Sedentary Behaviour and Its Correlates Among Older Adults in Malaysia

Sedentary behavior (SB) is independently associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, including mental health disorders, non-communicable diseases, and increased mortality risk. This study investigated associations between sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, mental health, nutritional status, social support, and functional limitations, and SB among the elderly in Malaysia. Data from 3,977 individuals aged 60 years and above, extracted from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2018, were analyzed using complex samples logistic regression. Prevalence of sedentary behaviour, defined as sitting or reclining for 8 or more hours per day, among the surveyed population was 23.2%. Older age (≥75 years) was significantly associated with higher odds of SB (AORs 1.58 to 2.76, p < 0.001 to p = 0.001). Unemployment (AOR = 1.32, p = 0.020) and indigenous Sabah and Sarawak ethnicity (AOR = 2.48, p = 0.007) were also linked to increased odds of SB. Conversely, individuals with a monthly income of RM 1000-1999 had lower odds of SB compared to those earning ≥RM 2000 (AOR = 0.64, p = 0.022), and those at risk of malnutrition were also less likely to engage in SB (AOR = 0.68, p = 0.031). No significant associations were found between SB and sex, marital status, educational level, or chronic illness. These findings suggest that public health initiatives to reduce SB among older adults should prioritize the oldest old, unemployed, and specific ethnic communities, as well as address nutritional risk to promote healthier aging among the elderly in Malaysia.