Social influences on physical activity in Anglo-Australian and Vietnamese-Australian adolescent females in a single sex school.
Social support is a consistent correlate of youth physical activity (PA) but few studies have examined this in cultural sub-groups. Female adolescents (n=113; 13.9+/-0.6years) from a metropolitan single sex private school participated in this study. PA was estimated using the 3 Day Physical Activity Recall (3dPAR), and aspects of social support using a specifically designed questionnaire. Anglo-Australians (n=74), whose parents were both born in Australia, were compared with Vietnamese-Australians (n=39), whose parents were both born in Vietnam. There were non-significant trends towards higher engagement in all measures of PA among Anglo-Australians. Anglo-Australians perceived higher levels of social support to be physically active. In the whole sample and in cultural sub-groups, support by mothers was a consistent predictor of PA. Among Vietnamese-Australians, activities shared with the mother predicted moderate to vigorous PA. Interventions targeting PA among adolescent females should consider interactions of social support and cultural background.
Wilson
Andrew N
AN
School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Australia.
Dollman
James
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D001315:Australia; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D009043:Motor Activity; D010287:Parent-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012574:Schools; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*