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. 2020 Jun 22;15(6):e0234794.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234794. eCollection 2020.

The impact of life events and transitions on physical activity: A scoping review

Hannes Gropper  1   2 , Jannika M John  1   2 , Gorden Sudeck  1   2 , Ansgar Thiel  1   2
Affiliations

The impact of life events and transitions on physical activity: A scoping review

Hannes Gropper et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Physical activity (PA) is a fluctuating behavior and prone to change across the life course. Changes in PA may be particularly due to the experience of life events and transitions. For well-timed and successful PA interventions, it is important to understand when and why individuals take up or terminate PA.

Objectives: This scoping review aims to examine the extent, range, and nature of research on the impact of life events and transitions on PA and to summarize key findings.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science. Articles were included if they had been published in peer-reviewed journals between 1998 and 2020 and assessed the impact of at least one life event or transition on PA.

Results: 107 studies that assessed 72 distinct life events and transitions were included and summarized in ten categories. Events and transitions that are primarily associated with decreases in PA were starting cohabitation, getting married, pregnancy, evolving parenthood, and the transitions from kindergarten to primary school, from primary to secondary school, and from high school to college or into the labor market. Retirement was associated with increases in PA; yet, long-term trajectories across retirement indicated a subsequent drop in activity levels. Divorce was associated with no changes in PA. No trends could be identified for changing work conditions, quitting or losing a job, starting a new relationship, widowhood, moving, and diagnosis of illness.

Conclusion: Life events and transitions can be conceptualized as natural interventions that occur across the life course and that are oftentimes associated with changes in PA behavior. Our study indicates that, despite some emerging trends, similar events do not necessarily have similar impacts on PA across individuals. It also shows that the research landscape is characterized by a lack of conceptual clarity and by disparate methodologies, making it difficult to synthesize results across studies.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flow chart of the systematic literature search.
(adapted from the PRISMA flow diagram [39]).
Fig 2
Fig 2. Summary of key findings of the impact of life events and transitions on PA across the life course.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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