Do singles or couples live healthier lifestyles? Trends in Queensland between 2005-2014

Stephanie Schoeppe; Corneel Vandelanotte; Amanda L Rebar; Melanie Hayman; Mitch J Duncan; Stephanie J Alley

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0192584

Do singles or couples live healthier lifestyles? Trends in Queensland between 2005-2014

PLoS One. 2018 Feb 28;13(2):e0192584. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192584. eCollection 2018.

Authors

Stephanie Schoeppe¹, Corneel Vandelanotte¹, Amanda L Rebar¹, Melanie Hayman¹, Mitch J Duncan², Stephanie J Alley¹

Affiliations

¹ Physical Activity Research Group, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
² Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Medicine & Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.

Abstract

Objectives: To compare the frequency of and trends in healthy lifestyle factors between singles and couples.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from annual surveys conducted from 2005-2014 were used. The pooled sample included 15,001 Australian adults (mean age: 52.9 years, 50% male, 74% couples) who participated in the annual Queensland Social Survey via computer-assisted telephone interviews. Relationship status was dichotomised into single and couple. Binary logistic regression was used to assess associations between relationship status, and the frequency of and trends in healthy lifestyle factors.

Results: Compared to singles, couples were significantly more likely to be a non-smoker (OR = 1.82), and meet recommendations for limited fast food (OR = 1.12), alcohol consumption (OR = 1.27) and fruit and vegetable intake (OR = 1.24). Fruit and vegetable intake was not significantly associated with relationship status after adjusting for the other healthy lifestyle factors. Conversely, couples were significantly less likely to be within a normal weight range (OR = 0.81). In both singles and couples, the trend data revealed significant declines in the rates of normal weight (singles: OR = 0.97, couples: OR = 0.97) and viewing TV for less than 14 hours per week (singles: OR = 0.85, couples: OR = 0.84), whilst non-smoking rates significantly increased (singles: OR = 1.12, couples: OR = 1.03). The BMI trend was no longer significant when adjusting for health behaviours. Further, in couples, rates of meeting recommendations for physical activity and fruit/vegetable consumption significantly decreased (OR = 0.97 and OR = 0.95, respectively), as did rates of eating no fast food (OR = 0.96). These trends were not significant when adjusting for the other healthy lifestyle factors. In singles, rates of meeting alcohol recommendations significantly increased (OR = 1.08).

Conclusions: Health behaviour interventions are needed in both singles and couples, but relationship status needs to be considered in interventions targeting alcohol, fast food, smoking and BMI. Further research is needed to understand why health behaviours differ by relationship status in order to further improve interventions.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Cross-Sectional Studies
Family Characteristics*
Female
Humans
Life Style*
Male
Middle Aged
Queensland

Grants and funding

SS (GNT1125586) and AR (GNT1105926) are supported by Early Career Fellowships from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. SS (ID 101240) is also supported by a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the National Heart Foundation of Australia. CV (ID 100427) and MJD (ID 100029) are supported by Future Leader Fellowships from the National Heart Foundation of Australia.