Physical Activity Awareness, Practice, and Well-Being among Urban Working Adults in India: A Gender-Comparative Study
Abstract: Global and Indian surveillance data consistently report persistent gender disparities in physical activity; however, limited research has examined whether these population-level differences are also evident within specific occupational groups, particularly among urban working adults. This study compares working men and women aged 25-50 in Bengaluru, India, on physical activity guideline awareness, physical activity practice, and psychological well-being, and examines the relationship between practice and well-being by gender. A cross-sectional survey of 90 working adults (61 women, 29 men) administered a nine-item guideline-based awareness measure, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. Nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney U, chi-square, Spearman's rho) with effect sizes were used for all comparisons. Results were Awareness (59.1% correct overall), physical activity practice (1,295.7 MET-minutes/week overall; 60.0% classified as Moderate activity), and well-being (47.7% overall) did not differ significantly by gender (all p > .10; effect sizes small, r = .04-.20). No significant association was found between practice and well-being, overall or by gender (ρ = -.21 to -.03, all p > .05). Close to half the sample (47.8%) scored at or below the WHO-5 screening threshold, and median daily sitting time was high (8 hours) and equivalent across genders. Among urban, well-educated working adults, physical activity awareness and practice showed minimal gender differences, contrasting with larger gaps reported in national and global data. This indicates that gender disparities vary across occupational and educational groups. High sedentary time and below-threshold well-being across both genders highlight a shared need for workplace health interventions.
Keywords: physical activity, gender differences, well-being, working adults, IPAQ, WHO-5, awareness, India
How to Cite?: Merlin TT, Dr. Richa Gupta, "Physical Activity Awareness, Practice, and Well-Being among Urban Working Adults in India: A Gender-Comparative Study", Volume 15 Issue 10, October 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 647-650, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR261009055808, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR261009055808