Physical activity moderates the association between fertility history and later life health
METHODS: A sample of men and women from five waves between 2002-2010 (n = 11,233 in wave 1) of the English Longitudinal Study of ageing was used. Latent growth curves were used to analyze the level and rate of change in disability. The models included physical activity, fertility history (parity and early childbirth), age and qualification in wave 1, and being married, wealth quintile, current smoking, social support and depressive symptoms as time-varying covariates. The interaction terms physical activity*parity and physical activity*early childbirth were tested in the models.
RESULTS: Among those who were physically active, disability remained at a considerably lower level and high parity and early child birth were not associated with a poorer level of health. Among those who were physically less active, disability was initially at a higher level and showed a faster increase over time. High parity and early child birth were associated with a poorer level of health among those who were physically less active.
CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity moderates the extent of health disadvantage related to high parity and early age at entry to parenthood. This suggests a need to test whether interventions to promote physical activity are of value in offsetting disadvantages associated with fertility and other trajectories earlier in the life course.