Associations of self-reported and objectively-assessed sedentary time with adults’ quality of life and life satisfaction

Purpose: There is emerging evidence that sedentary behaviors are related to indices of psychosocial well-being. This study examined associations of multiple self-reported and objectively-assessed measures of time spent sedentary with adults’ life satisfaction and physical quality of life (PQOL).

Methods: Participants (N=2119; mean age=45.2yrs, SD=10.9) were recruited from neighborhoods varying by walkability and income. They completed 6 PQOL items from the SF-12 and responded to a question about overall satisfaction with their life. Participants reported time spent in sedentary behaviors (TV/video watching; computer, car driving/riding time) and total time spent sitting in the last 7 days; they also wore Actigraph accelerometers for 7 days; average sedentary time per day and sedentary time accumulated in bouts of 20min or more were calculated. Mixed model regressions assessed associations with life satisfaction and PQOL, adjusting for study design, demographics, and accelerometer measured MVPA and wearing time.

Results: TV/video watching was negatively associated with life satisfaction and PQOL (p<.001). Computer time was associated negatively only with life satisfaction (p<.001); car time was unrelated. Accelerometer-derived sedentary bouts was associated negatively with life satisfaction (p<.05) and self-reported total sitting time was associated negatively with life satisfaction and PQOL (p<.01).

Conclusions: Several elements of sedentary time – self-reported and objectively-measured – were negatively associated with physical quality of life and life satisfaction in adults. Evidence is particularly needed from prospective studies on the impact of TV and computer time on quality of life; these discretionary sedentary behaviors are potential targets for interventions aimed at improving quality of life.