Gender and Developmental Differences in Exercise Beliefs Among Youth and Prediction of Their Exercise Behavior

Abstract

This study examined gender and developmental differences in exercise-related beliefs and exercise behaviors of 286 racially diverse youth and explored factors predictive of exercise. Compared to males, females reported less prior and current exercise, lower self-esteem, poorer health status, and lower exercise self-schema. Adolescents, in contrast to pre-adolescents, reported less social support for exercise and fewer exercise role models. In a path model, gender, the benefits/barriers differential, and access to exercise facilities and programs directly predicted exercise. Effects of grade, perceived health status, exercise self-efficacy, social support for exercise, and social norms for exercise on exercise behavior, were mediated through the benefits/barriers differential. Effect of race on exercise was mediated by access to exercise facilities and programs. Continued exploration of gender and developmental differences in variables influencing physical activity can yield valuable information for tailoring exercise promotion interventions to the unique needs of youth.

Avaliação do programa de promoção da atividade física Academia da Cidade de Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil: percepções de usuários e não-usuários

“…A literatura revela que a adesão à prática de atividades físicas sofre influência de fatores, como: experiências anteriores na prática esportiva e de exercícios físicos; apoio do cônjuge e de familiares 18 ; aconselhamento médico 19 ; conveniência do local de exercitação 20 ; gênero 21 ; disponibilidade de tempo 22 ; condição sócio-econômi-ca; conhecimento sobre exercício físico e acesso a instalações e espaços adequados à prática de exercícios físicos 23,24 . No presente estudo, os fatores de ordem pessoal (falta de tempo, doença e vontade) foram os mais determinantes para a desistência das atividades oferecidas, independente do pólo.…”

Cardiovascular Endurance and Heart Rate Variability in Adolescents With Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes

“…The major influence of gender and BMI on physical fitness is a consistent association noted in studies of physical energy capacity, with females exhibiting at least 20% lower capacity than males even when the VO 2peak values are expressed as ml·kg −1 ·min −1 (McArdle, Katch, & Katch, 2001;McMurray et al, 2002). Studies of physical activity behaviors in general youth populations report decreasing levels of CE in females versus males as they age into later adolescence (Garcia et al, 1995;Myers, Strikmiller, Webber, & Berenson, 1996;Pate, Heath, Dowda, & Trost, 1996). Although no studies in youth report metabolic control of glucose level as a predictor of CE, better glycemic control has been a positive outcome of the limited intervention research that has promoted physical activity in youth with type 1 DM (Marrero et al, 1988;Mosher et al, 1998).…”

Commercial venues as supports for physical activity in adolescent girls

“…Access to facilities where programs occur may influence their PA, but few studies have investigated this relationship. Investigations of how children perceive their environment have included questions about access to facilities (Sallis et al, 2002;Garcia et al, 1995;Mota et al, 2005) and the perception of access to facilities has been associated with PA in middle school students. (Garcia et al, 1995;Evenson et al, 2006) Two recent studies objectively measured the availability of recreation facilities to youths (GordonLarsen et al, 2006;Norman et al, 2006).…”

“…Investigations of how children perceive their environment have included questions about access to facilities (Sallis et al, 2002;Garcia et al, 1995;Mota et al, 2005) and the perception of access to facilities has been associated with PA in middle school students. (Garcia et al, 1995;Evenson et al, 2006) Two recent studies objectively measured the availability of recreation facilities to youths (GordonLarsen et al, 2006;Norman et al, 2006). In both studies, PA was significantly correlated with availability of recreational facilities (Gordon-Larsen et al, 2006;Norman et al, 2006), and recreation facilities (both free and commercial) were less available in lower-socioeconomic status (SES) and high-minority areas (Gordon-Larsen et al, 2006).…”