Self-reported physical activity using International Physical Activity Questionnaire in adolescents and young adults with visual impairment

Background

Young people with visual impairment (VI) face many environmental barriers that influence physical activity.

Physical activity and sitting time prior to and during COVID-19 lockdown in Austrian high-school students

The COVID-19 pandemic has led in many countries to the implementation of policies that mandate social distancing and movement restrictions. While these measures are warranted in order to minimize the spread of the virus they may have detrimental effects on various behaviors, including physical activity (PA). The present study examined PA and sitting time in 14 to18-year-old Austrian high school students prior to and during the second COVID-19 lockdown in Austria. Data was collected via an online questionnaire during fall/winter 2020/21. Questions were based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, which examined frequency and duration of PA and sitting time. A total of 221 high school students provided valid data. Participants reported significantly lower moderate and vigorous PA during the lockdown while sitting time increased (p < 0.01). The frequency of walking (days/week) also decreased during COVID-19 lockdown, which also contributed to a significant decline in total walking time (p < 0.01). Further, the decline in PA was more pronounced in boys, while girls reported a greater decline in walking. These differences were due to higher PA and walking in boys and girls, respectively, prior to the lockdown. During the lockdown sex differences in PA and sitting time were limited. Taken together, these results highlight the impact of COVID-19 policies on PA in adolescents and emphasize the importance to promote an active lifestyle even in times of home confinement.     

Ethnic‐specific suggestions for physical activity based on existing recreational physical activity preferences of New Zealand women

Objectives : Recreational physical activities of New Zealand women were examined to develop ethnic‐specific suggestions encouraging physical activity (PA) participation as a targeted approach to reduce obesity rates among different groups. Methods : Healthy Māori, Pacific and European women (n=331; 16–45 years of age) completed an online Recent Physical Activity Questionnaire to assess recreational PA and adherence to PA guidelines. Existing PA preferences were tailored to make ethnic‐specific suggestions aimed at increasing PA participation. Results : Achievement of PA guidelines was: Māori 74%; Pacific 60%; European 70%. Highest participation across all women was for walking (Māori 72%, Pacific 60%, European 83%), followed by floor exercise (Māori 54%, Pacific 37%, European 56%). Gym‐type activities (e.g. weights, aerobics) and jogging were also common across ethnic groups. Group/team activities (dance, netball, touch football) were among the top 10 activities for Māori and Pacific, but not European women. Conclusion : Obesity rates among specific ethnic groups of New Zealand women might be reduced by promoting activities that are: family/whānau‐oriented (netball, touch), community‐linked (hula, dance) and outdoor‐based. Implications for public health : Tailoring existing PA preferences to develop ethnic‐specific sets of activity suggestions could be important avenues to increase PA participation, improving the PA habits and subsequent health of New Zealand women and their communities.     

A place to play: socioeconomic and spatial factors in children's physical activity

Background and aims:  Concerns about physical inactivity in children and growing levels of obesity are expressed by politicians, health economists and those involved with the health and well-being of children. As this has the potential to be a major health issue, the aim of this investigation was to explore any contributing socioenvironmental considerations.
Methods and results:  Census-matched survey data were analysed from 318 parents of 6- to 7-year-old children, revealing that family socioeconomic status (SES) influenced the places where children engaged in physical activity. Children from low SES backgrounds spent significantly more time playing close to their homes, and their families were less able to afford access to commercial physical-activity facilities, than those from middle and high SES families. Although neighbourhood-based activities are generally associated with more spontaneous free play, such activities may not provide the same opportunities for supervision and physical skill building available through commercial-based activities.
Conclusions:  Given that access to 'enriching' physical-activity spaces may be limited by the capacity to pay, these findings have implications for professionals such as occupational therapists who can take on a role in advocating for equity in access and promotion of a more engaging urban design. Dialogue with urban planners is central to this process.     

Validity of a questionnaire evaluating physical activity level in young children

Objective To assess the validity of a questionnaire for evaluating the physical activity of young children as reported by parents. Methods Twenty-one male 1st grade elementary school children were the study subjects. The questionnaire contained 3 questions relating to the physical activity of children and was completed by their parents. These questions were: preference for physical activity: like very much, like, don't like; physical activity compared to peers: more than, the same as, less than peers; time spent on exercise activity per day: <30 min, 30–60 min, 60 min or more. We also assessed physical activity more objectively, using a small instrument for calculating total steps, energy expenditure originating from exercise, and total energy expenditure per day. The contribution of the questionnaire items to the objective indices was evaluated by linear regression analysis. Results Preference for physical activity was significantly associated with all the objective indices. Physical activity compared with peers had links with total energy expenditure. Time spent in activity was related to total steps and energy expenditure from exercise. Conclusion All the questionnaire items were valid measures for evaluating the physical activity level in young children and could be applied to a large epidemiological survey.     

体力活动对大学生心理应激状态干预效果评价

目的 了解体力活动对大学生心理应激状态的影响及干预效果,为高校进行大学生心理健康教育提供依据。方法 利用青少年生活事件量表和国际体力活动量表,借鉴美国疾病预防控制中心和美国运动医学学院制定的体力活动评价标准,对120名男女大学生实施不同强度的体力活动干预并辅助心理健康教育,对体力活动强度与心理应激的关联度进行分析。结果 大强度、中强度、步行、对照组学生干预中期心理应激得分分别为(46.50±1.88),(47.55±2.65),(49.81±1.28),(50.61±1.85)分;干预后期分别为(44.67±1.75),(46.51±2.20),(49.37±1.15),(50.50±1.82)分;干预中、后期不同强度体力活动的大学生应激水平变化明显(P<0.05);干预后期建立了大学生心理应激线性回归模型,提示体力活动对大学生应激有一定的预测作用(95%CI=57.339～67.629)。结论 大、中强度体力活动对减缓大学生心理应激具有积极作用。     

Social reproduction of physical activity: Implications for health promotion in young people

Using a health promotion perspective, nationwide surveys onhealth behaviours and life-styles were carried out in 11 countriesin 1985–1986. The surveys were part of the study 'HealthBehaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC), a World Health Organizationcross-national survey'. The analyses of these survey data from13 and 15 year olds in Austria, Norway and Wales indicated thathigh levels of participation in physical activity by adolescentsare associated with the physical activity levels of their parentsand best friends, finding it easy to make new friends and likingschool. Intervention aimed at increasing the number of adolescentswho adopt and maintain participation in leisure-time physicalactivities is likely to be more successful if a greater numberof strategies in several different settings are applied. Thefindings are explained as being a result of the social reproductionprocess and it is suggested that awareness about how this processaffects the development of health behaviour and life-stylesis vital in establishing realistic goals when planning and evaluatingyouth health promotion efforts.     

Rural young people and physical activity: understanding participation through social theory

Studies from around the world point to the inadequate participation of young people in physical activity and sport, and the consequences of this on their health. However, very few interventions to increase the levels of physical activity amongst young people have been sustainable. The aim of this paper is to use Bourdieu's notions of the logic of practice along with habitus and capital to theorise young people's participation in physical activities to add to the wealth of empirical material. Data are drawn from a cohort of rural participants in an Australian longitudinal, qualitative research project with young people from diverse social, cultural and geographical backgrounds. It was found that traditional rural gender roles impact on young women's perceptions of legitimate physical activity options and practices. The role of the family in the reproduction of the social order which sustains gendered understandings of physical activity is also explored. This paper demonstrates how Bourdieu's theories can be applied to explain gender distinctions in health behaviours. It is proposed that building bridges between epidemiological and sociological understandings of participation in physical activities will lead to the generation of more equitable and sustainable physical activity and health promotion initiatives.     

Changing associations of Australian parents' physical activity with their children's sport participation: 1985 to 2004

Objective: The socio‐ecological milieu of children's physical activity is changing, perhaps causing perturbations within the causal ‘web’ that explains physical activity behaviours. It is unclear if the relative importance of parental role modelling is changing. Accordingly, this study examined associations of child‐perceived parent physical activity and children's sport participation in 1985 and 2004. Methods: In 1985 (179 girls, 211 boys) and 2004 (210 girls, 218 boys), Australian schoolchildren (9–15 years) in the same eight schools were surveyed on sport participation and perceptions of parents’ physical activity. Results: In the 1985 sample, girls with active fathers played more sport. In 2004, boys and girls with active fathers or active mothers reported higher sport participation. In 1985, there were no differences in sport participation between those with both, either or neither parent active. In 2004, sport participation was highest among boys and girls with both parents active. Conclusions: These results underscore the current role of parents as socialising agents for physical activity. Implications: Intervention design should be founded on the most recent evidence of children's physical activity correlates.     

Stages of change, psychological factors and awareness of physical activity levels in The Netherlands.

The purpose of this study was to investigate physical activity levels, stages of change, awareness, and differences in psychological factors relating to physical activity in an adult Dutch population, in order to identify specific objectives for physical activity promotion. Physical activity levels, self-rated physical activity, stages of change, awareness, attitudes, social influences and self-efficacy relating to physical activity were assessed among a random sample of 2608 adults using structured questionnaires. Almost 60% of the respondents did not meet the recommended target for physical activity to promote health. Half of these respondents were in the pre-contemplation stage, and >60% were overestimating their physical activity level. Furthermore, respondents who were not aware of their inadequate physical activity level had a less positive intention to increase their level of physical activity than those who rated their own physical activity level as low. Respondents in the pre-contemplation and maintenance stages had a less positive attitude, perceived less social support and had lower self-efficacy expectations towards increasing physical activity than those in the contemplation, preparation and action stages. The results suggest that interventions aimed at increasing physical activity in the studied population should be aimed at increasing awareness of personal activity levels and should be stage-matched.     

Factors associated with young children's self-perceived physical competence and self-reported physical activity

The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with self-reported physical activity (PA), self-perceived physical fitness and competence in physical education (PE) among young children. The study included physical tests, anthropometric measures and a questionnaire. The study group comprised 206 children (114 boys and 92 girls, aged 8-12 years). Positive Odds Ratio was used in the logistic regression analyses. High level of self-reported PA was associated with membership of sport clubs and high self-perceived physical fitness. Variables associated with high self-perceived competence in PE were low age, high physical performance, living with both parents, high self-perceived physical fitness, male gender and enjoying PE. Variables associated with high self-perceived physical fitness were low age, high performance in endurance running, high self-reported PA, positive self-perceived body function and high self-perceived competence in PE. Correlations between children's self-perceived competence in PE and actual measured physical performance, between the self-perceived fitness and endurance performance and between self-reported PA and physical performance could be seen as a form of concurrent validity. One implication of the study for practitioners might be that children's own perceptions of their physical competence and activity levels could be used to roughly identify groups of children who are at risk of remaining physically inactive and therefore more prone to be unhealthy.     

Social influences and low leisure-time physical activity in young Danish adults.

BACKGROUND: Many youths and adults maintain a sedentary life style and a better understanding of the factors which influence physical activity is needed. This study analyses the association between social factors and low leisure-time physical activity in young adults. METHODS: Three hundred and seventeen children aged 6-18 years participated in a health survey in 1979 and again 13 years later. In this cohort the influence of family factors during childhood on the subsequent risk of low leisure-time activity was analysed using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Young women were significantly less physically active during leisure time if over 25 years of age, poorly educated and smokers. In multivariate analysis, childhood smoking was the only variable significantly related to low leisure-time physical activity (OR = 5.6 and 95% CI: 1.4-23.6) in young women. In young men, low leisure-time physical activity was associated with parental work activity. Men whose parents had reported high physical activity during work at the examination in 1976-1978 were less often physically inactive during leisure time (OR = 0.2 and 95% CI: 0.1-0.6) at the follow-up in 1992. CONCLUSIONS: Young smoking girls seem to be a key group in the prevention of both smoking and a sedentary life style.