The Association between Participation in Organized Physical Activity and the Structure of Weekly Physical Activity in Polish Adolescents

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to determine the associations of participation in organized physical activity (OPA), and the structure of weekly physical activity (PA) with meeting the PA recommendations among Polish boys and girls. The research was conducted between 2012 and 2019 in the Silesian region of Poland among 3499 secondary school students. To determine the structure of PA (school, transportation, home, recreation, vigorous moderate, and walking), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form (IPAQ-LF) questionnaire was used. Adolescents participating in OPA showed significantly more PA (p < 0.001) than non-participating adolescents. The strongest associations were observed between participation in OPA and vigorous PA. The weekly recommendation of vigorous PA was met by 61% of the students with three or more lessons of OPA per week, 29% of students with one or two lessons of OPA per week, and 24% of students not participating in OPA. Therefore, boys and girls with no OPA are at greatest risk of health issues. Schools, sports clubs, and leisure institutions should increase the participation of adolescents in OPA, especially non-participants. Comprehensive school PA programs should especially include those forms of OPA that respect health weaknesses, individual talents for specific types of PA, and preferred types of PA among adolescents.

The Differences in Physical Activity Preferences and Practices among High versus Low Active Adolescents in Secondary Schools

“…An important finding of the study is that active participation in OPA among Czech and Polish LA boys and Czech LA girls increased their likelihood of meeting VPA recommendations. The insignificant effect of participation in the OPA of Polish girls on meeting VPA recommendations is not consistent with the results of a study by Groffik et al [14]. The increase in the number of hours of active participation in OPA has a significant effect on both boys and girls in the achievement of at least 3 × 20 min of VPA.…”

“…The "International Physical Activity Questionnaire-long form" (IPAQ-LF) for adolescents was used [23,24]. Both Czech and Polish versions of the IPAQ-LF were processed in compliance with applicable translation requirements [25] and empirically verified in international comparative studies [14,26]. The coefficients of concurrent validity between overall weekly PA (METs-min) using the IPAQ-LF questionnaire and weekly step count (steps/week) in both versions of the questionnaire were based on Pearson's correlation coefficient in the range of r = 0.231-0.283.…”

“…There is a lack of studies that analyzed associations between the level of PA and the preferred and practiced types of PA that are most favored among LA adolescents. This issue has been addressed in a research study aimed at the associations between PA level and participation in organized PA (OPA) [14]. The analyses of the positives and negatives of different types of PA within OPA among adolescents with low physical activities have been of great relevance, especially during and after the pandemic.…”

Differences and Associations between Physical Activity Motives and Types of Physical Activity among Adolescent Boys and Girls

“…The structure of weekly PA was determined by the Czech and Polish versions of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long form (IPAQ-LF) [ 32 , 33 ]. Both language versions underwent the required translation procedure and were in the long term empirically verified in previous studies [ 34 , 35 ]. Pearson's correlation coefficient of concurrent validity between total PA (METs-min) and weekly step counts ranged from r = 0.231 to 0.283.…”

The Influence of Socio-Demographic Factors on the Forms of Leisure for the Students at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports

“…Organized physical activities for young people in Poland are important for ensuring high levels of vigorous PA (physical activity) while subjects who are not involved in organized physical activities had an increased risk of health problems. PA school programs must take into account the preferences, qualities, talent and individual weaknesses of students, according to the authors of [ 22 ]. The rational use of free time defines the development and well-being of adolescents in U.S. colleges, where sports, parties and various activities organized for young people are dominant, according to the authors of [ 23 ].…”