Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2025

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Disparities in physical activity between sexual minority and heterosexual women: A systematic review and
Katherine Sullivan1, Madelyn K Simmang2, Elroy J Aguiar2
1Department of Kinesiology, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, United States of America; Division of Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, United States of America.
Abstract:
Research examining potential differences in physical activity (PA) between sexual minority women (SMW) and heterosexual women have yielded inconsistent results.
Objective:
Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to examine potential differences in PA between SMW and heterosexual women and to identify potential moderators that may partially explain observed differences in PA.
Methods:
All studies were peer reviewed, published in English, and included a continuous measure of PA for SMW and heterosexual women. A standardized mean difference effect size (ES) was used to compare groups, with random effects models used to estimate a mean ES and 95% CI using a 3-level meta-analysis model to adjust for the correlation between effects nested within studies.
Results:
The cumulative results of 24 effects gathered from 7 studies indicated there was no difference in PA between SMW (n = 1619) and heterosexual women (n = 103,295) (ES = -0.038, 95%CI -0.179 to 0.102, p = 0.576). Despite no mean differences, moderate-high heterogeneity was observed, indicating that the results were not consistent across effects (I2 = 64.8%, Q23 = 36.7, p = 0.035). The difference in PA was associated with age (β = -0.018, 95%CI -0.034 to -0.003, p = 0.022) and BMI (β = -0.145, 95%CI -0.228 to -0.061, p = 0.002), with a quadratic relationship observed for both variables.
Conclusions:
Although the results of the current analysis did not indicate significant differences in PA behaviors between SMW and heterosexual women, age and BMI modify the association and are curvilinear in nature; such that smaller differences in PA were observed between SMW and heterosexual women when samples were middle-aged and overweight.
Related Concept Videos
Relationship Formation
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Stereotype Content Model
Bias in Epidemiological Studies

