Parental and Familial Factors Influencing Physical Activity Levels in Early Adolescence: A Prospective Study
Parental/familial factors are important determinants of the physical activity level (PAL) in children and adolescents, but studies rarely prospectively evaluate their relationships. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in physical activity levels among adolescents from Bosnia and Herzegovina ove...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/8/4/532 |
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| author | Dora Maric Ivan Kvesic Ivana Kujundzic Lujan Antonino Bianco Natasa Zenic Vlatko Separovic Admir Terzic Sime Versic Damir Sekulic |
| author_facet | Dora Maric Ivan Kvesic Ivana Kujundzic Lujan Antonino Bianco Natasa Zenic Vlatko Separovic Admir Terzic Sime Versic Damir Sekulic |
| author_sort | Dora Maric |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Parental/familial factors are important determinants of the physical activity level (PAL) in children and adolescents, but studies rarely prospectively evaluate their relationships. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in physical activity levels among adolescents from Bosnia and Herzegovina over a two-year period and to determine parental/familial predictors of PAL in early adolescence. A total of 651 participants (50.3% females) were tested at baseline (beginning of high school education; 14 years old on average) and at follow-up (approximately 20 months later). The predictors included sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender) and parental/familial factors (socioeconomic status of the family, maternal and paternal education, conflict with parents, parental absence from home, parental questioning, and parental monitoring). Physical activity levels were evidenced by the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A; criterion). Boys were more active than girls, both at baseline (<i>t</i>-test = 3.09, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and at follow-up (<i>t</i>-test = 3.4, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Physical activity level decreased over the observed two-year period (<i>t</i>-test = 16.89, <i>p</i> < 0.001), especially in boys, which is probably a consequence of drop-out from the sport in this period. Logistic regression evidenced parental education as a positive predictor of physical activity level at baseline (OR [95% CI]; 1.38 [1.15–170], 1.35 [1.10–1.65]), and at follow-up (1.35 [1.11–1.69], 1.29 [1.09–1.59], for maternal and paternal education, respectively). Parents with a higher level of education are probably more informed about the importance of physical activity on health status, and thus transfer this information to their children as well. The age from 14 to 16 years is likely a critical period for maintaining physical activity levels in boys, while further studies of a younger age are necessary to evaluate the dynamics of changes in physical activity levels for girls. For maintaining physical activity levels in adolescence, special attention should be paid to children whose parents are less educated, and to inform them of the benefits of an appropriate physical activity level and its necessity for maintaining proper health and growth. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:22:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a5dcf381dc2e47dfb2ed42f0be2eb85e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:22:34Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
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| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-a5dcf381dc2e47dfb2ed42f0be2eb85e2023-11-20T23:15:12ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322020-12-018453210.3390/healthcare8040532Parental and Familial Factors Influencing Physical Activity Levels in Early Adolescence: A Prospective StudyDora Maric0Ivan Kvesic1Ivana Kujundzic Lujan2Antonino Bianco3Natasa Zenic4Vlatko Separovic5Admir Terzic6Sime Versic7Damir Sekulic8PhD Program in Health Promotion and Cognitive Sciences, Department of Psychology Educational Science and Human Movement, Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, ItalyFaculty of Science and Education, University of Mostar, 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFaculty of Science and Education, University of Mostar, 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and HerzegovinaPhD Program in Health Promotion and Cognitive Sciences, Department of Psychology Educational Science and Human Movement, Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Unit, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, ItalyFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, 21000 Split, CroatiaFaculty of Sport Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, University of Tuzla, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFaculty of Sport Faculty of Physical Education and Sports, University of Tuzla, 75000 Tuzla, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, 21000 Split, CroatiaFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Split, 21000 Split, CroatiaParental/familial factors are important determinants of the physical activity level (PAL) in children and adolescents, but studies rarely prospectively evaluate their relationships. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in physical activity levels among adolescents from Bosnia and Herzegovina over a two-year period and to determine parental/familial predictors of PAL in early adolescence. A total of 651 participants (50.3% females) were tested at baseline (beginning of high school education; 14 years old on average) and at follow-up (approximately 20 months later). The predictors included sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender) and parental/familial factors (socioeconomic status of the family, maternal and paternal education, conflict with parents, parental absence from home, parental questioning, and parental monitoring). Physical activity levels were evidenced by the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A; criterion). Boys were more active than girls, both at baseline (<i>t</i>-test = 3.09, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and at follow-up (<i>t</i>-test = 3.4, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Physical activity level decreased over the observed two-year period (<i>t</i>-test = 16.89, <i>p</i> < 0.001), especially in boys, which is probably a consequence of drop-out from the sport in this period. Logistic regression evidenced parental education as a positive predictor of physical activity level at baseline (OR [95% CI]; 1.38 [1.15–170], 1.35 [1.10–1.65]), and at follow-up (1.35 [1.11–1.69], 1.29 [1.09–1.59], for maternal and paternal education, respectively). Parents with a higher level of education are probably more informed about the importance of physical activity on health status, and thus transfer this information to their children as well. The age from 14 to 16 years is likely a critical period for maintaining physical activity levels in boys, while further studies of a younger age are necessary to evaluate the dynamics of changes in physical activity levels for girls. For maintaining physical activity levels in adolescence, special attention should be paid to children whose parents are less educated, and to inform them of the benefits of an appropriate physical activity level and its necessity for maintaining proper health and growth.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/8/4/532physical activityparental factoradolescentsgender differences |
| spellingShingle | Dora Maric Ivan Kvesic Ivana Kujundzic Lujan Antonino Bianco Natasa Zenic Vlatko Separovic Admir Terzic Sime Versic Damir Sekulic Parental and Familial Factors Influencing Physical Activity Levels in Early Adolescence: A Prospective Study Healthcare physical activity parental factor adolescents gender differences |
| title | Parental and Familial Factors Influencing Physical Activity Levels in Early Adolescence: A Prospective Study |
| title_full | Parental and Familial Factors Influencing Physical Activity Levels in Early Adolescence: A Prospective Study |
| title_fullStr | Parental and Familial Factors Influencing Physical Activity Levels in Early Adolescence: A Prospective Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parental and Familial Factors Influencing Physical Activity Levels in Early Adolescence: A Prospective Study |
| title_short | Parental and Familial Factors Influencing Physical Activity Levels in Early Adolescence: A Prospective Study |
| title_sort | parental and familial factors influencing physical activity levels in early adolescence a prospective study |
| topic | physical activity parental factor adolescents gender differences |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/8/4/532 |
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