The effect of the type of physical activity on the perceived stress level in people with activity limitations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the type of physical activity that people with activity limitations participate in on their perceived stress level. We analyzed the data of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted annually from 2007 to 2015. The subjects of the study were adults aged 19 or older who had activity limitations. The data analysis was done using the SPSS ver. 18.0 program, and complex sampling design frequencies analysis and logistic regression analysis were conducted. The statistical significance level was set at P<0.05. The results of this study are as follows: First, in the case of males with activity limitations, the odds ratio (OR) for the perceived stress level for those who participated in walking exercise compared to those who did not was 0.707 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.535–0.934; P<0.05). Second, for males with activity limitations, the OR for the perceived stress level for those who participated in walking exercise for 5 days or more compared to the nonparticipation group was 0.630 (95% CI, 0.472–0.841; P<0.05). Third, for females with activity limitations, the OR for the perceived stress level for those who participated in flexibility exercise compared to those who did not was 0.869 (95% CI, 0.727–1.039; P<0.05). Fourth, for females with activity limitations, the OR for the perceived stress level for those who participated in flexibility exercise for 5 days or more compared to the nonparticipation group was 0.672 (95% CI, 0.539–0.838; P<0.05).