title: Correlates of physical activity among Australian Indigenous and non-Indigenous adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Physical inactivity is an important modifiable cause of the excess burden of disease among Indigenous Australians. We describe physical activity patterns and influencing factors, comparing Indigenous and non-Indigenous adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Indigenous (n=359) and non-Indigenous (n=637) adolescents aged 13-17 years from disadvantaged New South Wales regions completed a health and lifestyle survey. Socio-demographic, social, psychosocial and health correlates of out of school physical activity (high vs. low) among the whole sample, and stratified by Indigenous status were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 21% of Indigenous and 28% of non-Indigenous adolescents achieved higher levels of physical activity. Overall, higher levels were associated with being male; sports team membership; lower levels of TV viewing time and having an employed mother. Indigenous girls were less active than boys (OR=0.36; 85%CI=0.24-0.54), as were those whose mothers were unemployed (OR=0.66; 95%CI=0.40-1.09). Among non-Indigenous adolescents, high levels of physical activity were associated with sports team membership (OR=2.28; 95%CI=1.39-3.74) and community involvement (OR=1.46; 95%CI=1.04-2.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical activity levels were similarly low among disadvantaged Indigenous and non-Indigenous adolescents. Some influencing factors existed across the whole sample; others in stratification by Indigenous status. Implications for public health: Early and targeted, supportive approaches are necessary. Some apply to disadvantaged adolescents broadly; others are Indigenous or non-Indigenous specific.
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales.
authors.forename: Rona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Macniven
authors.affiliation: Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor & Vice-President, The University of Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hearn
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grunseit
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales.
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nutbeam
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Collaboration, Sydney School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, New South Wales.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bauman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009517:New South Wales; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Indigenous; adolescence; physical activity