How do gender and education interact in physical inactivity patterns in different domains among adults?

Abstract The aim of the study was to identify interactions between gender and education on the prevalence of physical inactivity in different domains (commuting, household, leisure and work) among adults of Florianopolis, Brazil. Data were collected from September/2009 to January/2010 with individuals 20-59 years old. This was a cross-sectional population-based study, and physical inactivity in each domain was defined as non-participation in specific physical activities, using a validated Brazilian questionnaire administered by face to face interviews. We interviewed 1720 adults. In men, the prevalence of physical inactivity was higher than among women in commuting (56.9% versus 44.5%; p < 0.001, respectively) and at home (79.0% versus 40.4%; p < 0.001, respectively). In leisure, physical inactivity was higher among women (58.1% versus 45.5%; p < 0.001). Interactions between gender and education were statistically significant in commuting (p = 0.004), household (p < 0.001) and leisure (p = 0.04). Men were more inactive than women from five to eight years of schooling. Household physical inactivity was higher among men at all levels of education, with a reduction in the magnitude of the percentage differences between the genders, with increasing of education. In leisure, women were more inactive than men since nine years of study. Different interactions between gender and schooling were observed according to the patterns of physical inactivity in different domains.