Correlates of physical activity in a national sample of girls and boys in grades 4 through 12.
Psychological, biological, social, and physical environmental variables were examined for their association with physical activity of young people. A national sample of 1,504 parents and children in Grades 4-12 were interviewed by telephone. Twenty-two potential determinants were assessed along with an 11-item child physical activity index (alpha = .76). Hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted separately for 6 age-sex subgroups. Percentage of variance explained ranged from 18% for boys in Grades 4-6 to 59% for girls in Grades 10-12. Three variables had strong and consistent associations with the child physical activity index that generalized across subgroups: use of afternoon time for sports and physical activity, enjoyment of physical education, and family support for physical activity. These 3 variables should be targeted for change to promote physical activity in all groups of young people.
Sallis
J F
JF
Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, California 92120, USA.
Prochaska
J J
JJ
Taylor
W C
WC
Hill
J O
JO
Geraci
J C
JC
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000523:psychology*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors