Differences in the level of physical activities of adolescents in rural and urban areas of the municipality of Lebane

Abstract

Regular, adequate dosage of physical activity is an important factor of healthy lifestyle. Adolescence non activity represents factor of risk, because the level of physical activity falls. The aim of this research was to determine the existence of differences in the level of physical activities between adolescents of urban and rural areas. The research was conducted on the sample of 65 male adolescents of age 15.54±0.56 years, divided in to two subsamples, adolescents from urban areas (N=45) and adolescents from rural areas (N=20). For the assessment of the level of physical activity of adolescents was used the fifth-degree questionnaire - PAQ-A (Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents) and it was a seven-days instrument based on recalling. In determining the differences between answers in PAQ-A which contribute in differences subsamples the Chi-square test (x2) was applied. Individually, statistically important differences in favour of rural areas adolescents has been determined in roller-riding (x2=12.290, Sig.=0.002), in cycling (x2=12.966, Sig.=0.011), jogging and running (x2=9.939, Sig.=0.041); and physical activities during last weekend (x2=10.343, Sig.=0.035); as well as for the activities on Monday (x2=10.823, Sig.=0.029). Having in mind that the complete results of physical activity by PAQ-A for each adolescents (numerical value from 1 to 5) was obtained on the bases of mean value of the sum of answers to all eight questions, valued from 1 to 5, in determining significance differences in arithmetic means between subsamples of the physical activities of the examines, on the general level, T-test for independent samples was used. Generally, the existence of statistically significant differences between subsamples in physical activities was determined in favour of adolescents from rural areas (t=3.014; p=0.004), actually it can be concluded that the adolescents from rural areas, were more physically active than the adolescents from urban area in all forms of physical activities (Mean URBAN - 2.97 vs. Mean RURAL - 3.50). Reasons for existing differences in favour of rural adolescents probably is due to frequent involvement in physical activities, greater involvement in rural works and still more healthy lifestyle in rural areas, relating to unhealthy living habits, sedentaring way of life and hypokinesy of adolescents from urban area. The hypotheses of existing statistically significant differences in physical activities between adolescents from urban and rural areas is completely accepted.