The purpose of the present study was to examine the extent to which social factors such as gender, age, organized sport participation and family wealth, influence adolescents’ global self-worth and out-of-school physical activity (PA). Seven hundred twenty-one Greek students (346 boys and 375 girls), aged 14 to 16 years old (Mage = 14.97 ± .82 years), voluntarily participated in the present study. Participants completed online questionnaires measuring demographics (gender, age), organized participation in sport clubs, family wealth, global self-worth and out-of-school PA. Results revealed significant differences in adolescents’ self-worth due to age and family wealth, but not due to gender and organized sport participation. Similarly, there were significant differences in out-of-school PA due to gender, age, organized sport participation and family wealth. Age and family wealth were significant predictors of global self-worth, while age and gender were significant predictors of the out-of-school PA. No significant differences emerged in global self-worth between adolescents who reported being more active and those who were less active. These findings are partially in line with previous studies in the area of sport and exercise.

The present study aimed to identify the impact of social distancing measures on adolescents’ physical activity (PA) levels and well-being during the implementation of COVID-19 restrictive measures. There were 438 participants (207 boys and 231 girls), aged 12 to 15 years old (M = 13.5, SD = 0.55). They completed online questionnaires on well-being and PA in three waves (December 2020, February 2021, and June 2021). Correlation analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between well-being and PA variables in the three measurements. Additionally, separate three-way repeated-measures ANOVAs were conducted to capture possible differences in students’ moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels, life satisfaction, and subjective vitality among the three measurements due to gender, age, and interaction between gender and age. A significant relation emerged between the MVPA variables and well-being. In all measurements, adolescents’ PA levels did not meet the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations of at least 60 min per day in MVPA. Students’ MVPA levels, life satisfaction, and subjective vitality were significantly higher in the third measurement compared to the first and second ones. Moreover, significant differences emerged in life satisfaction and subjective vitality between boys and girls in the first and third measurements, respectively. The COVID-19 restrictions appeared to negatively influence adolescents’ PA and well-being. Policymakers aimed at facilitating adolescents’ well-being in a similar situation in the future should not adopt measures restricting the participation of adolescents in PA.

Physical activity levels are alarmingly low and new strategies must be adopted to prevent this trend. This study focuses on examining the impact of an outdoor adventure education programme on adolescents. The participants were 75 adolescent students aged 12–14. The programme lasted two school years. Students participated in extracurricular schoolyard outdoor activities and outdoor adventure activities conducted during the two one-day and one four-day trips in both school years. A qualitative methodology was used with data collected using semi-structured interviews. At the end of each school year, 12 students were interviewed. Data analysis revealed that the programme promoted basic psychological needs. More specifically, adolescents reported that schoolyard activities and outdoor adventure activities promoted their satisfaction with autonomy, competence and relatedness. Interestingly, the programme gave girls the autonomy to choose activities that promoted their competence and interaction with peers in a better way than a typical PE lesson. Modifying existing curricula with innovative practices or planning new ones could improve the general quality of life.