Abstract
BackgroundPhysical activity has many health benefits for children and adolescents. However, the prevalence of physical inactivity in school-aged children and adolescents remains high in China. Many factors impact the levels of moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among students. This study investigated the factors associated with students’ MVPA levels and the determinants of changes in their MVPA behaviour.MethodsThis is a longitudinal study with a 12-month follow-up. The study samples were obtained from 2016 and 2017 Physical Activity and Fitness in China—The Youth Study, and they included 1597 students (aged 9–18 years) from 31 primary, junior high, and high schools in Ningxia Province. Factors related to the individual (Age, Sex, BMI and attitude to PA), school (school exercise facility, PE class, teacher support, PA time and PA environment) and neighbourhood (free skill training, sport events, sport organization, sport facility) factors were measured via questionnaire at baseline and after 12 months. Multiple logistic regression was performed to examine the factors that impact students’ MVPA level and the determinants of changes in students’ MVPA behaviour.ResultsThere was no difference in students’ MVPA levels between 2016 and 2017. Boys were more physically active than girls at baseline (RR 1.55, 95% CI 1.10, 2.20). Neighbourhood factors associated students’ MVPA levels were significant, but all of these factors (neighbourhood sport events, organizations, facilities, etc.) were removed from the longitudinal model. Individual and school factors were important for students’ MVPA maintenance and positive development (e.g., gender, attitude, school PE class and PA time).ConclusionsIn conclusion, both neighbourhood and school factors may affect students’ MVPA, but school appears to plays a more critical role in maintaining and promoting students’ MVPA levels. In addition, individual factors may be more important than school and neighbourhood factors in influencing students’ MVPA levels. Our research demonstrates that students’ attitudes towards PA and school factors should be considered targets for future intervention programmes to promote MVPA. More education programmes may help enhance students’ attitudes towards PA, but more studies with large samples and objective assessments are needed to explore the determinants of MVPA.
Highlights
Physical activity has many health benefits for children and adolescents
Data for the current analysis were taken from the 2016 Physical Activity and Fitness in China—the Youth Study (PAFCTYS) project, and follow-up data after 12 months were analysed
The students’ moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was relatively low; only 36.8% (2016) and 33.6% (2017) of students were physically active, and boys were more physically active than girls (RR 1.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10, 2.20)
Summary
Physical activity has many health benefits for children and adolescents. Many factors impact the levels of moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among students. Childhood physical activity (PA) behaviour can be traced to adulthood [6], indicating that PA-related health benefits in adulthood may derive from an active lifestyle early in the lifespan. As early as 2010, the World Health Organization recommended that children and adolescents aged 5–17 years need at least 60 min of MVPA daily, but only 22.7% of students met the recommendation in China [8]. A national health policy named “Healthy China 2030” was issued in 2016 to promote healthy lifestyles and physical fitness, recommending that school-aged children participate in physical activity for 1 h daily to achieve the goal of a 25% “excellent” ratio of physical fitness assessment. Only 34.1% of students met the recommendation of 60 min of MVPA [10]
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