The association between physical activity and psychological distress among an adult Sami and non-Sami population in Norway – the SAMINOR 2 Questionnaire Survey

• Main Author: Lund, Åse Karlsen
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: UiT Norges arktiske universitet 2022
• Subjects: Mental health; mental health problems; psychological distress; physical activity; Sami; indigenous; non-Sami population; Norway; HEL-3950; Nord-Norge; Northern Norway; sami; samisk
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10037/33733

Background: Physical activity (PA) reduces the risk of mental health problems. However, there is limited knowledge of the influence of PA on psychological distress (PD) in a Sami population. Aim: to investigate the association between PA levels and PD among a Sami and non-Sami population in Norway, and if the association differed between gender in both ethnic groups. Materials/methods: Data from the SAMINOR 2 Questionnaire Survey included 11,600 participants (18-69 years) from 25 municipalities in Mid- and Northern Norway (response rate: 26.8%). Logistic regression analyses assessed the association between PA (10-category PA scale) and PD (The Hopkins Symptom Checklist-10), including stratification on gender and ethnicity. Results: PA levels were inversely associated with 43% lower odds of experiencing PD. Lower PA levels were associated with higher odds of experiencing PD and vice versa. In the adjusted models, the estimates remained statistically significant. Sami and non-Sami men had 41% lower odds, Sami women had 22% lower odds, and non-Sami women had 40% lower odds of experiencing PD. Conclusion: There was a significant inverse association between PA and PD among the Sami and non-Sami population. There was a small to none difference in the association of PA and PD between ethnicities and gender. Bakgrunn: Fysisk aktivitet (FA) reduserer risikoen for psykiske plager (PP). Likevel er det begrenset kunnskap på hvilken måte FA påvirker PP i en samisk befolkning. Formål: Formålet med studien er å utforske assosiasjonen mellom FA nivåer og PP blant en samisk og ikke-samisk befolkning i Norge, videre å utforske om det var forskjell i assosiasjonen mellom kjønn i begge etniske grupper. Materiale/metode: Data fra SAMINOR 2, spørreundersøkelsen inkluderte 11,600 deltakere (18-69 år) fra 25 kommuner i Midt- og Nord-Norge (svarprosent på 26.8%). Logistisk regresjon analyser undersøkte assosiasjonen mellom FA (10-kategorisk FA skala) og PP (The Hopkins Symptom Checklist-10) samt stratifisering på kjønn og etnisitet. ...