Sedentary Behavior and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Japanese Living Overseas

This study aimed to determine differences in sitting behavior time (SBT) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) based on application of the transtheoretical model (TTM) to exercise behavior in overseas-dwelling Japanese. SBT, HRQOL, and various sociodemographic factors were measured in 108 Japanese living in Ipoh, Malaysia. Subjects were classified into the non-exercise (NE), preparation (P), and exercise (E) groups. Workday, non-workday, and total-day SBTs were identified by self-reported questionnaire. The mental component summary (MCS) score for HRQOL was also assessed with the Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (Japanese version). Differences in SBTs and HRQOL based on the TTM were calculated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, there were differences in workday (F = 8.19, p < .001), non-workday (F = 5.96, p = .001), and total-day (F = 9.30, p < .001) SBTs and MCS scores (F = 10.29, p < .001). Non-workday (338.6 ± 210.8 vs. 510.5 ± 213.4 min, p < .05) and total-day (376.8 ± 181.1 vs. 511.8 ± 183.3 min, p < .05) SBTs were lower and the MCS score (53.9 ± 9.5 vs. 48.4 ± 9.6, p < .05) for HRQOL was higher in the E group versus P group. These differences in SBT and HRQOL in relation to exercise behavior indicate that promotion of exercise behavior may be an important public health strategy to reduce SBT and increase HRQOL in overseas-dwelling Japanese.