Investigation of activity level, sitting time and quality of life in adult individuals: a case study in Antalya province

Background: The aim of this study was to assess physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and quality of life in adults by gender and activity level. Methods: A total of 257 female and 415 males participated in the study. Height, weight, physical activity and sedentary behaviour (sitting time) were measured using the IPAQ questionnaire and the SF-36 quality of life scale. Normality tests, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis and Tamhane's T2 tests were used to compare results by gender and activity level, and Spearman's correlation was used for variable relationships. Results: Female were shorter, lighter and had a lower BMI than male, who had less sitting time and higher weekly MET activity scores. Male scored higher in physical functioning (PF) and role emotional (RE) on the SF-36, whereas female had better mental health (MH) scores. Female were more likely to engage in moderate-intensity activities, while male preferred high-intensity activities. Significant differences in age, BMI and sitting time were observed between activity levels for both sexes. Conclusion: Differences in SF-36 scores and sitting time suggest that male's physical roles and societal expectations contribute to higher PF and RE scores, whereas female's mental health benefits may have related to their use of emotion regulation strategies. Female's higher intensity activity was also correlated with fewer emotional problems and better general health. Overall, regular physical activity, even at lower intensity levels, has a positive effect on emotional wellbeing by reducing the risk of stress, depression and anxiety.