A recent study by Sara Wilcox at the University of South Carolina-Columbia (in conjunction with Stanford School of Medicine and the Prevention Research Center at SLU) analyzed urban/rural differences in physical activity in older women through a cross-sectional study

Significant differences were found between urban and rural women

for urban women: older age,

personal barriers (like being discouraged by others, being too tired or lacking child care)

lack of social support

were strongly associated with sedentary behavior

for rural women : the above factors in addition to being American Indian/Alaska native or African American,

less educated,

lacking enjoyable scenery and

not seeing others in the neighborhood exercise were strongly associated with sedentary behavior.

The question I proposed was whether these associations would vary depending upon the socioeconomic status of the residents in urban or rural areas.