Physical Activity in Mid-Age and Older Women: Lessons from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy J. Brown ◽  
Toby Pavey
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Women’S Health ◽  
Women's Health ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Australian Longitudinal Study ◽  
Wide Range

The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) commenced in Australia in 1996 when researchers recruited approximately 40,000 women in three birth cohorts: 1973–1978, 1946–1951, and 1921–1926. Since then participants have completed surveys on a wide range of health issues, at approximately three-year intervals. This overview describes changes in physical activity (PA) over time in the mid-age and older ALSWH cohorts, and summarizes the findings of studies published to date on the determinants of PA, and its associated health outcomes in Australian women. The ALSWH data show a significant increase in PA during mid-age, and a rapid decline in activity levels when women are in their 80s. The study has demonstrated the importance of life stages and key life events as determinants of activity, the additional benefits of vigorous activity for mid-age women, and the health benefits of ‘only walking’ for older women. ALSWH researchers have also drawn attention to the benefits of activity in terms of a wide range of physical and mental health outcomes, as well as overall vitality and well-being. The data indicate that maintaining a high level of PA throughout mid and older age will not only reduce the risk of premature death, but also significantly extend the number of years of healthy life.

The characteristics of women aged 59-64 years who consult health care practitioners for back pain from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH).

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pooja Maddela ◽  
Jane Frawley ◽  
Jon Adams ◽  
David Sibbritt
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Women’S Health ◽  
Women's Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Care Practitioner ◽  
Medical Specialist ◽  
Australian Longitudinal Study ◽  
Wide Range

Background: Back pain affects a substantial proportion of the adult population, and back pain sufferers tend to explore a wide range of health care options. This study investigates the use of medical and physiotherapy services by Australian women with back pain. Method: This is a sub-study of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH), designed to investigate multiple factors affecting the health and well-being of women over a 20-year period. The study focuses on 1,851 women aged 59-64 years, who had indicated that they had previously sought help from a health care practitioner for back pain. Results: Half of the women (56.5%) with back pain had consulted a general practitioner (GP), 16.2% had consulted a medical specialist, and 37.3% had consulted a physiotherapist for their back pain. Women with regular or continuous back pain were more likely to consult a GP (OR=3.98), medical specialist (OR=5.66) and a physiotherapist (OR=1.63). Conclusion:  Australian women with back pain were more likely to consult a GP, medical specialist or physiotherapist if they had more regular/continuous back pain. Future research needs to investigate further the consultation and referral patterns identified in this study.

scholarly journals “There’s More to Life than Just Walking”: Older Women’s Ways of Staying Healthy and Happy

2006 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 380-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynette Adamson ◽  
Glennys Parker
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Women's Health ◽  
Older Women ◽  
Physical Activities ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Australian Longitudinal Study ◽  
Wide Range

This study assessed a range of activities reported by older women in Australia. Women between 75 and 81 years of age (N= 3,955) from the older cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health responded to a request in a self-report survey for additional information concerning their health. Of these 3,955 women, 509 reported taking part in a variety of activities. Qualitative analysis of responses identified 55 coded categories of activities that were subsequently classified into four major themes: physical activities, creative pursuits, lifestyle, and social interaction. The data show that these older women are taking part in a wide range of activities.

scholarly journals Twelve year trajectories of physical activity and health costs in mid-age Australian women

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Angelica de Oliveira Gomes ◽  
Wendy J. Brown ◽  
Jamile S. Codogno ◽  
Gregore I. Mielke
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Quantile Regression ◽  
Women’S Health ◽  
Women's Health ◽  
Health Costs ◽  
Australian Government ◽  
Australian Longitudinal Study ◽  
Pharmaceutical Costs

Abstract Background: Few studies have examined relationships between physical activity (PA) during mid-age and health costs in women. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between PA levels and trajectories over 12 years with medical and pharmaceutical costs in mid-age Australian women. Methods: Data from 6,953 participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (born in 1946–1951) were analysed in 2019. PA was self-reported in 2001 (50-55y), 2007 (56-61y) and 2013 (62-67y). PA data were linked with 2013-2015 data from the Medicare (MBS) and Pharmaceutical (PBS) Benefits Schemes. Quantile regression was used to examine associations between PA patterns [always active, increasers, decreasers, fluctuaters or always inactive (reference)] with these medical and pharmaceutical costs.Results: Among women who were consistently inactive (< 500 MET.minutes/week) in 2001, 2007 and 2013, median MBS and PBS costs (2013 to 2015) were AUD4261 and AUD1850, respectively. Those costs were AUD1728 (95%CI: 443-3013) and AUD578 (95%CI: 426-729) lower among women who were consistently active in 2001, 2007 and 2013 than among those who were always inactive. PBS costs were also lower in women who were active at only one survey (AUD205; 95%CI: 49-360), and in those whose PA increased between 2001 and 2013 (AUD388; 95%CI: 232-545).Conclusion: Maintaining ‘active’ PA status was associated with 40% lower MBS and 30% lower PBS costs over three years in Australian women. Helping women to remain active in mid-life could result in considerable savings for both women and the Australian government.

scholarly journals Do women who consult with naturopaths or herbalists have a healthy lifestyle?: a secondary analysis of the Australian longitudinal study on women’s health

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amie Steel ◽  
Stefania Tiveron ◽  
Rebecca Reid ◽  
Jon Wardle ◽  
Holger Cramer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Women’S Health ◽  
Women's Health ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Dietary Behaviour ◽  
Age Cohorts ◽  
Australian Longitudinal Study

Abstract Background Australians report consulting with a naturopaths or herbalists to improve their wellbeing, yet little is known about the associations between these consultations and the patients’ health behaviours. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationship between health behaviour and consultations with naturopaths or herbalists in three age cohorts of Australian women. Methods Women aged 19–25 years, 31–36 years, and 62–67 years from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH) were surveyed regarding smoking, alcohol or drug use, physical activity and dietary behaviour; and whether they consulted with naturopath/herbalists in the last 12 months. Associations were analysed using multivariable logistic regression. Results A total of 9151 (19–25 years), 8200 (31–36 years) and 11,344 (62–67 years) women were included in the analysis. Between 7.3 and 11.9% of women reported to have consulted with naturopaths/herbalists in the last 12 months. Women of all cohorts consulting with naturopath/herbalist were less likely to smoke (19-25 yrs.: Odds Ratio [OR] 0.61; 31–36 years: OR 0.58; 62–67 years: OR 0.29), more likely to report at least moderate levels of physical activity (19-25 yrs.: OR 1.41; 31–36 years: OR 1.34; 62–67 years: OR 1.34), and the use of vegetarian diets(19-25 yrs.: OR 1.40; 31–36 years: OR 1.77; 62–67 years: OR 2.28), compared to women not consulting with naturopaths/herbalists. Women consulting with naturopaths/herbalists however were also more likely to have used marijuana (19-25 yrs.: OR 1.18; 31–36 years: OR 1.42), or illicit drugs in the last 12 months (19-25 yrs.: OR 1.24; 31–36 years: OR 1.40). Conclusions Consultations with a naturopath or herbalist are associated with positive health behaviours that are protective of internationally important non-communicable diseases. Psychoactive drug use is also reported among women visiting a naturopath or herbalist. Further research is needed to understand the role naturopaths play in advising patients with regards to health and non-healthy behaviours.

scholarly journals Twelve year trajectories of physical activity and health costs in mid-age Australian women

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace Angelica de Oliveira Gomes ◽  
Wendy J. Brown ◽  
Jamile S. Codogno ◽  
Gregore I. Mielke
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Quantile Regression ◽  
Women’S Health ◽  
Women's Health ◽  
Health Costs ◽  
Australian Government ◽  
Australian Longitudinal Study ◽  
Pharmaceutical Costs

Abstract Background: Few studies have examined relationships between physical activity (PA) during mid-age and health costs in women. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between PA levels and trajectories over 12 years with medical and pharmaceutical costs in mid-age Australian women.Methods : Data from 6,953 participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (born in 1946–1951) were analysed in 2019. PA was self-reported in 2001 (50-55y), 2007 (56-61y) and 2013 (62-67y). PA data were linked with 2013-2015 data from the Medicare (MBS) and Pharmaceutical (PBS) Benefits Schemes. Quantile regression was used to examine associations between PA patterns [always active, increasers, decreasers, fluctuaters or always inactive (reference)] with these medical and pharmaceutical costs.Results: Among women who were consistently inactive (< 500 MET.minutes/week) in 2001, 2007 and 2013, median MBS and PBS costs (2013 to 2015) were AUD4261 and AUD1850, respectively. Those costs were AUD1728 (95%CI: 443-3013) and AUD578 (95%CI: 426-729) lower among women who were consistently active in 2001, 2007 and 2013 than among those who were always inactive. PBS costs were also lower in women who were active at only one survey (AUD205; 95%CI: 49-360), and in those whose PA increased between 2001 and 2013 (AUD388; 95%CI: 232-545).Conclusion: Maintaining ‘active’ PA status was associated with 40% lower MBS and 30% lower PBS costs over three years in Australian women. Helping women to remain active in mid-life could result in considerable savings for both women and the Australian government.

Risk factors for pregnancy and childbearing in single young women: Evidence from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 292-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren R. Miller-Lewis ◽  
Tracey D. Wade ◽  
Christina Lee
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Women’S Health ◽  
Women's Health ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Early Pregnancy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Developmental Perspective ◽  
Australian Longitudinal Study

This study investigated psychosocial predictors of early pregnancy and childbearing in single young women, consistent with the Eriksonian developmental perspective. Two mail-out surveys assessing reproductive behaviour and sociodemographic, education/competence, psychosocial well-being, and aspiration factors were completed 4 years apart by 2635 young women, aged 18 to 20 when first surveyed. Young women in the “emerging adulthood” developmental period were selected from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Longitudinally, lower investment in education over low-status paid work, experiencing unemployment, greater psychosocial distress, stress and alcohol use, and high family aspirations combined with low vocational aspirations were risk factors for early single pregnancy and childbearing. Several mediational relationships also existed between these predictor variables. It was concluded that psychosocial factors play an important role in understanding early pregnancy and childbearing in single young Australian women, and that the findings provide some support for investigating early pregnancy and childbearing from an Eriksonian developmental perspective.

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