographical scales and physical activity types in Canada. We examine: (1) whether gender gaps in physical activity change across geographical scale (national, provincial, city); (2) if any geographical variation in gender differences varies by activity type (active leisure time, weight‐training, home exercises); (3) whether age and/or income help to explain geographical variation in gender differences in physical activity; and (4) if gender, age, marital status, education, and income level predict variation in differences in physical activity at different geographical scales. Results demonstrate that both scale and activity type matter for how gender differences in physical activity are observed. By zooming in or out, or by changing the activity lens, gender gaps emerged or disappeared. We conclude that physical activity interventions need to be gender‐sensitive in ways that are place‐specific.

Citation

Coen, S. E., Subedi, R. P., & Rosenberg, M. W. (2016). Working out across Canada: Is there a gender gap?. Canadian Geographer / Géographe canadien, 60(1), 69-81. https://doi.org/10.1111/cag.12255

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 30, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Feb 14, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Deposit Date: Mar 12, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 3, 2019
• Journal: The Canadian Geographer / Le Géographe canadien
• Print ISSN: 0008-3658
• Electronic ISSN: 1541-0064
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 60
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 69-81
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cag.12255
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1485320
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cag.12255
• Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Coen, S. E., Subedi, R. P. and Rosenberg, M. W. (2016), Working out across Canada: Is there a gender gap?. The Canadian Geographer / Le Géographe canadien, 60: 69-81, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/cag.12255. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
• Contract Date: Apr 3, 2019