Correlates of physical activity and sedentary behavior among Latino persons with spine pain

Latino persons with chronic spine pain (CSP) face challenges engaging in physical activity (PA) and minimizing sedentary behavior (SB). This study aimed to objectively characterize PA and identify correlates of PA and SB in Latino persons with CSP.

Cross-sectional baseline data from Latino participants who were enrolled in a clinical trial for CSP near the U.S.-Mexico border were utilized. Blockwise regression assessed the association between sociodemographic, clinical, interpersonal, and environmental factors with light PA (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and SB.

Participants (N = 154, Mage = 47.5 ± 12.1 years) spent 342.8 ± 111.6 min/day in LPA, 56.1 ± 71.1 min/day in MVPA, and 550.3 ± 140.9 min/day in SB. Seventy-five percent of participants met national PA guidelines. Lower income and higher pain interference were associated with lower LPA (R2 = 9%, p < .05). Younger age and lower income were associated with higher MVPA (R2 = 13%, p < .05). Lower income was associated with lower SB (R2 = 5%, p < .05). Younger age (OR 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.87, 0.98]) and higher exercise self-efficacy (OR 95% CI [1.06, 8.09]) increased the odds of meeting PA guidelines.

Participants with CSP exhibited greater levels of LPA, MVPA, and SB compared with prior studies of Latino persons without pain. Sociodemographic variables including age and income were most consistently associated with PA and SB outcomes. Future research is needed to identify other relevant intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental determinants of PA and SB in this clinical population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).