| Abstract: | The bicycle becomes popular recently; it is not only transportation but also a tool of health promotion and reduction of carbon. Due to working stresses and abnormal living styles, many Taiwanese are over weight and induce various many kinds of illness. People start to ride bicycles to achieve their health and reduce environmental pollutions. The objective of this research was to study the relationship between bicycle rider?s self-reported health and specialization by Short Form 36. Four hundred and fifty people were selected in this cross-sectional, descriptive study by using a structured questionnaire. Three hundred and ninety-eight valid data were used to analyze as the results, the valid corresponding rate was 88%. The surveys were conducted during the period of March 1 to April 30 2009. The results of this study were the followings:
1. Most surveyed bicycle riders were assessed as the primary level of specialization, the percentage was 34.9%, 28.9%, 25.9% and 10.3% of the surveyed ones were graded as new, the middle level, and the highest level of specialization, separately.
2. The values of physical functioning (PF), vitality (VT), mental health (MH), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH) and report health transition (HC) were significantly positively related to a bicycle rider?s specialization.
3. To promote physical activity health, to relieve stress and to maintain good posture were the top three bicycle rider?s motivations, they were significantly related to surveyed bicycle rider?s specialization.
4. No time, lack of companions and too dangerous to ride a bicycle in the road were the top three bicycle rider?s constraints, they were significantly related to surveyed bicycle rider?s specialization.
It is suggest Government to take the results of this study as references to promote bicycle sport, health promotion is considered as the first strategy, and to develop bicycle-tourism as the second one. |
