Physical and social contexts of physical activities among adolescent girls.
BACKGROUND
With limited opportunities for physical activity during school hours, it is important to understand the contexts of physical activities done outside of school time. Given the importance of physical and social aspects of environments, the purpose of this study was to describe where and with whom girls participate in physical activities outside of school.


METHODS
Participants were 1925 sixth-grade girls in the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG). At baseline, they completed a 3-day physical activity recall (3DPAR), reporting the main activity performed during 30-minute intervals and the physical and social contexts of physical activities.


RESULTS
The most frequently reported physical activities done outside of school time were house chores, walking (for transportation or exercise), dance, basketball, playing with younger children, and running or jogging. The most common location for these activities was at home or in the neighborhood. With the exception of household chores, these activities were typically done with at least one other person.


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions that promote physical activities that can be done at or around home or developing supportive social networks for physical activity would be consistent with the current physical activity contexts of adolescent girls.
Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
JoAnn
J
Kuo
Kathryn H
KH
Schmitz
Kelly R
KR
Evenson
Thomas L
TL
McKenzie
Jared B
JB
Jobe
Ariane L
AL
Rung
Joel
J
Gittelsohn
Russell R
RR
Pate
D000293:Adolescent; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D044469:Racial Groups; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D013995:Time