How are Norwegians Using the Internet to Support Exercise or Diet?
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Abstract
Background: Internet is used for a variety of health related purposes. Use differs and has differential effects on health according to socio-economic status. The electronic tools for health behavior change are many and diverse.
Objective: This study investigated to what extent the Norwegian population uses the Internet to support exercise and diet, what kind of services is being used, and whether there are social disparities in such use. We hypothesized that we would find differences according to educational attainment.
Methods: A survey was conducted in November 2013 amongst a stratified sample of 2,196 persons drawn from an ISO 26362 certified web panel of about 50,000 Norwegians over 15 years of age. The questionnaire included questions about using the Internet, including social media, or mobile applications in relation to exercise or diet, as well as background information about education and trust, social support and health. The survey e-mail was opened by 1,187 respondents (54%). Of these, 89 did not click on the survey hyperlink (declined to participate), while another 70 did not complete the survey. The final sample size is thus N= 1,028 (87% response rate). Compared to the Norwegian census the sample had a slight under-representation of respondents under the age of 30 and with low education. The data was weighted accordingly before analyses. “I don’t know”-responses were excluded from analyses in a pairwise fashion. None of the variables had more than 5% missing data.
Results: Sixty-nine percent of women and 53% of men had read about exercise or diet on the Internet (X2 = 25.6, p < .001). More people with higher education (71%, X2 = 19.1, p < .001), reported this. The same gender difference was found for using Internet-based interventions with 20% of women compared with 14% of men reporting having used such (X2 = 7.9, p = .005), for having posted a status about exercise or diet on Facebook or other SNS (23% vs 12%, X2 = 18.8, p < .001), and for having kept an online exercise or diet journal (21% vs 15%, X2 = 7.0, p = .008). The latter was also more common amongst those with higher education (25%, X2 = 14.8, p = .001). More men (9%) than women (7%) had shared data (for instance uploaded from sensor) on exercise or diet online (X2 = 13.4, p < .001). Seven percent of the total sample reported having used electronic communication to ask professionals about exercise or diet, while a few more had discussed online with peers (10%). Asking professionals online was more common amongst those with only primary education (13%, X2 < 10.5, p = .005).
Conclusions: Gender and education are related to how the Internet is used to support health behaviors. We should be aware of the potential role of Internet in accelerating social disparities in health, and continue to monitor population use. For eHealth behavior interventions, this study provides information relevant to tailoring of delivery media and components to user.
Objective: This study investigated to what extent the Norwegian population uses the Internet to support exercise and diet, what kind of services is being used, and whether there are social disparities in such use. We hypothesized that we would find differences according to educational attainment.
Methods: A survey was conducted in November 2013 amongst a stratified sample of 2,196 persons drawn from an ISO 26362 certified web panel of about 50,000 Norwegians over 15 years of age. The questionnaire included questions about using the Internet, including social media, or mobile applications in relation to exercise or diet, as well as background information about education and trust, social support and health. The survey e-mail was opened by 1,187 respondents (54%). Of these, 89 did not click on the survey hyperlink (declined to participate), while another 70 did not complete the survey. The final sample size is thus N= 1,028 (87% response rate). Compared to the Norwegian census the sample had a slight under-representation of respondents under the age of 30 and with low education. The data was weighted accordingly before analyses. “I don’t know”-responses were excluded from analyses in a pairwise fashion. None of the variables had more than 5% missing data.
Results: Sixty-nine percent of women and 53% of men had read about exercise or diet on the Internet (X2 = 25.6, p < .001). More people with higher education (71%, X2 = 19.1, p < .001), reported this. The same gender difference was found for using Internet-based interventions with 20% of women compared with 14% of men reporting having used such (X2 = 7.9, p = .005), for having posted a status about exercise or diet on Facebook or other SNS (23% vs 12%, X2 = 18.8, p < .001), and for having kept an online exercise or diet journal (21% vs 15%, X2 = 7.0, p = .008). The latter was also more common amongst those with higher education (25%, X2 = 14.8, p = .001). More men (9%) than women (7%) had shared data (for instance uploaded from sensor) on exercise or diet online (X2 = 13.4, p < .001). Seven percent of the total sample reported having used electronic communication to ask professionals about exercise or diet, while a few more had discussed online with peers (10%). Asking professionals online was more common amongst those with only primary education (13%, X2 < 10.5, p = .005).
Conclusions: Gender and education are related to how the Internet is used to support health behaviors. We should be aware of the potential role of Internet in accelerating social disparities in health, and continue to monitor population use. For eHealth behavior interventions, this study provides information relevant to tailoring of delivery media and components to user.
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