Background:Although there are substantial international differences in adolescent physical activity (PA), cross-country motivational differences have received limited attention, perhaps due to the lack of measures applicable internationally.Methods:Identical self-report measures assessing PA and motivations for PA were used to survey students ages 11, 13, and 15 from 7 countries participating in the 2005−2006 Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study representing 3 regions: Eastern Europe, Western Europe and North America. Multigroup comparisons with Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling examined the stability of factors across regions and regional differences in relations between PA and motives for PA.Results:Three PA motivation factors were identified as suitable for assessing international populations. There were significant regional, gender, and age differences in relations between PA and each of the 3 PA motives. Social and achievement motives were positively related to PA. However, the association of PA with health motivations varied significantly by region and gender. The patterns suggest the importance of social motives for PA and the possibility that health may not be a reliable motivator for adolescent PA.Conclusion:Programs to increase PA in adolescence need to determine which motives are effective for the particular population being targeted.

Perceived body image and weight control behavior differ among adolescents in Lithuania, Croatia, and the US. Cross-cultural, age, and sex influences moderate body image and weight control behavior in underweight and overweight adolescents.

The aim of this study was to examine the association between leisure time physical activity and psychological complaints among adolescents and to determine to what extent this association is mediated by individual and regional factors. Data from the 2005/06 Health Behaviour in School-aged children (HBSC) survey, composed of 106,319 respondents aged 11, 13 and 15 from 20 European countries was analysed. Multilevel modeling showed that individual factors (gender, age and family socioeconomic status) were significant mediators of the association between leisure time physical activity and psychological complaints. The mediating effect of individual factors differed in the magnitude of the association. Regional differences in this association were not found. The findings suggest that individual factors contribute in explaining the association between leisure time physical activity and psychological complaints among adolescents. Future research should examine country specific characteristics which may influence this association.

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Based on the Delphi technique as a method for consensus building, the model for HTA priority setting was developed for Lithuania; however, it could also be used for other countries with little experience in the field of HTA.