Childhood and adolescent predictors of leisure time physical activity during the transition from adolescence to adulthood: a population based cohort study

Abstract

BackgroundFew studies have investigated factors that influence physical activity behavior during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. This study explores the associations of sociodemographic, behavioral, sociocultural, attitudinal and physical factors measured in childhood and adolescence with physical activity behavior during the transition from adolescence to adulthood.MethodsChildhood and adolescent data (at ages 7-15 years) were collected as part of the 1985 Australian Health and Fitness Survey and subdivided into sociodemographics (socioeconomic status, parental education), behavioral (smoking, alcohol, sports diversity, outside school sports), sociocultural (active father, active mother, any older siblings, any younger siblings, language spoken at home), attitudinal (sports/recreational competency, self-rated health, enjoyment physical education/physical activity, not enjoying school sports) and physical (BMI, time taken to run 1.6 km, long jump) factors. Physical activity between the ages 15 and 29 years was reported retrospectively using the Historical Leisure Activity Questionnaire at follow-up in 2004-2006 by 2,048 participants in the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health Study (CDAH). Australia's physical activity recommendations for children and adults were used to categorize participants as persistently active, variably active or persistently inactive during the transition from adolescence to adulthood.ResultsFor females, perceived sports competency in childhood and adolescence was significantly associated with being persistently active (RR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.39, 2.55). Smoking (RR = 0.31 CI = 0.12, 0.82) and having younger siblings (RR = 0.69 CI = 0.52, 0.93) were inversely associated with being persistently active after taking physical and attitudinal factors into account. For males, playing sport outside school (RR = 1.47 CI = 1.05, 2.08), having active fathers (RR = 1.25 CI = 1.01, 1.54) and not enjoying school sport (RR = 4.07 CI = 2.31, 7.17) were associated with being persistently active into adulthood. Time taken to complete the 1.6 km run was inversely associated with being persistently active into adulthood (RR = 0.85 CI = 0.78, 0.93) after adjusting for recreational competency.ConclusionsPerceived sports competency (females) and cardiorespiratory fitness, playing sport outside school and having active fathers (males) in childhood and adolescence were positively associated with being persistently active during the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Barreras percibidas para la práctica de actividad física en estudiantes universitarios. Diferencias por género y niveles de actividad física

“…Estos resultados son congruentes con otros estudios en universitarios en los que las mujeres presentaban una mayor prevalencia de barreras que los hombres en falta de tiempo, falta de habilidades y en el contexto de práctica (Martínez-Lemos et al, 2014;Ramírez-Vélez et al, 2015). Estos resultados pueden ser debidos a que las mujeres suelen sentirse menos competentes en las clases de EF a lo largo de la etapa infantil y adolescente, por lo que no obtienen experiencias muy positivas, lo que pueden generar más barreras referentes a la capacidad de disfrute en la etapa joven adulta (Jose, Blizzard, Dwyer, McKercher, & Venn, 2011;Mitchell, Gray, & Inchley, 2013). Otra posible justificación a los hallazgos encontrados en las barreras referentes al tiempo, es que las mujeres universitarias le otorgan una mayor importancia a su tiempo de ocio y otras actividades sociales y aficiones personales, a diferencia de los hombres, que suelen decantarse por actividades más deportivas (Pavón & Moreno, 2008).…”

Self-reported recreational exercise combining regularity and impact is necessary to maximize bone mineral density in young adult women

“…In addition to providing information on the contribution of physical activity to bone mass, this study also provides information on psychosocial attitudes to exercise which have implications for bone health across their entire lifespan. Aspects of the relationship between physical activity in childhood and later in adolescence and adulthood have previously been described by others [40][41][42], with physical activity level in childhood considered a predictor of physical activity later in life. Our results support this line of argument and draw attention to the importance of a physically active childhood in relation to bone health.…”

Physical Education and Leisure-Time Physical Activity in Youth Are Both Important for Adulthood Activity, Physical Performance, and Health

“…Previous tracking studies have reported, in general, low to moderate correlation between childhood and adult PA and fitness, with some equivocal results between different domains of youth PA. [8][9][10][11] This might be due to methodological issues as well as small sample sizes. Follow-ups are mainly performed over the early parts of the adult life span, up to 26-39 years, 9,10,12,13 with limited long-term follow-ups from childhood to late adulthood. In addition, little is known about the effects of youth PA and cardiovascular risk later in life.…”