Determination of Factors Associated with Physical Activity Levels among Adolescents Attending School in Kuantan, Malaysia
- Author:
Dan SP
;
Mohd Nasir MT
;
Zalilah MS
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Adolescents, physical activity, psychosocial factors, health-related factors and socio-demographic factors
- From:
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition
2011;17(2):175-187
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: Findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey III (MOH,
2008) indicate a 43.7% prevalence of physical inactivity among Malaysian adults.
This sedentary lifestyle can also be observed among children and adolescents.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine factors
associated with physical activity levels of four hundred, 13 year-old adolescents
in Kuantan, Pahang. Data on socio-demographic, health-related, and psychosocial
factors were collected using a self-administered questionnaire while physical
activity level was assessed using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older
Children (PAQ-C). Results: About one-third of the respondents were in the low
physical activity level category, 61.5% were in the moderate category and only
3.0% of the adolescents were in the high physical activity level category. Males
were more physically active than females (χ2=23.667, p=0.0001) with female
adolescents (45.1%) twice as likely as male adolescents (22.1%) to be in the low
physical activity level category. The associations between physical activity
level with socio-demographic and health-related factors, perception of weight
status and body parts satisfaction were not significant. However, physical activity
was found to be positively correlated with physical activity self-efficacy (r=0.496,
p=0.0001), peer influence (r=0.468, p=0.0001), family influence (r=0.298, p=0.0001)
and beliefs in physical activity outcomes (r=0.207, p=0.0001). Negative
relationships were found between physical activity with depression (r=-0.116,
p=0.021) and body size discrepancy (r=-0.143, p<0.01). Respondents who had a
better perception of their current health status were more physically active
(χ2=21.062, p=0.0001). Multivariate analyses for the prediction of physical activity
showed that physical activity self-efficacy, sex and peer influence were the most
significant contributors in explaining physical activity among adolescents.
Conclusion: Physical activity interventions should include psychosocial
components as mediator variables in interventions designed to promote regular
physical activity in adolescence.
- Full text:W020150714383401909741.pdf
