Characteristics of family nucleus as correlates of regular participation in sports among adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the relationship between family nucleus and sport practice among adolescents.


METHODS
A school-based cross-sectional study carried out with 1,752 Brazilian adolescents (812 male and 940 female), aged 11-17 years. Characteristics of the family nucleus (parental education, socioeconomic status and number of siblings) and sport practice (≥240 min/week) were assessed by questionnaires. Adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated using Poisson regression models.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of sport practice was 14.8% (boys 21.2% and girls 9.4%, P = 0.001). Higher socioeconomic status, number of siblings and parents' educational level were associated with more sport practice.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the low engagement, family nucleus plays an essential role in the sport practice of our sample of Brazilian adolescents.
Department of Physical Education, Institute of Biosciences, UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, Sao Paulo State University, Av 24A, 1515, Rio Claro, Sao Paulo, 13506-900, Brazil. romulo_ef@yahoo.com.br
Rômulo A
RA
Fernandes
Felipe F
FF
Reichert
Henrique Luiz
HL
Monteiro
Ismael F
IF
Freitas Júnior
Jefferson R
JR
Cardoso
Enio Ricardo V
ER
Ronque
Arli R
AR
de Oliveira
D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires