Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Substance use Among Adolescents in Slovenian Urban Area / Telesna Aktivnost, Oblike Sedečega Vedenja In Uživanje Psihoaktivnih Snovi Med Mladostniki V Slovenskem Urbanem Okolju

Abstract

BackgroundStudies of the relationship between leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and substance use among adolescents report contradictory results. The aim of our study was to examine the association between self-reported leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use among adolescents in Slovenia.MethodsSubjects consisted of 822 school children aged from 14 to 16 years, living in urban area of Ljubljana and Maribor. The data was collected using the EURO URHIS 2 survey. Logistic regressions were conducted to assess the correlation between the independent variables of physical activity; time spent watching television and using the computer, and each of the five substance use dependent variables.ResultsFrequency of daily smoking was significantly associated with leisure time physical activity, while alcohol and cannabis use were not. Watching TV ≥ 2 hours per day was associated with heavy episodic drinking in the past month, no associations were found for smoking and cannabis use. Using the computer ≥ 2 hours per day was positively associated with daily smoking, drinking alcohol in the past month, heavy episodic drinking in the past month and ever being intoxicated, while cannabis use was not.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that leisure time physical activity is associated with daily cigarette smoking, and leisure time sedentary behaviour is associated with alcohol and tobacco use among adolescents. The results of our study show the need for the formation of suitable preventive measures concerning reduced sitting time as well as leisure time physical activity targeted to adolescents.

Exercise as a Prevention for Substance Use Disorder: a Review of Sex Differences and Neurobiological Mechanisms

“…Similar associations are also revealed in recent cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, but with effects that differ between males and females and populations/cultures (4,6–7; Table 1). For example, in Polish high-school students, regular physical activity was negatively associated with cigarette and marijuana use in males, but not females (7); whereas, in Slovak and Czech high-school students, physical activity was negatively associated with cigarette and marijuana use in females, but not males (4,6).…”

“…For example, in Polish high-school students, regular physical activity was negatively associated with cigarette and marijuana use in males, but not females (7); whereas, in Slovak and Czech high-school students, physical activity was negatively associated with cigarette and marijuana use in females, but not males (4,6). While socio-cultural factors likely contribute these differential effects (20), levels of exercise/physical activity also differ between males and females and populations (4,6–7); thus, exercise may interact with socio-cultural factors to differentially influence the use to drugs in males versus females within different populations.…”

“…The few recent studies that have examined sex differences have focused on middle- and high-school students, with conflicting results that vary between populations (4,6–7). Recent findings also suggest that risk of drug use from participating in certain sports differs between males and females, with evidence for reduced risk in females (13).…”

No Difference in Physical Activity Associated with Cannabis Use Status in a Nationally Representative Sample of U.S. Adults

“…Additionally, African American and Puerto Rican young adults who used cannabis were found to have a reduced probability of being obese (23), but cannabis use was also associated with low levels of sport and exercise in young Swiss men (24) and excessive television watching (a metric of SB) in Dutch adolescents (25). A study of Slovenian adolescents found no relationship between frequency of cannabis use and either SB or PA (26).…”

Leisure-Time Sedentary Behavior Is Associated with Psychological Distress and Substance Use among School-Going Adolescents in Five Southeast Asian Countries: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Less evidence was found for an association between sedentary behavior and substance use among adolescents [14,15,16]. Among school-going adolescents in Slovenia, computer use time (≥2 h/day) was associated with tobacco and alcohol use [14], among Hispanic adolescents, sedentary behavior was associated with alcohol use [15], and in a study among in-school adolescents in eight African countries, leisure-time sedentary behavior (3–4 h or more/day) was associated with tobacco, alcohol and drug use [16]. We are not aware of studies investigating the relationship between sedentary behavior and psychological distress and substance use among adolescents in Asia.…”