Presentation Schedule
Marriage, Parenthood, and Physical Activity in Taiwan: Life Course Patterns and Gender Gaps (103669)
Session Chair: Alexandra Lysova
Thursday, 26 March 2026 15:10
Session: Session 4
Room: Room 703 (7F)
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
This study examines how marriage and parenthood relate to adults’ exercise in Taiwan. Using the 2020 Panel Study of Family Dynamics (PSFD; N = 4,263) restricted to married adults aged 20–49, respondents were grouped as childless, with the youngest child aged 0–6, or with children aged 7–18. Outcomes included any exercise, regular exercise (≥3 times per week), and sufficiency relative to World Health Organization guidelines (≥150 minutes moderate or ≥75 minutes vigorous activity per week). Logistic regressions estimated odds of any and regular exercise, and multinomial models assessed sufficiency. Parenthood—especially when the youngest child is 0–6—substantially reduces activity. Compared with childless married adults, parents of young children had lower odds of any exercise (OR = 0.4116, 95% CI: 0.3529–0.4801) and regular exercise (OR = 0.4718, 95% CI: 0.3886–0.5729). For parents of children aged 7–18, odds remained lower for any exercise (OR = 0.6363), while regular exercise did not differ statistically (OR = 0.9113). Women were consistently less likely to exercise at all (OR = 0.6955) and regularly (OR = 0.6868). Longer work hours showed a weak negative association with regular exercise, and co-residence with parents was negatively associated with any exercise. Caring for young children depresses physical activity, with the burden falling disproportionately on women. Policies should prioritize families with preschoolers and reduce care–time conflicts through co-located childcare and exercise facilities, flexible hours and short-term care at community venues, parent–child activity programs, and measures that increase fathers’ caregiving participation.
Authors:
Jen-Hao Chen, National Chengchi University, United States
About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Jen-Hao Chen is a Professor of Sociology and Psychology at National Chengchi University, Taiwan.
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