Descriptive epidemiology of television viewing in Australian adults: Findings from the AusDiab study

Television (TV) viewing is the most common leisure-time sedentary behaviour, and a considerable body of evidence shows significant associations of TV viewing time with health-related outcomes. However, there is limited descriptive epidemiology data on the patterns of TV viewing and its correlates among Australian adults. This study explores the socio-demographic correlates of TV viewing time, in a large sample of Australian adults aged over 25 years with particular reference to higher daily rates of television viewing (>2hours/day). Analysis of data from 11,247 adult (5049 men, 6198 women, mean age 48.2, range 25 to 95) participants of the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study showed that 48% of men and 42% of women watched TV for more than two hours/day. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that for both men and women, high TV viewing was associated with lower income, no post-secondary education, living in rural areas, being unemployed, and being overweight or obese. In women, mid and older age (45-64 and 65+) was also significantly associated with prolonged TV viewing. Effect sizes were small to moderate, with strongest effects observed in those who were unemployed (men OR=1.97, 95%CI 1.52 to 2.56; women OR=1.91, 95%CI 1.52 to 2.40). These findings suggest that those who watch more than two hours/day of TV have specific socio-demographic attributes. These associations identified in our study are of potential relevance for interventions to influence sedentary behaviours (particularly television viewing time), and for the development of sedentary behaviour guidelines in adult populations