Social support for youth physical activity: Importance of siblings, parents, friends and school support across a segmented school day.

Maea Hohepa , Robert Scragg, Grant Schofield, Gregory S Kolt and David Schaaf

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 4(54).

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This study examined the importance of perceived encouragement from parents, siblings/cousins, friends, and schools on participation levels across three time-specific activity opportunities that are available during a school day (after-school physical activities, lunchtime activity, and active transportation to and from school). Study population: a cross-sectional sample of 12–18 year old high school students (n = 3,471) recruited from low SES schools within South Auckland. The study found that low parental support and low peer support were associated with reduced odds of being regularly active after school. For lunchtime activity, low peer support was associated with reduced odds of being categorised as active. Irrespective of the activity examined, no significant difference was noted for students receiving high support from two parents than students reporting high support from their sole parent in a single parent family. The authors conclude that the importance of encouragement from parents, siblings, friends, and schools on physical activity is dependant on the time-specific activity examined. They go on to say that it is clear that proximal social networks need to be considered during the development of physical activity promotion strategies

Keywords:

adolescents, age factors, behavioural support, children, education, health status, pacific, parents and caregivers, physical activity, priority populations, psychology, schools, settings, social support, wm

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Cross-sectional

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November 16, 2011

November 16, 2011