The prevalence of health problems and their association with physical activity in caregivers of children with disabilities: 2018 National Health Interview Survey

Background Caregivers of children with disabilities often experience poor health. One way for caregivers to promote their own health may be to participate in physical activity (PA). Aims The purpose of this study was to examine the association between PA and psychological and physical health problems in caregivers of children with disabilities. Methods The 2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data were used, and 890 household representatives were identified as caregivers of children with disabilities. Based on the national PA guidelines, caregivers were classified into three groups: inactive (IA), aerobically active (AA), and aerobically and muscularly active (AMA). Results Multivariable logistic regression indicated that the AMA group had a lower likelihood of reporting depression compared to the IA group (OR: 0.73 [95% confidence interval: 0.54, 0.98]). The AMA group also had a lower likelihood of reporting back pain and obesity compared to the IA group (OR:0.69 [95% confidence interval: 0.56, 0.84] and OR:0.63 [95% confidence interval: 0.52, 0.76], respectively). Conclusions The results of the current study suggest that caregivers of children with disabilities may benefit from PA, especially from the combination of aerobic and muscle-strengthening PA.