title: Does activity-related social support differ by characteristics of the adolescent?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research has shown a positive relationship between activity-related social support provided by parents and peers and adolescents' physical activity. However, more information is needed on whether activity-related social support differs by sociodemographic characteristics. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in activity-related social support in a sample of adolescents, by characteristics such as age, gender, socioeconomic status (SES), ethnicity, and physical activity level and to determine which characteristics are the most important predictors of activity-related social support.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information was provided by 578 boys and 588 girls (11-14 years) on demographic factors, physical activity, and activity-related support. ANOVA, correlations, and multiple regression were performed to address the purposes of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Boys, White British, younger, more physically active, and high-SES adolescents perceived more support for physical activity. Age predicted all types of support excluding peer support; ethnicity predicted mother logistic support and sibling support; gender predicted peer support, father explicit modeling, and father logistic support; and SES predicted mother and father logistic support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Families and peers of adolescents who are female, from Black and minority ethnic groups, older, of low-SES, and less active should be targeted for intervention.
authors: School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK.
authors: Charlotte Louise
authors: CL
authors: Edwardson
authors: Trish
authors: T
authors: Gorely
authors: Hayley
authors: H
authors: Musson
authors: Rebecca
authors: R
authors: Duncombe
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Sandford
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010290:Parents; D010379:Peer Group; D010465:Perception; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires