Psychological Correlates Of Physical Activity And Sedentary Behavior In Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Female Youth

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) levels tend to decline sharply as youth enter adolescence, with greater decreases in girls than boys. Sedentary behavior, perceptions of PA, and mental health factors such as depression have been found to predict insufficient PA in White female youth. However, few studies have explored these relationships in Hispanic female youth, who demonstrate markedly lower levels of PA and increased risk for chronic diseases. PURPOSE: This study aims to explore the psychological correlates (depressive symptoms, anhedonia, and physical activity enjoyment) and levels of PA and sedentary behavior (computer/television screen time) in Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White (NHW) female youth. Methods: A general sample of 9th grade Hispanic (N = 1605; mean age = 14.6 years, SD = .41) and NHW (N = 544; mean age = 14.6 years, SD = .39) students completed self-report measures of depressive symptoms (CES-D), anhedonia (SHAPS) physical activity enjoyment (Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale), PA (≥60 minutes per day), and sedentary behavior (SB; total computer/television screen time). RESULTS: Hispanic teens had higher BMI (b=9.7, p<0.01), and more depressive and anhedonia symptoms (b= 0.04,p<0.04; b=0.17,p<0.01) than NHW teens. Mixed-effects models suggested that Hispanic teens reported higher positive (b= 0.13, p<0.01) and lower negative (b=-0.14, p<0.01) enjoyment of PA. Higher BMI was also strongly related to hours of TV time (p<0.01). The relationship between greater negative experiences of PA (interaction effect: b= 0.40, p<0.01) and television time was strongest among Hispanic girls. Higher depressive and anhedonia symptoms and lower positive experiences of PA also had independent associations with increased computer time (p’s <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Hispanic teens may be characterized by a number of risk factors related to higher SB than NHWs. Hispanic girls may be at particular risk given higher BMI and higher levels of negative experiences with PA relative to Hispanic boys and NHW boys and girls. Understanding mental health and experiences with exercise may inform interventions to increase PA and decrease SB among Hispanic teens. With grant support from National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA033296A1)