title: Social, psychological and behavioural correlates of pedometer step counts in a sample of Australian adolescents.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine potential correlates of objectively measured physical activity among a sample of Australian adolescents. Participants were 119 14-15 year old students from three secondary schools. Students wore pedometers for 4 consecutive school days and completed questionnaires assessing demographic, social, psychological and behavioural correlates of physical activity. Mean steps/day were 11,865 (+/-3997) for boys (n=47) and 9466 (+/-3195) for girls (n=72). Approximately one-third of boys (32%) and girls (33%) satisfied existing step recommendations (girls 11,000 steps/day and boys 13,000 steps/day). In the first instance, the relationship between factors and physical activity was assessed using bivariate correlation. Enjoyment of physical activity (r=0.37, p<0.05), use of self-management strategies (r=0.33, p<0.05) and perceived barriers (r=-0.39, p<0.05) were significantly related to mean steps/day among boys. Peer support (r=0.26, p<0.05) and the use of self-management strategies (r=0.30, p<0.05) were significantly associated with mean steps/day for girls. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that gender, peer support, self-management strategies and perceived barriers accounted for 16% of the variance in mean steps/day. This study has identified a number of potentially modifiable correlates of objectively measured physical activity in sample of Australian adolescents.
authors: University of Newcastle, Faculty of Education & Arts, Callaghan Campus, NSW 2308, Australia. David.Lubans@newcastle.edu.au
authors: David Revalds
authors: DR
authors: Lubans
authors: Philip James
authors: PJ
authors: Morgan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods*; D009517:New South Wales; D010379:Peer Group; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*