Physical Activity Trajectories and Multilevel Factors Among Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Purpose Although the decline of physical activity in adolescent girls is well-documented, there are girls whose physical activity does not follow this pattern. This study examined the relationships between physical activity trajectories and personal, psychosocial and environmental factors among adolescent girls. Methods Participants were from the University of Maryland field site of the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls. Of 730 girls measured in 8th grade, 589 were re-measured in 11th grade. Moderate to vigorous physical activity was assessed by accelererometers; participants were categorized as active maintainers (n=31), inactive maintainers (n=410), adopters (n=64), or relapsers (n=56). Height and weight were measured, personal and psychosocial information was collected from surveys, and distance from home to school and parks was assessed from Geographical Information Systems. Multivariable logistic regression was used for data analysis. Results Variables at individual, social, and environmental levels predicted active maintainers and inactive maintainers, while only individual-level variables predicted adoption. None predicted relapse. Higher (favorable) scores for physical self-concept, perceived body fat, friend and family physical activity support, frequency of physical activity with friends, and shorter distance from home to a park predicted active maintainers. Overweight/obese status, earlier age at menses, and lower scores for physical self-concept, perceived body fat, friend physical activity support, and frequency of physical activity with friends, and further distance from home to school predicted inactive maintainers. High physical self-concept and not being overweight/obese predicted adopters. Conclusion Multi-level factors appear to predict behavior maintenance rather than actual change. Implications and Contribution Although physical activity declines among girls during adolescence, some maintain and others increase their physical activity. Our results identified factors across individual, social, and environmental levels that predicted physical activity maintenance over 3 years. These may guide future interventions to enhance adolescent girls’ physical activity and combat the overall decline.

Sources and Types of Social Support for Physical Activity Perceived by Fifth to Eighth Grade Girls

“…The finding that participating in PA with girls was associated with their moderate-to-vigorous PA is consistent with other study results showing that involving friends (Zook, Saksvig, Wu, & Young, 2014), family members (Springer, Kelder, & Hoelscher, 2006), and parents (Crawford et al, 2010) in PA with adolescent girls can increase girls' PA. Unfortunately, parents spend more time on PA with their sons than daughters (Fredricks, Simpkins, Eccles, & Simpkins-Chaput, 2005), indicating a need to involve parents with their daughters in PA interventions.…”

Associations of Adolescent Weight Status and Meeting National Obesity‐Related Recommendations

“…Given the significant association with healthy weight status (OR = 0.77), we may be missing an important opportunity to engage girls to be active. Gender norms, body image, and social influence are important factors linked to girls' physical activity beliefs and behaviors, and worth pursuing in future research.…”

Reliability and Validity of the Physical Education Activities Scale

“…However, growing bodies of literature related to adolescent's participation in MVPA in PE classes have been identified. Influences on adolescent PA behaviors at school are a complex interaction of psychosocial, environmental, interpersonal, and intrapersonal factors that result in an adverse environment where it is difficult for adolescents to maintain a healthy body weight . These factors include variables such as perceptions of interpersonal personal factors, subjective norms, barriers, behavioral control, and PE enjoyment, and intrapersonal factors such as self‐efficacy, which have been related to adolescent's participation in moderate to vigorous PE activity …”