Leisure sedentary time and elevated blood pressure: evidence from the statutory retirement policy

ObjectivesThe relationship between sedentary behaviors and elevated blood pressure remains inconclusive, and the socioeconomic mechanisms underlying the linkage are rarely discussed. Since retirement is often associated with behavioral changes that impact health, this study aims to provide evidence...

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Main Authors: Hao Li, Weihong Zeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-10-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1468221/full
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author Hao Li
Hao Li
Weihong Zeng
Weihong Zeng
author_facet Hao Li
Hao Li
Weihong Zeng
Weihong Zeng
author_sort Hao Li
collection DOAJ
description ObjectivesThe relationship between sedentary behaviors and elevated blood pressure remains inconclusive, and the socioeconomic mechanisms underlying the linkage are rarely discussed. Since retirement is often associated with behavioral changes that impact health, this study aims to provide evidence on changes in leisure sedentary time after the statutory retirement age on elevated blood pressure, along with the socioeconomic mechanisms.MethodsWe utilized data from five waves (2004–2015) of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), focusing on males aged 55–65 employed in the formal sector. Leisure sedentary time, the independent variable, was measured based on self-reported data, while diastolic (DBP) and systolic (SBP) blood pressure were the dependent variables. Using statutory retirement policy as an exogenous variation, we employed a continuous difference-in-differences (DID) framework and a propensity score matching difference-in-differences (PSM-DID) approach to examine the relationship between changes in leisure sedentary time after the statutory retirement age and elevated blood pressure. The analysis was conducted using ordinary least squares (OLS). To address potential endogeneity, we applied the instrumental variable (IV) method via two-stage least squares (2SLS).ResultsOur findings indicate an increase in diastolic blood pressure after statutory retirement, attributed to increased leisure sedentary time. However, there was no significant increase in systolic blood pressure. Moreover, physical activity did not appear to offset this rise in blood pressure, while higher educational attainment and having family members employed in the medical field helped mitigate its negative effects.ConclusionThis study highlights the potential adverse impact of increased leisure sedentary time on diastolic blood pressure among middle-aged men in the formal sector, while also exploring the socioeconomic factors that may alleviate these effects. These results provide a foundation for public health initiatives aimed at addressing the rising prevalence of sedentary behavior and its association with blood pressure issues.
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spelling doaj-art-302a29c9be88459f9f2ed6cb233d3c9e2025-08-20T01:47:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652024-10-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.14682211468221Leisure sedentary time and elevated blood pressure: evidence from the statutory retirement policyHao Li0Hao Li1Weihong Zeng2Weihong Zeng3Jinhe Center for Economic Research, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaCenter for Aging Health Research, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaJinhe Center for Economic Research, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaCenter for Aging Health Research, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaObjectivesThe relationship between sedentary behaviors and elevated blood pressure remains inconclusive, and the socioeconomic mechanisms underlying the linkage are rarely discussed. Since retirement is often associated with behavioral changes that impact health, this study aims to provide evidence on changes in leisure sedentary time after the statutory retirement age on elevated blood pressure, along with the socioeconomic mechanisms.MethodsWe utilized data from five waves (2004–2015) of the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), focusing on males aged 55–65 employed in the formal sector. Leisure sedentary time, the independent variable, was measured based on self-reported data, while diastolic (DBP) and systolic (SBP) blood pressure were the dependent variables. Using statutory retirement policy as an exogenous variation, we employed a continuous difference-in-differences (DID) framework and a propensity score matching difference-in-differences (PSM-DID) approach to examine the relationship between changes in leisure sedentary time after the statutory retirement age and elevated blood pressure. The analysis was conducted using ordinary least squares (OLS). To address potential endogeneity, we applied the instrumental variable (IV) method via two-stage least squares (2SLS).ResultsOur findings indicate an increase in diastolic blood pressure after statutory retirement, attributed to increased leisure sedentary time. However, there was no significant increase in systolic blood pressure. Moreover, physical activity did not appear to offset this rise in blood pressure, while higher educational attainment and having family members employed in the medical field helped mitigate its negative effects.ConclusionThis study highlights the potential adverse impact of increased leisure sedentary time on diastolic blood pressure among middle-aged men in the formal sector, while also exploring the socioeconomic factors that may alleviate these effects. These results provide a foundation for public health initiatives aimed at addressing the rising prevalence of sedentary behavior and its association with blood pressure issues.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1468221/fullrisky health behaviorsleisure sedentary timediastolic blood pressuresystolic blood pressurestatutory retirement policyChina
spellingShingle Hao Li
Hao Li
Weihong Zeng
Weihong Zeng
Leisure sedentary time and elevated blood pressure: evidence from the statutory retirement policy
Frontiers in Public Health
risky health behaviors
leisure sedentary time
diastolic blood pressure
systolic blood pressure
statutory retirement policy
China
title Leisure sedentary time and elevated blood pressure: evidence from the statutory retirement policy
title_full Leisure sedentary time and elevated blood pressure: evidence from the statutory retirement policy
title_fullStr Leisure sedentary time and elevated blood pressure: evidence from the statutory retirement policy
title_full_unstemmed Leisure sedentary time and elevated blood pressure: evidence from the statutory retirement policy
title_short Leisure sedentary time and elevated blood pressure: evidence from the statutory retirement policy
title_sort leisure sedentary time and elevated blood pressure evidence from the statutory retirement policy
topic risky health behaviors
leisure sedentary time
diastolic blood pressure
systolic blood pressure
statutory retirement policy
China
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1468221/full
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AT weihongzeng leisuresedentarytimeandelevatedbloodpressureevidencefromthestatutoryretirementpolicy
AT weihongzeng leisuresedentarytimeandelevatedbloodpressureevidencefromthestatutoryretirementpolicy