The factors related to a sedentary lifestyle: A meta-analysis review

To compare factors associated with the sedentary lifestyle described in the literature with the factors listed in NANDA International.

Systematic review with meta-analysis of factors associated with a sedentary lifestyle in adolescents, adults and older people.

An electronic search of PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and Latin America and the Caribbean Literature on Health and Science databases conducted in May 2016.

Descriptive data were extracted according to a standardized form. The odds ratios for each etiological factor associated with a sedentary lifestyle were extracted directly from the articles or calculated from the data described therein. The meta-analysis was conducted for factors that were investigated in more than one study.

Thirty-five articles were included. The statistically significant factors were: lack of social support, of physical space, of time, of motivation, of sports skills and of interest in physical activity, intolerance to activity, being retired, living in a low-income country, laziness, not having a job/studying, low socioeconomic status and level of knowledge about physical activity, female gender, living in an urban area, negative self-perception of health, using public transportation, being in the oldest age group in the study and perceived physical disability.

The new factors associated with a sedentary lifestyle and those already included in the NANDA International classification will lead to better clinical guidance for nurses.

Knowledge about these factors can contribute directly to public health policies.