Examining variation in the relationship between disability and physical activity across Australian local government areas

Abstract

AbstractUnderstanding the relationship between disability and physical activity and whether it differs across local government jurisdictions may aid in the development of placed-based approaches to reducing disability-related inequalities in physical activity. The objectives of this study were to examine the association between disability and physical activity and assess whether this association varied between Australian Local Government Areas. The sample included 13,315 participants aged 18–64 years from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics Australia Survey, 2017. Participants self-reported disability and physical activity. Linear mixed-effects models estimated the association between disability and physical activity. People with disability reported less physical activity per week. We did not find evidence that this association varied across LGAs. Our findings do not add evidence towards local government-based approaches in Australia to reducing physical activity inequalities between people with and without a disability.