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Gender difference in "second-shift" physical activity: New insights from analyzing accelerometry data in a nationally
Wenxuan Huang1, Lingxin Hao1,2, Xingyun Wu2
1Hopkins Population Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
SSM - Population Health
|November 6, 2023
Summary
Women with full-time jobs engage in more fragmented physical activity (PA) during their "second shift" than men. This gender difference in PA is most pronounced in professional occupations, highlighting the impact of work and family roles.
Area of Science:
- Sociology of Work and Family
- Public Health
- Physical Activity Epidemiology
Background:
- Gendered daily activity patterns create distinct physical activity (PA) contexts for the workforce, particularly during the
- second shift
- dominated by household tasks.
- Current research on gender differences in PA often relies on self-reported leisure activities, offering an incomplete view of PA sources, timing, and accumulation.
- Understanding how work and family dynamics influence gender disparities in household-based PA across different occupations is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gender differences in the volume and accumulation patterns of household-based physical activity (PA) during the
- second shift
- among full-time workers.
- To examine how occupational groups moderate these gender differences in PA.
- To explore the interplay between work schedules and family responsibilities in shaping gendered PA patterns.
Main Methods:
- Utilized accelerometry and work schedule data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2006.
- Analyzed PA volume and fragmentation during specific post-work (6pm-9pm) and pre-work (7:30am-8:30am) time windows.
- Employed generalized estimating equations to estimate gender differences and moderation by occupational group; functional data analysis for secondary validation.
Main Results:
- Women in full-time employment exhibited significantly higher volume and fragmentation of second-shift PA compared to men.
- Gender disparities in PA volume and fragmentation were significant only among professional workers.
- The second shift represented a gender-neutral context for PA accumulation in non-professional occupational groups.
Conclusions:
- The organization of work and family life significantly shapes gender differences in physical activity during the second shift.
- Occupational status plays a critical role in the manifestation of gender gaps in household-based PA.
- Future research should extend beyond leisure activities to examine gendered PA within the combined context of work and family demands.
