title: Extra-curricular participation in sports and socio-demographic factors in Spanish adolescents: the AVENA study.
abstract: The aims of this study were to identify differences between the sexes in extra-curricular participation in sports and to determine its association with body fat and socio-demographic factors in Spanish adolescents. A total of 2165 adolescents (1124 males and 1041 females) aged 13.0-18.5 years from the AVENA Study participated. Participants filled in an ad hoc questionnaire for extra-curricular participation in sports, which was the dependent variable. Independent variables were: age, percent body fat, and father's and mother's educational level and occupation. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were applied. Bivariate analysis showed for male adolescents that age and father's occupation were related to extra-curricular participation in sports. In addition, body fat and mother's education and occupation (all P < 0.05) were related to extra-curricular participation of in sports for female adolescents. Logistic regression analysis showed that the likelihood of involvement in extra-curricular participation in sports was 5.3-fold (3.86-7.38) higher for males than females. Age and father's education in both males and females were independently associated with extra-curricular participation in sports. In summary, Spanish male adolescents were shown to engage in more extra-curricular sports than females. In addition, age and father's education (in both sexes) were associated with the participation of their offspring in extra-curricular sports during adolescence.
authors.affiliation: GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. lgracia@unizar.es
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gracia-Marco
authors.forename: Concepcion
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tomas
authors.forename: German
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vicente-Rodriguez
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jimenez-Pavon
authors.forename: Juan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rey-Lopez
authors.forename: Francisco B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lanza-Saiz
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Moreno
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires