title: Correlates of exercise participation in adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this analysis was to determine correlates of exercise participation among adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A secondary analysis was conducted of data from a cross-sectional survey of 300 adolescents seen at an urban clinic. Using descriptive statistics and path analysis, we examined the direct and indirect effects of independent variables on exercise participation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independent variables accounted for 15% of variance in exercise participation. In gender-stratified models, independent variables explained 18% of the variance for females. Older females were associated with lower exercise participation scores (beta=-.273, p<.001). Adolescent females who reported a strong relationship with parent(s) reported higher exercise participation scores (beta=.146, p<.05). Females with higher perception of environmental opportunities for exercise were associated with higher exercise participation (beta=.180, p<.05). Depressive symptoms had the strongest indirect effect (beta=-.10) on exercise participation via behavior-specific cognitions/affect factors among females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results support that interventions to increase exercise should focus on older female adolescents. Providing information about environmental opportunities for exercise, enhancing relationship with parents, and intervening with adolescents at risk for depression might improve exercise rates in female adolescents.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan. a4ammouri2000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ammouri
authors.forename: Harsohena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Geri B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Neuberger
authors.forename: Byron
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gajewski
authors.forename: Won S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression; D015444:Exercise; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044469:Racial Groups; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014505:Urban Population