Determinants of student’s MVPA level in school and neighborhood environment changing with age: a 12-month follow-up study in Ningxia province

Abstract

Background The benefits of physical activity have been identified in children and adolescents. However, the prevalence of physical inactivity in school-aged children and adolescents was high in China. Most time of students spends in neighborhood and school, and these play an important role in student’s MVPA level. Therefore, we will investigate the impact of implementing the national health promotion policy on PA behavior in school-aged children and adolescents and the effects that influence the changes in PA behavior in this study. Methods This is a longitudinal study with a 12-month follow-up. The study sample came from 2016 and 2017 Physical Activity and Fitness in China—The Youth Study, total 1611 students (aged 7–18 years) from 31 primary, junior high, and high schools were included in this study. The physical and social environment in school and neighborhood were measured by questionnaire at baseline and after 12 months. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the relationship of influential factors and moderate- and vigorous MVPA. Results There is no significant difference in MVPA level between 2016 and 2017. Student’s attitudes to PA, neighborhood facilities, and organizations were improved significantly after 12 months. The influential factors changed after 12 months. In 2016 the top three contributors were attitude to MVPA(OR 3.08 with 95% CL 1.22, 7.76), neighborhood PA facilities(OR 1.52, 95% CL 1.24, 1.86) and age(OR 1.38, 95% CL 1.13, 1.69), and in 2017 the top three factors were student’s attitude to PA(OR 4.28, 95%CL 1.788,10.245), school extra time for PA(OR 2.29, 95% CL 1.56, 3.36) and the frequency of sports events in neighborhood(OR 1.84, 95% CL 1.34, 2.53). Conclusions The single health policy is not effective for student’s MVPA promotion. There may be some factors mediate the relationship between neighborhood environment and MVPA level with age and grade increasing. In the future, more studies are needed to explore the change of influential factors and mediators with age. The findings of this study may provide some evidence for future policy-making.