Perceived barriers to leisure-time physical activity and associated factors in adolescents.

Enio Ricardo Vaz Ronque,Mathias Roberto Loch,Douglas Fernando Dias

doi:10.1590/1413-812320152011.00592014

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of perceived barriers to leisure-time physical activity in teenagers and to examine the possible association of these barriers with leisure-time physical inactivity. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2011 and a representative sample of 1,409 high school students from public schools in the city of Londrina/Paraná was selected through multistage sampling. For data collection, the adolescents completed a questionnaire. The relationship between leisure-time physical inactivity (<300 minutes/week) and perceived barriers was analyzed by calculating the prevalence ratio (PR) in Poisson regression models. "Lack of friends company" was the most prevalent barrier for both girls (75.8%) and boys (58.7%). "Feel lazy" for girls (PR: 1.21; CI 95%: 1.08 to 1.36) and "prefer to do other things" for the boys (PR: 1.48; CI 95%: 1.01 to 2.15) were the barriers most strongly associated with leisure-time physical inactivity. For both genders, a strong dose-response relationship was observed between the number of perceived barriers and leisure-time physical inactivity. The perception of barriers was associated with a higher prevalence of leisure-time physical inactivity in adolescents and should therefore be considered in actions for promoting physical activity in this population.The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of perceived barriers to leisure-time physical activity in teenagers and to examine the possible association of these barriers with leisure-time physical inactivity. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2011 and a representative sample of 1,409 high school students from public schools in the city of Londrina/Paraná was selected through multistage sampling. For data collection, the adolescents completed a questionnaire. The relationship between leisure-time physical inactivity (<300 minutes/week) and perceived barriers was analyzed by calculating the prevalence ratio (PR) in Poisson regression models. "Lack of friends company" was the most prevalent barrier for both girls (75.8%) and boys (58.7%). "Feel lazy" for girls (PR: 1.21; CI 95%: 1.08 to 1.36) and "prefer to do other things" for the boys (PR: 1.48; CI 95%: 1.01 to 2.15) were the barriers most strongly associated with leisure-time physical inactivity. For both genders, a strong dose-response relationship was observed between the number of perceived barriers and leisure-time physical inactivity. The perception of barriers was associated with a higher prevalence of leisure-time physical inactivity in adolescents and should therefore be considered in actions for promoting physical activity in this population.

Highlights

Chronic noncommunicable diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Brazil and tend to negatively affect the quality of life of the population[1]
Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 20(11):3339-3350, 2015. This cross-sectional study was conducted in the first half of 2011, with a representative sample of the population of 14,258 adolescents enrolled in secondary education in public schools located in the urban area of Londrina, Paraná
Only one of the 12 investigated barriers presented a prevalence greater than 50%, while among the girls, five barriers were higher than this value

Summary

Introduction

Chronic noncommunicable diseases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Brazil and tend to negatively affect the quality of life of the population[1]. With the aim of tackling this situation, the Ministry of Health has implemented some policies, such as the Strategic Action Plan for the Combat of Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases in Brazil 2011-2022, including the prevention and reduction of physical inactivity as one its objectives, which is considered a modifiable risk factor for four of the major disease groups (circulatory, cancer, chronic respiratory and diabetes)[2]. The National Study of School Health (PeNSE) pointed out that more than 50% of Brazilian adolescents do not meet the minimum recommended amount of physical activity[7]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion