title: Physical activity disparities in heterosexual and sexual minority youth ages 12-22 years old: roles of childhood gender nonconformity and athletic self-esteem.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity is an important health determinant. Little is known about sexual orientation differences in physical activity and their psychosocial determinants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to examine adolescent and young adult hours/week of moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and team sports participation by sexual orientation and investigate contributions of gender nonconformity and low athletic self-esteem to possible sexual orientation differences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of data from 5,272 males and 7,507 females from 1999 to 2005 waves of the US Growing Up Today Study (ages 12-22 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sexual minorities (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, mostly heterosexual) reported 1.21-2.62 h/week less MVPA (p < 0.01) and were 46-76 % less likely to participate in team sports than same-gender heterosexuals. Gender nonconformity and athletic self-esteem accounted for 46-100 % of sexual orientation MVPA differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical activity contexts should be modified to welcome sexual minority males and females. Targeting intolerance of gender nonconformity and fostering athletic self-esteem may mitigate sexual orientation MVPA disparities.
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA, jerel.calzo@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Jerel P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Calzo
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Heather L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Corliss
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Blood
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kroshus
authors.forename: S Bryn
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Austin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D012649:Self Concept; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult