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Gender differences in osteoporosis health beliefs and knowledge and their relation to vigorous physical activity in
Kimberley L Gammage1, Jennifer Gasparotto, Diane E Mack
1Department of Kinesiology, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. kgammage@brocku.ca
Objective:
The purpose of this cross-sectional investigation was to examine (1) gender differences in osteoporosis-related knowledge and beliefs and (2) if these beliefs could predict vigorous physical activity behavior in university students.
Participants:
Male (n = 176) and female (n = 351) university students participated in the study.
Methods:
Participants completed self-report measures of osteoporosis knowledge and health beliefs and vigorous physical activity.
Results:
Regardless of gender, osteoporosis knowledge was relatively poor. Women reported higher knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and calcium barriers, and lower exercise self-efficacy than men. Regression analyses showed that for women, perceived susceptibility, health motivation, and exercise self-efficacy predicted vigorous physical activity, whereas for men, exercise barriers was the only predictor.
Conclusions:
Gender differences in osteoporosis health beliefs appear to be greater in older adults than college-aged students. Interventions designed to increase vigorous physical activity may want to target different beliefs for men and women.
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