Sedentary behaviour and inactivity

Sedentary behaviour and inactivity are different concepts collected in the IHMHS. While sedentary behaviour is a type of behaviour collected from self-report questionnaires, inactivity is a measurement of minimal or no movement using an accelerometer. Both can be used in physical activity research.

Sedentary behaviour is any self-reported activity done while sitting or lying with little movement. Common examples include sitting at a desk, travelling in a car or vehicle, and lying on the couch watching TV. 

Sleeping is not considered a sedentary behaviour.

Inactivity is defined by the study as the absence of movement, or minimal movement, as measured by an accelerometer. This may include periods of sedentary behaviour, sleep, as well as standing still for periods of time. Inactivity is identified by low acceleration and is also used to determine if a person may be asleep. For more information on directly measured acceleration, see Directly measured physical activity, inactivity and sleep (accelerometer).

These two concepts do not always align. For example:

• an accelerometer may record low movement when someone is standing still, but standing is not sedentary behaviour
• an accelerometer may record no movement when someone is asleep, but sleep is not sedentary behaviour
• someone sitting and watching TV may show very little movement. This is sedentary behaviour. Very little movement as measured by an accelerometer is classified as inactivity, but it is not possible to determine whether this is sedentary behaviour.

Child and young person sedentary behaviours were only collected in the NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2023 from the self-report questionnaire. Limited sedentary behaviours data for young people aged 15–17 years old are available In NHS 2022 and NATSIHS 2022-2023. Directly measured inactivity data from accelerometers for school aged children and young people was also collected.

In NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2022-23 (non-remote), a parent or guardian was asked to estimate the longest amount of time the pre-school aged child spent secured in a car seat, stroller/pram or highchair in one sitting on the day prior to the interview. Secured sitting was not collected in NATSINPAS 2023 remote areas.

Amount of time spent using screen-based devices (for example, televisions, personal computers, gaming consoles and smart phones, while sitting and lying) was collected for pre-school and school aged children and young people in NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2023 (non-remote). For school-aged children, respondents were instructed to exclude screen use for study related activities.

In NHS 2022 and NATSIHS 2022-23 (non-remote), respondents aged 15–17 years who were employed were asked whether they were mostly sitting, mostly standing, mostly walking, or mostly doing heavy labour or physically demanding work on a typical workday. 

In NATSIHS 2022-23 remote, all respondents aged 15–17 years were asked whether they were mostly sitting, mostly standing, mostly walking, mostly running, or mostly doing heavy labour or hard physical work on the day prior to interview. 

Directly measured inactivity data from accelerometers by school-aged children and young people (5–17 years) is available in NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2023. See Directly measured light, moderate and vigorous activity.

In NATSINPAS 2023, a parent or guardian was asked to select from a list of activities the school-aged child or young person (aged 5–17 years) did while sitting on the day prior to the interview. These included:

• yarning with friends and family
• eating meals
• watching tv/listening to music/playing games
• working or studying
• painting or doing art.

Self-reported adult sedentary behaviour data is available only in NATSINPAS 2023. Limited sedentary behaviours data for adults was also collected in NHS 2022 and NATSIHS 2022-23. Directly measured adult inactivity data from accelerometers was also collected in NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2023. 

In NATSINPAS 2023 (non-remote), adults were asked the amount of time they spent sitting or lying down while working, travelling, studying and all other activity activities. Only the day prior to the interview was collected.

In NHS 2022 and NATSIHS 2022-23 (non-remote), adult respondents who were employed were asked whether they were mostly sitting, mostly standing, mostly walking, or mostly doing heavy labour or physically demanding work on a typical workday. 

In NATSIHS 2022-23 remote, all adult respondents were asked whether they were mostly sitting, mostly standing, mostly walking, mostly running, or mostly doing heavy labour or hard physical work on the day prior to interview. 

Directly measured inactivity data from accelerometers by school-aged children and young people (5–17 years) is available in NNPAS 2023 and NATSINPAS 2023. See Directly measured light, moderate and vigorous activity.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults living in remote areas were asked how they spent most of their time on the day prior to the interview. Respondents selected whether they were sitting or standing, or doing forms of physical activity like walking, running or manual labour. Young people aged 15–17 years interviewed in the NATSIHS 2022-23 were also asked these questions.

NATSINPAS 2023 also collected the types of activities respondents did while sitting. These included:

• yarning with friends and family
• eating meals
• watching tv/listening to music/playing games
• working or studying
• painting or doing art.