Changes from 1986 to 2006 in reasons for liking leisure-time physical activity among adolescents

Wold, B., Littlecott, H., Tynjälä, J., Samdal, O., Moore, L. , Roberts, C., Kannas, L., Villberg, J. and Aarø, L. E. (2016) Changes from 1986 to 2006 in reasons for liking leisure-time physical activity among adolescents. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 26(8), pp. 951-959. (doi: 10.1111/sms.12528) (PMID:26220306)

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Abstract

Reasons for participating in physical activity (PA) may have changed in accordance with the general modernization of society. The aim is to examine changes in self-reported reasons for liking leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and their association with self-reported LTPA over a 20-year period. Data were collected among nationally representative samples of 13-year-olds in Finland, Norway, and Wales in 1986 and 2006 (N = 9252) as part of the WHO cross-national Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. Univariate ANOVAs to establish differences according to gender, year, and country were conducted. In all countries, 13-year-olds in 2006 tended to report higher importance in terms of achievement and social reasons than their counterparts in 1986, while changes in health reasons were minor. These reasons were associated with LTPA in a similar way at both time points. Health reasons for liking LTPA were considered most important, and were the strongest predictor of LTPA. The findings seem robust as they were consistent across countries and genders. Health education constitutes the most viable strategy for promoting adolescents' motivation for PA, and interventions and educational efforts could be improved by an increased focus on LTPA and sport as a social activity.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Moore, Professor Laurence
Authors: Wold, B., Littlecott, H., Tynjälä, J., Samdal, O., Moore, L., Roberts, C., Kannas, L., Villberg, J., and Aarø, L. E.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
Journal Name:Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
Publisher:Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
ISSN:0905-7188
ISSN (Online):1600-0838
Published Online:29 July 2015
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2015 The Authors
First Published:First published in Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports 26(8):951-959
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
727661SPHSU Core Renewal: Complexity in Health Improvement Research ProgrammeLaurence MooreMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_12017/14IHW - MRC/CSO SPHU