[Biological and socio-cultural determinants of physical activity in adolescents].
Physical activity is important for health promotion and disease prevention. Effective physical activity programs for adolescents require a proper understanding of the determinants of activity levels. The main purpose of this paper was to review the scientific literature on determinants of physical activity among adolescents: demographic, biological (age, gender, socioeconomic status), and socio-cultural (family, peers, and physical education teachers). The review included only studies with large samples (>100 subjects) and a cross-sectional design, and that used questionnaires to measure physical activity in adolescents (10-18 years). The main results and conclusions were: age is negatively associated with physical activity; boys tend to be more active than girls; higher socioeconomic status is positively associated with more physical activity; adolescents are more involved in physical activity when parents and peers also participate; physical education teachers do not influence the adolescents' level of physical activity.
Seabra
André F
AF
Faculdade de Desporto, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. aseabra@fade.up.pt
Mendonça
Denisa M
DM
Thomis
Martine A
MA
Anjos
Luiz A
LA
Maia
José A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*