Research has shown that social correlates of physical activity play an important role in individual
participation in physical activity or sport, hence their link with associated health benefits.
However, in spite of the health benefits associated with physical activity, many children do not
meet the daily guidelines of being active for at least 30 minutes a day. This study investigated
physical activity, health-related fitness and social correlates among 284 adolescents (111 boys
and 173 girls) who are part of the on-going Physical Activity and Health Longitudinal Study
(PAHLS). Height, weight, skinfold thickness (triceps, subscapular and calf skinfolds), waist and
hip circumferences were measured through the standard procedures described by the
International Standards of Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). Body mass index (BMI),
waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and percentage body fat (%BF) were used as measures of body
composition. Health-related physical fitness (HRPF) was determined by measuring cardiorespiratory
endurance, muscle strength and endurance, and flexibility using standardised tests
according to the EUROFIT (1988) test protocol. The standardised International Physical
Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-Short form) and Social Support for Physical Activity
questionnaire were used to gather information on participation in physical activity and social
correlates for physical activity respectively.
The results show that 29.6% of the adolescents were underweight and 26.4% overweight. Girls
were significantly (p<0.05) fatter (%BF and BMI) and shorter than the boys. A significant
gender difference (p<0.05) was also observed in WHR. Thirty four percent (34%) participated in
low PA with 35% in high PA. Boys were significantly (z-4.52; p=0.000) more highly active
compared to the girls. Boys measured significantly higher than girls (p<0.05) in SBJ, BAH, SUP,
predicted 2max
•
V O . Adolescents’ participation in physical activity was affected by ‘lack of support
by friends’, ‘encouragement by friends or family members’ and ‘lack of support during
engagement in physical activity’. A significant difference (p<0.05) was found between boys and
girls regarding ‘friends’ encouragement to do physical activity or sports’, ‘participation in
physical activity or sports with friends’ and ‘friends’ confirmation that the participant is doing a
good job at physical activity’. Positive correlations were found between Total Physical Activity
(TPA) and all social correlates of PA, with a significant relationship between total physical
activity (TPA) and ‘how often do your friends tell you that you are doing a good job at physical
activity?’, and ‘has someone told you that you are doing well in physical activity?’ percentage
body fat was negatively associated with social correlates of physical activity with a significant
relationship in contrast with ‘friends’ encouragement that one is doing a good job at physical
activity’. A significant positive correlation was observed between WC, WHR, SBJ, SUP,
predicted 2max
•
V O and ‘friends’ encouragement in a typical week to do physical activity or sports’.
Further significant positive correlations were found with WC for ‘encouragement by someone in
a typical week to do physical activity or sports’; WHR, SBJ, BAH, SUP, predicted 2max
•
V O for
‘participation in physical activity or sports with friends’; SBJ, SUP, predicted 2max
•
V O for ‘friends’
encouragement that one is doing a good job at physical activity’; SBJ, SUP, predicted 2max
•
V O for
‘someone’s encouragement that one is doing a good job at physical activity’; BAH, SUP,
predicted 2max
•
VO for ‘someone’s participation in sport with one’; SUP, predicted 2max
•
VO for ‘one’s
encouragement to friends to participate in physical activity or sport’; SUP for ‘provision of
transportation to physical activity or sport’; and predicted 2max
•
V O for ‘someone watching one
participate in physical activity or sport’. SAR, on the other hand, was negatively associated with
all social correlates for physical activity.
It can be concluded that the adolescent boys in the study were underweight and significantly
more active when compared to the relatively overweight and inactive girls. Boys also have
higher health-related fitness and higher social correlates compared to the girls. Social correlates
for physical activity were positively associated with participation in physical activity and healthrelated
physical fitness variables. Thirty six percent (36%) of the participants indicated lack of
transport as a negative factor for their participation in physical activity and sport. Based on these
findings, urgent strategic public health intervention by all stakeholders dealing with adolescents,
as well as more research studies in the area, is required. / PhD (Human Movement Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nwu/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/15552 |
| Date | January 2015 |
| Creators | Skaal, Hajira Thabitha |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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