Analysis of the Relationship between Physical or Mental Problems and Health Maintenance Methods by Personal Differences

PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the differences in the association between physical or mental problems and health maintenance methods. METHODS This study used data from the 2019 Korea National Sports Participation Survey, conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, as a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. This study included 7,863 participants (3,918 men, 3,945 women). A generalized linear model analysis was conducted and adjusted for sex, education, marital status, number of family members, children, monthly income, employment status, city type, residential type, and age. Additionally, we conducted a stratified analysis according to sex, monthly income, employment status, and city type. RESULTS For the “regular sports activities” item, only women had a statistically positive result regardless of monthly income. For the “stop drinking and smoking” item, men had a statistically significant positive result regardless of monthly income and employment status. CONCLUSIONS This study aimed to determine the differences in the relationship between physical or mental problems and health maintenance methods. The results confirm that the health maintenance method differs between men and women. Monthly income, employment status, and city type could also influence simultaneously. The health maintenance methods with differences between men and women were regular sports activities for monthly income and cessation of drinking and smoking for monthly income and employment status. Therefore, in future exercise physiology studies, the differences between men and women must be considered when selecting a method for maintaining health.