title: Perceived social support and parental education as determinants of adolescents' physical activity and eating behaviour: a cross-sectional survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the role of perceived social support and parental education on physical activity and eating behaviour of Ghanaian adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven hundred and seventy Senior High School students (504 boys and 266 girls) between the ages of 14-21 years participated by completing questionnaires on perceived social support, physical activity and eating behaviour. The highest education attained by either parent or guardian was also obtained. Multivariate analysis of covariance was the main statistical test used to analyse the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed significant gender differences in physical activity and eating behaviour combined, with boys more likely to engage in physical activity than girls, and girls also more likely to engage in healthy eating behaviour than boys, albeit the effect was not statistically significant. While perceived social support had a significant positive effect on eating behaviour and physical activity, parental education had a significant effect only on eating behaviour but not physical activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perceived social support from family coupled with parental education provides more opportunities for adolescents to engage in healthy eating behaviour. Also, parents' educational attainment alone does not necessarily guarantee that adolescents will engage in physical activity; providing the needed social support and conducive home environment is more likely to induce physical activity behaviours. Finally, physical activity and eating behaviour should not be construed as alternative health behaviours as suggested by gender differentials in these health behaviours.
authors.forename: Franklin N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Glozah
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Pevalin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D017677:Age Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents; D012574:Schools; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult