Participation in Domains of Physical Activity Among Australian Youth During the Transition From Childhood to Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

Background: Information about the domains of physical activity (PA) that are most prone to decline between late childhood (11 y), early adolescence (13 y), and mid-adolescence (15 y) may support more targeted health promotion strategies. This study explored longitudinal trends in nonorganized PA, organized PA, active transport and active chores/work between childhood and adolescence, and potential sociodemographic moderators of changes. Methods: Data were sourced from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (n = 4108). Participation in PA domains was extracted from youth time-use diaries. Potential moderators were sex, Indigenous status, language spoken at home, socioeconomic position, and geographical remoteness. Results: A large quadratic decline in nonorganized PA (−48 min/d, P < .001) was moderated by sex (β = 5.55, P = .047) and home language (β = 8.55, P = .047), with girls (−39 min/d) and those from a non-English speaking background (−46 min/d) declining more between 11 and 13 years. Active chores/work increased between 11 and 13 years (+4 min/d, P < .001) and then stabilized. Active transport increased among boys between 11 and 13 years (+6 min/d, P < .001) and then declined between 13 and 15 years (−4 min/d, P < .001). Organized PA remained stable. Conclusions: The longitudinal decline in PA participation may be lessened by targeting nonorganized PA between childhood and adolescence. Future interventions may target girls or those from non-English speaking backgrounds during this transition.

The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on Australians' frequency and duration of participation in different types of sport and physical activity

“…Children and youngsters aged 5–14 years were most engaged, with significant declines in participation occurring from age 15 years [ 5 ]. During adolescence both participation in sport and total physical activity levels decline [ 6 ].…”

‘Social screens’ and ‘the mainstream’: longitudinal competitors of non-organized physical activity in the transition from childhood to adolescence

“…active play and informal sport) [7]. Non-organized PA accounted for the bulk of the decline in overall PA participation among this cohort between 11 and 13 years; while other domains of PA remained stable (organized PA) or increased slightly (active transport and active work/chores) [6]. This indicates that declines in non-organized PA among this cohort were not necessarily offset by sufficient increases in other domains of PA.…”

“…PA participation is prone to decline during late childhood and adolescence [4], and recent studies have explored whether this decline occurs in specific domains of PA [5]. In particular, a recent Australian longitudinal study reported a sharp decline in the domain of nonorganized PA between 11 and 13 years [6]. Non-organized PA includes activities that tend to be unstructured, freelychosen, spontaneous and occurring for their own sake (e.g.…”

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“…Nonetheless, irrespective of the potential opportunities of these settings and activities; school-based interventions show only modest positive effects on physical activity [ 9 ] and organised sport contributes less than 4% of the variance in youth daily physical activity [ 10 ]. Whilst there is yet to be a consistent, sustained improvement in child and adolescent physical activity in Australia, non-organised physical activity (such as active recreation) may contributing to reducing the overall decline in youth activity levels [ 11 ].…”