SEDENTARY BEHAVIOUR
In 2011-12, the collection of sedentary behaviour data in the Australian Health Survey was via four separate question modules:
- Exercise (NHS)
- Adult physical activity (NNPAS)
- Child 5-17 years physical activity (NNPAS only)
- Child 2-4 years physical activity (NNPAS only).
Adult sedentary behaviour data collected in the NHS, from persons 15 years and over, included time spent:
- sitting at work on a usual day
- sitting to watch TV or use a computer for leisure on a usual work/week day
- sitting for leisure on a usual work/week day.
Adult sedentary behaviour data collected in the NNPAS, from persons 18 years and over, included time spent in the last week:
- sitting at work
- sitting for transport (including waiting for transport)
- sitting or lying down to watch television or videos
- sitting or lying down to play electronic games
- sitting or lying down to use a computer or the internet
- sitting or lying down to use a phone (including text messages and talking)
- sitting or lying down to do other social or leisure activities (such as at a barbecue, for meals, at a cinema, etc.).
For children 2-17, sedentary behaviour data collected in the NNPAS was focused on screen-based activities. For each day in the last 7 days, data was collected on the time spent sitting or lying down to:
- watch TV/DVDs
- play any electronic games
- use the internet or computer (excluding games) for homework and non-homework purposes (5-17 years only).