title: Association of perceived environmental characteristics and participation in organized and non-organized physical activities of adolescents.
abstract: Specific behavior context such as type of PA (organized vs. nonorganized) might be associated with different environmental correlates. The main goal of this cross-sectional survey was to examine perceived environmental associations with type of adolescents' physical activity (PA) choices (organized and nonorganized). A sample of this study comprised 425 girls with mean age of 14.5 years-old. Environmental variables and PA were assessed by questionnaire, which allowed to define the type (organized or nonorganized) of PA. No associations were found between environmental perceptions and the participation in organized activities. However, different dimensions of environmental variables such as accessibilities to facilities (p -/+ .05) aesthetics (p -/+ .05) and social environment (p -/+ .05) were associated to girls' PA participation in nonorganized activities (NOPA). Our findings suggested that some environmental characteristics might play an important role in girls' NOPA participation.
authors: Research Center in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sports Science and Physical Education, University of Porto, 4200 450 Porto, Portugal.
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Mota
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Almeida
authors: Rute
authors: R
authors: Santos
authors: Jose Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Ribeiro
authors: Maria Paula
authors: MP
authors: Santos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D011174:Portugal; D012931:Social Environment; D012938:Social Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires