Participation in Organized Sports and Self-Organized Physical Activity: Associations with Developmental Factors

Exploring Individual Components of Sport Persistence in the Light of Gender, Education, and Level and Type of Sport

Background/Objectives: Sport persistence can be coded as an indicator of sport performance and commitment, incorporating personality traits such as resilience, adaptive coping, and positive personality traits. Thus, athletes do not merely persist in sporting activities but are qualitatively committed to them. Methods: In the present research, we used a qualitative methodology to investigate the factors underlying sport persistence, using Bronfenbrenner's socio-ecological model. In total, 133 high school and college student-athletes were surveyed in a semi-structured interview study. We set the following research question: How do the factors involved in developing sport persistence vary across athletes' gender, level of study, and level and type of sport? Data were analyzed along the lines of grounded theory. ATLAS.ti and IBM SPSS 22.0 statistical software were used for the analysis. Results: Our analysis divided individual motivation into intrinsic (health promotion, habituation, becoming a competitive athlete, self-improvement, self-actualization, relaxation, and sport enjoyment) and extrinsic motivation (family-related motivation, coach, social relationships, competition, livelihood, recognition). The cross-tabulation analysis revealed that contrary to the general trend, no significant differences can be experienced in the core motivational patterns contributing to sport persistence. However, significant differences could be detected concerning the level of education, level of sporting activity, and type of sport. Conclusions: Our findings not only shed light on the unique factors underlying sport persistence, but also challenge the trends observed in traditional sport motivation analyses. This insight could potentially revolutionize how we approach youth sport promotion and physical activity among young people, making our research highly relevant and impactful.

Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction as Correlates of Physical Activity Trajectories During Adolescence

This analysis aimed to (1) identify longitudinal joint trajectories of participation in organized and unorganized physical activity contexts, and level of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and (2) assess whether basic psychological need satisfaction during adolescence differentiates between membership in different physical activity trajectories. Participants (n = 888; 56% girls) reported their involvement in 36 different physical activities, level of MVPA, and their perceived satisfaction of competence, autonomy, and relatedness satisfaction in physical activity up to three times per year, over 8 years (from ages 10 to 17 years). Group-based multi-trajectory models were used to identify longitudinal joint trajectories of physical activity participation. We estimated a multinomial logistic regression model for membership in a physical activity trajectory by including individual-level intercepts and slopes for each psychological need obtained using mixed models over the 24 cycles modelized as natural cubic splines. Five longitudinal trajectory groups emerged: Non-participants, Dropouts, Active in unorganized physical activities, Active in organized physical activities, and Active through a variety of activities. Relative to Non-participants, we identify a dose-response relationship in baseline competence and membership in the higher active trajectory groups. In addition, a positive change in competence in early adolescence predicted membership in all three Active trajectory groups.

Longitudinal associations of participation in organized and unorganized sports in youth with physical activity in mid-adulthood: The Young Finns Study

We investigated the longitudinal associations between sports participation patterns in youth and physical activity (PA) in adulthood. PA was self-reported triannually between ages 9-18 (n = 2550, 52% females) and measured by accelerometers in mid-adulthood (n = 1002, 61% females, aged 48 ± 4 years). Three latent classes of youth sports participation emerged for both genders: 1) "organized sports" (persistent high PA with regular sports club activities), 2) "unorganized sports" (persistent high PA without sports club activities and 3) "low activity" (low PA with decreasing sports involvement). These groups comprised 29%, 34% and 37% of males, and 23%, 27% and 50% of females, respectively. Youth "organized sports" was associated with higher adult PA in both males (+1166 steps/day, p = 0.012) and females (+15 min/day moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA], +1064 steps/day, +1066 leisure-time steps/day; p ≤ 0.005) compared to "low activity". In males, youth "organized sports" was associated with higher adult PA (+1103 steps/day, -26 min/day sedentary time and +133 counts/minute higher total PA, p ≤ 0.039) compared to "unorganized sports". In females, "unorganized sports" in youth was related to higher adult PA (+10 min/day MVPA, p = 0.034) when compared to "low activity". Sustained participation in youth organized sports, and for females, also in unorganized sports, is positively linked with adult PA.

The benefit and limitations of an online physical activity program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: A quantitative analysis of the virtual Latrobe Streetgames program

ISSUE ADDRESSED

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of many physical activity programs, with many online programs being created in place to maintain physical activity engagement. This study explored the outcomes of an online physical program on its participants.

METHOD

A validated survey was used to explore Virtual Streetgames (VSG) participants' perceptions about their physical, mental, and social health while participating in VGS. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to evaluate the impact of the online format.

RESULTS

Many VSG participants were not achieving their daily physical activity recommendations, with a considerable portion of individuals feeling frustrated at not being able to socialise. A substantial difference was seen between adults and adolescents, with increased adult activity rates for those adults participating in VSG. Despite this influence on physical well-being, VSG did not seem to influence mental or social wellbeing.

CONCLUSIONS

The results give detail into how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced adolescent and young adult physical, mental, and social health, noting that the reduction of in-person contact influenced motivation for exercise. Online physical activity programs may have some positive impact in improving adult physical activity rates, but they are not as effective as face-to-face programs in improving overall well-being. SO WHAT?: The findings of this study suggest that online physical activity programs may not be as effective as face-to-face programs in improving overall well-being. Future research should explore ways to improve the social and motivational aspects of online physical activity programs to maximise their benefits for participants.

Physical activity levels before and after the COVID-19 restrictions among Danish adolescents: a retrospective cohort study

AIMS

It has been suggested that the COVID-19 restrictions may have negatively impacted physical activity (PA) levels, especially among adolescents, who often use organised sports to support their intrinsic motivation for staying active. This study aimed to investigate whether adolescents were less physically active after the COVID-19 restrictions compared with before and examine whether participation in organised sports has changed since the COVID-19 restrictions.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of Danish adolescents aged 15 to 19 years. Data was collected using a questionnaire in SurveyXact. The primary variable of interest was moderate or high-intensity PA frequency before and after COVID-19 restrictions (from March 11, 2020, to September 10, 2021). Secondary variables of interest included whether the PA was self-organised (e.g. running, hiking, going to a gym or cycling) or part of an organised sport delivered by a club or other association, before versus after the restrictions.

RESULTS

A total of 324 participants responded to the questionnaire. The relative risk of not performing PA at least twice per week after COVID-19 restrictions compared with before was significantly larger (1.44; 95%CI: 1.19 to 1.85, p = 0.005). Before the lockdowns, 190 (59%) were engaged in organised sports compared with 152 (47%) after the restrictions (relative risk: 1.51, 95%CI: 1.19 to 1.92, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with activity levels before the pandemic, adolescents became significantly less physically active following the COVID-19 restrictions, beyond what is typically observed during adolescence. These results emphasise a need for strategies to increase PA levels among adolescents to minimise the long-term negative effects of physical inactivity during adolescence.

Sports Practice, Body Image Perception, and Factors Involved in Sporting Activity in Italian Schoolchildren

Regular physical activity is generally deemed to positively affect health, but studies on children are scarce. Among the kinds of physical activity, sports practice is the most common and easiest to quantify and report by children. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the two genders and evaluate the association between organized sports practice and body dissatisfaction in a sample of 214 Italian schoolchildren (55.6% males) aged 5 to 12. Body image perception and data on sports practice expectations and facilitators were collected in individual face-to-face interviews; weight and stature were directly measured. Girls tended to be sportier than boys (91.6% of girls vs. 86.3% of boys practiced sports), with an earlier start in sports (5.48 ± 1.47 vs. 5.72 ± 1.38 years) and a greater amount of weekly sports (3.41 ± 2.95 vs. 3.01 ± 2.11 h/week). In both genders, the ideal silhouette was more slender than the feel silhouette, and in girls more than in boys. According to the outcomes of multiple regression models, years of organized sports participation were a significant predictor of the weekly amount of sports in both genders, in addition to the feel weight status minus actual weight status inconsistency score, fun in sports, and parental support only in boys and teacher support only in girls. Children's needs and interests and sports facilitators should be considered to promote an early active lifestyle.

Puberty timing and relative age as predictors of physical activity discontinuation during adolescence

Among same-age adolescents, those who enter puberty relatively later and those who are relatively younger (e.g., born later in the year) might be at greater risk of physical activity discontinuation. This study aimed to (1) describe gender-specific discontinuation, re-engagement, and uptake rates in various types of physical activities from the age of 11 to 17 years, and (2) assess puberty timing and relative age as predictors of discontinuation from organized, unorganized, individual, and group-based physical activities. Longitudinal data from 781 (56% girls, age 10-13 years at study baseline) Canadian participants who self-reported puberty status, birthdate, and involvement in 36 physical activities every four months from 2011 to 2018 was analyzed. The incidence of discontinuation, re-engagement, and uptake in organized/unorganized and individual/group activities from grade 6 until grade 12 was described and Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate associations of puberty timing and relative age with organized/unorganized and individual/group activity discontinuation. Results demonstrate that individual and unorganized activities are maintained longer than group-based and organized activities. Girls who started puberty earlier were more likely to discontinue organized activities than girls with average-puberty timing [Hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval (CI)) 1.68 (1.05-2.69)]. Compared to boys born in the 4th quarter of the year, boys born in the 2nd quarter of the year were less likely to discontinue organized [HR (95% CI) 0.41 (0.23-0.74)], unorganized [HR (95% CI) 0.33 (0.16-0.70)], group [HR (95% CI) 0.58 (0.34-0.98)], and individual activities[HR (95% CI) 0.46 (0.23-0.91)], and boys born in the 3rd quarter were less likely to discontinue unorganized activities[HR (95% CI) 0.41 (0.19-0.88)]. This study illustrates the patterns of physical activity participation throughout adolescence. However, the generalizability of findings may be limited due to participant representation.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of domain-specific physical activity composition with health-related quality of life in childhood and adolescence in Australia

BACKGROUND

Health benefits have been linked with physical activity (PA), as well as some domains of PA among youth (e.g. organized PA and active transport). However, less is known about whether some PA domains are more beneficial than others. There is also a lack of evidence about whether health outcomes are related to the composition of PA (i.e. the share of PA spent in different domains). This study aimed to identify: (1) how the absolute durations of organized PA, non-organized PA, active transport and active chores/work at 10-11y are individually associated with physical, psychosocial and total health-related quality of life (HRQOL) at 10-11y and 12-13y; and (2) how the domain-specific composition of PA at 10-11y is associated with HRQOL at 10-11y and 12-13y.

METHODS

Data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children were used in cross-sectional (n ≥ 2730) and longitudinal analyses (n ≥ 2376). Measurement included the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™) for HRQOL domains and one-day time-use diaries (TUDs) for PA domains. Robust linear regression models were used, controlling for age, sex, pubertal status, socioeconomic position, body mass index and TUD context (season and school attendance). Compositional models additionally adjusted for total PA duration and longitudinal models controlled for baseline PedsQL™ scores.

RESULTS

Non-compositional models indicated that the duration of organized PA, and to a lesser extent non-organized PA, were positively but weakly associated with some HRQOL outcomes at 10-11y. These trends were not reflected in longitudinal models, although a 30-min increase in non-organized PA per day did predict marginally better psychosocial HRQOL at 12-13y (+ 0.17%; 95%CI =  + 0.03%, + 0.32%). Compositional models revealed that a 30-min increase in organized PA relative to other domains was positively but weakly associated with physical (+ 0.32%; 95%CI =  + 0.01%, + 0.63%), psychosocial (+ 0.41%; 95%CI =  + 0.11%, + 0.72%) and total HRQOL (+ 0.39%; 95%CI =  + 0.12%, + 0.66%) at 10-11y. However, the overall PA composition at 10-11y was not related to HRQOL at 12-13y.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-compositional and compositional models generally concurred on the direction of cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships (and lack thereof) between PA domains and HRQOL outcomes. The strongest associations were cross-sectional between organized PA and HRQOL at 10-11y. However, all associations between PA domains and HRQOL outcomes were weak and may not be clinically meaningful.

Effects of a daily physical activity intervention on the health-related fitness status of primary school children: A cluster randomized controlled trial

An important barrier for a nationwide implementation of a daily physical activity (PA) at primary schools is the lack of spatial and human resources. Therefore, we developed a PA intervention that can be implemented without additional spatial resources or changes in school curricula. In the intervention group, children received a daily PA unit consisting of physical education lessons and simultaneous academic content over a 9-month period. The control group received conventional (physical education) classes. Body weight, height, waist circumference and health-related fitness parameters were measured. Of 412 children (9.7 ± 0.5 years) included, 228 participated in the intervention group. In regression analysis adjusted for baseline, gender, school location, sports club membership (total only) with standardized outcome variables, the intervention group showed a reduction in waist-to-height ratio (B = 0.30, p < 0.001) and an increase in several fitness parameters (cardiorespiratory endurance: B = 0.20, p = 0.037; lower body muscle strength: B = 0.11, p = 0.041; lower body muscle endurance: B = 0.12, p = 0.027; flexibility: B = 0.19, p = 0.019) compared to the control group. Intervention effects for cardiorespiratory endurance and flexibility were more pronounced in the group of children without sports club membership. Thus, especially children with no sport club membership seem to benefit from daily PA in school (Trial registration: DRKS00025515).

Mothers' and fathers' views on the importance of play for their children's development: Gender differences, academic activities, and the parental role

BACKGROUND

Play is a main driver of children's cognitive and social development and is crucial for educational success (Paediatrics, 119, 2007 and 182). In recent years, however, parents and schools are under pressure to prioritize academic targets over play.

AIMS

The current research investigated parents' views about three aspects of their children's play and academic activities.

SAMPLE

Predominantly highly educated UK parents (109 mothers and 49 fathers) were recruited via social media.

METHOD

Participants were asked to complete an amended online version of the Preschool Play and Learning Questionnaire (International Journal of Behavioral Development, 28, 2004 and 97). The questionnaire consisted of 25 items covering three themes: the importance of play for children's development, the importance of academic activities, and the importance of parents' role in their children's development. The independent variables were the gender of the parent, the gender of their child, and the age group of their child (4-7 years, or 8-11 years).

RESULTS

Parents rated play higher than academic activities or their own roles, but the difference was not noteworthy. However, fathers rated academic activities and the parents' role significantly higher than mothers did. In addition, parents of girls rated academic activities and their own role significantly higher than parents of boys.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the current research highlight gender divisions between parents and towards boys and girls regarding the importance of education. Gender roles appear to influence the way parents think about the academic activities their children partake in.

Description of sport participation profiles and transitions across profiles during adolescence

Few studies describe sport participation profiles in the general population using multiple characteristics. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify sport participation profiles during adolescence and to describe transitions across profiles from grades 5 to 12 (age 10 to 18 years). We used data from 916 participants (55% girls; age 10-12 years at inception) of the Monitoring Activities of Teenagers to Comprehend their Habits (MATCH) study. Participants self-reported involvement in 36 organized and unorganized physical activities three times/year from grades 5 to 12 (24 data collection cycles; 2011-2018). At each school grade, we derived four categorical variables of sport involvement: number of organized sports, number of unorganized activities, weekly sessions, and number of year-round activities. To identify sport participation profiles, we used latent class analysis at each grade. To characterize transitions between sport participation profiles across grades, we used latent transition analysis. Five distinct sport participation profiles emerged: "non-participants", "unorganized activities only", "single-sport low frequency", "single sport high frequency", and "multi-sport". Only "multi-sport" participants were unlikely to be classified as "non-participants" over time. Encouraging multi-sport participation might help protect against later non-participation. This study helps identify important times to intervene for improving physical activity levels.

Weekday and Weekend Physical Activity of Preschool Children in Relation to Selected Socioeconomic Indicators

Physical activity (PA) is as vital for improving the health of young children as it is positively associated with a broad range of psychological, cognitive, and cardio-metabolic outcomes. The aims of this study were to: (1) to assess the level of PA and meeting the WHO recommendations: moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and the number of steps in Polish preschool boys and girls on weekdays and on weekends; (2) to investigate the relationship between selected socioeconomic indicators (self-reported by parents) and PA, including meeting the WHO recommendation for daily MVPA and the number of steps on weekdays and on weekends among Polish preschoolers. Data were collected in the 2017/2018 school year. The study included a total of 522 boys and girls both aged between 5 and 6 years. The ActiGraph GT3X-BT tri-axial accelerometer was used to measure PA. Selected socioeconomic indicators as well as parental body weight and body height were self-reported by parents/caregivers using a questionnaire. In most of the PA indicators analyzed for girls (moderate, vigorous, total MVPA, and steps/day), the averages were higher during the week than during the weekend. Moreover, significantly more boys met the criteria of MVPA, both on weekdays and over the weekend (32.3% boys and 19.2% girls on weekdays and 31.1% boys and 18.1% girls on weekends). Additionally, more boys met the step recommendations, but only on weekends (15.5% boys and 6.6% girls). It was found that if there were two people in a household, there was an almost a three-fold greater chance (adj. OR = 2.94, p = 0.032) of meeting the MVPA criterion with an even stronger association (over fivefold greater chance) in meeting the step recommendation (adj. OR = 5.56, p = 0.033). The differences in the day schedule may potentially contribute with the level of PA in girls. Among the analyzed selected socioeconomic indicators, only the number of people in a household had a significant association on PA.

Improving youth physical, mental and social health through physical activity: A Systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Across various parts of the world there is an increasing trend in adolescent and young adult physical inactivity, which has been linked to a multitude of illnesses throughout the lifespan. To further understand the link between physical inactivity and illness, it is important to determine the effect that physical activity has various components of wellbeing. The primary aim of this review was to compile and synthesise the recent evidence on physical activity and its effect on physical, mental and social wellbeing across younger populations. The secondary aim was to determine whether there is relationship between the amount, type and intensity of exercise, and changes in wellbeing outcomes.

METHODS

Main databases were searched using MeSH terms for the population of interest (young adult, adolescent), intervention (physical activity) and outcome (wellbeing). Upon screening papers of eligibility, quality appraisal was completed through the Critical Appraisals Skills Programme (CASP).

RESULTS

Nineteen studies were included in this review. The majority of studies found an associated link between the participation of physical activity and improvements in physical, mental and social wellbeing outcomes. There was evidence to suggest that lower levels of physical intensity produced similar results in mental and social outcomes when compared to higher levels of physical intensity.

CONCLUSION

This review supports the encouragement of adolescent and young adult physical activity, noting the improvements seen across the physical, mental and social wellbeing outcomes. Future research is still required to further understand the benefits of lower intensity exercise within the adolescent and young adult population.

Youth Perspectives on What Makes a Sports Club a Health-Promoting Setting-Viewed through a Salutogenic Settings-Based Lens

Sports participation has the potential to contribute to young people’s health. A prerequisite for young people to benefit from sports is that they stay in sports. Studies that consider both personal and contextual factors are needed to unpack the broader health-promoting potential of youth sports. The purpose of the study is to contribute to knowledge about the health-promoting potential of young people’s participation in organized sports by exploring youth perspectives on what makes a sports club health-promoting with a focus on health resources that young people consider important for sports club participation. For this cross-sectional study a brief survey was conducted with 15–16 year old students (n = 123) at two schools in Sweden, asking three open-ended questions about their participation in sports. The study used a salutogenic theory-driven analysis in combination with statistical analysis. Five health resources that young people consider important for sports club participation are revealed. On an individual, more ‘swimmer’-related level, these are personal well-being and social relations, including relationally meaningful activities, and on an organizational level, relating to the ‘river’, that sports clubs offer a supportive and well-functioning environment. For sports clubs to be health-promoting settings for young people and thus hopefully to reduce drop-out, we need a more sustainable approach emphasizing drop-in, drop-through, and drop-over as a continuous iterative process. We also need to consider the complexity of sports participation for young people, involving individual, organizational and environmental issues.

Changes in Body Composition and Anthropomorphic Measurements in Children Participating in Swimming and Non-Swimming Activities

BACKGROUND

Physical activity is a well-known means of obesity prevention, but the relationship between exercise frequency and body composition in children has not been thoroughly investigated.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the body composition of children aged 11-12 who regularly performed swimming and other sports as an organized extra-curricular physical activity for a 12-week period.

METHODS

The study included 46 students who attended swimming classes and 42 students who participated in training activities in other sports, including, but not limited to, football, basketball and athletics. Body height and body composition were measured using a Tanita BC 418 MA analyzer. The students individually reported their rate of perceived exertion during training using the Pictorial Children's Effort Rating Table PCERT scale.

RESULTS

The weekly volume of training was substantially higher in the group of swimmers than in that playing other sports (12.3 h/week vs. 5.2 h/week, p < 0.01). After 12 weeks of training, body height and weight significantly increased in both groups (p < 0.001). However, the BMI value and adipose tissue content only increased in the group of non-swimmers. Swimmers perceived greater exertion during training than non-swimmers (7.1 vs. 5.8 on the PCERT scale, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In early pubescent children, engaging in vigorous exercise such as swimming for at least 10 h a week may restrain the growth of adipose tissue. However, the variety of exercises that are typical of team sports, if performed for no more than 5 h a week, may be insufficient to restrain adipose tissue growth.

"I am going out!" - lifestyle sports and physical activity in adolescents

Background

Lifestyle sport activities (e.g. parkour or skateboarding) are considered attractive and beneficial for a long-term commitment to physical activity (PA) and might be a great opportunity for adolescents who do not feel comfortable in an organized or competitive atmosphere. The purpose of the study was to assess whether participation in lifestyle activities is associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), out-of-school vigorous physical activity (VPA), and sedentary behaviour in adolescents aged 10–15 years, with major demographic variables (sex, age, socioeconomic status) being taken into account.

Methods

Data from a research project linked to the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey collected in 2017 in the Czech Republic was used. The sample consisted of 679 participants (303 of them girls) and was selected by quota sampling. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences in involvement in lifestyle activities according to sex, grade, and socioeconomic status. Ordinal and linear regression models were used to analyse the associations of participation in lifestyle activities and selected energy balance-related behaviours.

Results

Participation in lifestyle sport activities was significantly associated with a higher level of physical activity (MVPA and out-of-school VPA) after adjustment for sociodemographic factors, as was participation in organized sport. No significant associations were shown for sedentary behaviour.

Conclusions

Adolescents participating in lifestyle sport activities report being more physically active and, in case of doing multiple such activities concurrently, also spending less time sitting than their peers not involved in lifestyle sport activities. As such, lifestyle sport activities seem to represent a feasible way of increasing overall PA level in adolescent population.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11066-3.

Differences in participation across physical activity contexts between adolescents with and without disability over three years: a self-determination theory perspective

PURPOSE

Meaningful participation is related to satisfaction of the psychological needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness within Self-determination theory. The purpose of this study is to explore whether need satisfaction in physical education (PE), organized sport, and self-organized physical activity (PA) among adolescents with disability differs in relation to their peers without disabilities over a three-year period.

METHODS

Participants were students of secondary or upper secondary school (T1: N = 2979), reporting either having a disability (n = 328) or not (n = 2651). The psychological needs were measured in the three PA contexts over three time-points. Differences between groups were assessed with t-tests and Cohen's d.

RESULTS

Adolescents with disability reported: in PE, lower need satisfaction across all three time-points; in organized sport, lower levels on all needs at T1, and lower levels of autonomy and relatedness at T2; in self-organized PA, no differences between the groups across all three time points, except for lower autonomy at T2.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that adolescents with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to reduced participation in PE and partly in organized sport. Rehabilitation institutions should collaborate closely with stakeholders in PA (e.g., PE teachers and coaches) in adolescents' municipalities to transfer knowledge about nurturing psychological needs in PA.Implications for rehabilitationMeaningful participation in physical activity (PA) for the individual can be related to their own perceptions of satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs of competence, autonomy, and relatedness.Findings from the current study indicate that adolescents with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to experiencing reduced participation in physical education (PE) and partly in organized sport.Health care practitioners working in rehabilitation should support adolescents' three psychological needs in PA while they are attending rehabilitation to give them valuable experiences with meaningful participation in PA, which could be transferred and useful for PA participation after rehabilitation.Health care practitioners at rehabilitation institutions should collaborate closely with stakeholders in the PA context of adolescents' local areas (e.g., PE teachers and coaches) to transfer knowledge about how to nurture psychological need fulfillment in PA.

Does Vigorous Physical Activity Contribute to Adolescent Life Satisfaction?

Background: Physical and mental health are the basis of life satisfaction (LS), even during adolescence. The aim of this study was to identify the associations between LS and types of physical activity (PA) in Czech and Polish boys and girls. Methods: The research involved 933 girls and 663 boys aged 15–19 years. LS was diagnosed using the Bern Subjective Well-Being Questionnaire and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-long form (IPAQ-LF) questionnaire was used to identify the types of weekly PA. Results: Adolescents with the highest LS had more recreational, moderate, vigorous, and total weekly PA. The strongest associations between LS and PA were in the Czech and Polish boys and girls who participated in vigorous PA (VPA). The recommendations for VPA were fulfilled by 45% of Czech and 46% of Polish boys and 40% of Czech and 50% of Polish girls, with the highest LS. The most significant positive moderator between LS and PA was participation in organized PA. Boys with the highest LS were 1.94 times more likely to meet the weekly recommendation of VPA than boys with the lowest LS. Similarly, girls with the highest LS were 1.77 times more likely to meet these recommendations. Conclusions: Promoting both current subjective well-being and organized PA, with an emphasis on achieving the VPA recommendations, may support general LS and a healthy lifestyle in adolescents.

Do Adolescents Who Meet Physical Activity Recommendations on Weekdays Also Meet Them on Weekends? A Cross-Sectional Study in Colombia

The purpose of this study was to examine whether Colombian adolescents fulfill physical activity (PA) recommendations by type of day depending on several variables. A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 2624 adolescents from Neiva (Colombia) using the Seven Day PA Recall and the Family Affluence Scale II self-reported questionnaires. Statistical analyses were performed to find any differences by gender, socioeconomic status, PA recommendations accomplishment, participation in organized and non-organized PA, parents' involvement in sport, and adolescents' academic achievement, and to determine the probability of complying with the PA guidelines. Only 12.3% of the participants met the PA recommendations on weekdays and weekends. Girls maintained their (in)active patterns during the week more than boys (84.4% vs. 70.7%, respectively), while more boys than girls changed them according to the type of day (25.3% vs. 19.6%). Participation in organized sports was the predictor variable with the highest probability of both boys and girls complying with the PA recommendations on weekdays. Non-organized activities were more likely to make girls more active on weekends. In conclusion, a wider offer of organized and non-competitive PA over the weekend and broader sports schedules should be provided to youth in Neiva.

Through Sport to Innovation: Sustainable Socio-Economic Development in European Countries

Using clustering and principal component analysis, we demonstrate that—at the national level in Europe—innovativeness correlates strongly to both social capital and participation in sport. In this aspect, countries such as the Scandinavian countries and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe differ visibly. Referring to prior empirical research, we claim that a causal relation between sports, through social capital, and innovativeness can be established. In the context of social capital accumulation, we further discuss the role of sports clubs, often perceived as a socially intensive form of participation in sport, but most likely diminishing in this respect lately.

A systematic review of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and substance use in adolescents and emerging adults

The transition from adolescence into emerging adulthood is marked by changes in both physical activity and substance use. This systematic review characterized associations between movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior) and frequently used substances (alcohol, cannabis) among adolescents and emerging adults to inform lifestyle interventions that target multiple behavior change outcomes. This systematic review was guided by PRISMA. Electronic databases of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched from inception through June 25, 2019. The search was designed to identify empirical studies reporting an association between physical activity or sedentary behavior and alcohol or cannabis, with search criteria determining eligibility based on several sampling characteristics (e.g., participants under 25 years of age). After identifying and screening 5,610 studies, data were extracted from 97 studies. Physical activity was positively associated with alcohol use among emerging adults, but the literature was mixed among adolescents. Sedentary behavior was positively associated with alcohol and cannabis use among adolescents, but evidence was limited among emerging adults. Self-report measures were used in all but one study to assess these behaviors. Physical activity is linked to greater alcohol use among emerging adults. Whereas existing studies demonstrate that sedentary behavior might serve as a risk marker for alcohol and cannabis use among adolescents, additional primary research is needed to explore these associations in emerging adults. Future work should also use device-based measures to account for timing of and contextual features surrounding activity and substance use in these populations.

An Examination of Parent-Reported Facilitators and Barriers to Organized Physical Activity Engagement for Youth With Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Physical, and Medical Conditions

Organized physical activity (OPA) is an important contributor to physical, social, and emotional health and well-being; however, young people with disabilities are participating at lower rates than their peers without disabilities. This study aimed to (1) compare facilitators and barriers to OPA for young people with disabilities who currently do and do not participate in OPA and (2) to assess whether groups differed in the type of internal and external assets they reported. Parents of 218 young people (41% with a primary diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder) with a diverse representation of disabilities completed an online survey. Young people were categorized as either participants in OPA (n = 131) or non-participants (n = 87) by parent report. Non-participation was significantly predicted by the barrier “there are no activities my child enjoys” and by a lack of children’s motivation and happiness during OPA. Significant internal assets differentiating participants from non-participants were the ability to understand simple instructions, love of sport, and meeting physical activity guidelines. Significant external assets were parent and sibling participation in OPA, school type, and household income. The findings from this study have important implications for the design of public health interventions that aim to promote OPA in young people with disabilities, highlighting the need to make activities enjoyable, promote participation of siblings and parents, and support low-income families to participate.

Active Travel of Czech and Polish Adolescents in Relation to Their Well-Being: Support for Physical Activity and Health

The adoption of active travel (AT) habits in adolescence, supported by positive emotions, increases the chances of a lifelong positive attitude towards AT. The aim of this study was to assess the associations between active travel and well-being (WB), and to estimate the share of AT in weekly physical activity (PA) and its contribution to meeting the weekly PA recommendations in adolescents. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-long form and the WHO-5 questionnaire were used to assess the level of AT, weekly PA and well-being of 2805 adolescents from 36 Czech and 39 Polish schools. A higher rate of AT is only significantly associated with higher well-being in girls. However, meeting AT recommendations in combination with higher WB increased the likelihood of meeting the weekly PA recommendations in both girls and boys. AT accounts for 22.5% of weekly PA of Czech (Polish 24.2%) boys. Concerning girls, it accounts for 24.9% of weekly PA in the Czech Republic and 24.5% in Poland. Meeting AT recommendations should be part of comprehensive school-based PA programs. State, school and municipal policies in the Central European region should pay more attention to the improvement of WB and the built environment for AT in secondary school adolescents.

Parental socioeconomic status, adolescents' screen time and sports participation through externalizing and internalizing characteristics

The socioeconomic status of parents is reportedly closely related to the digital screen usage and physical inactivity levels of children and adolescents. Internalizing and externalizing behavior characteristics may be linked to these associations and explain them. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of parents' socioeconomic status (SES) on youths' total screen time along with physical inactivity through internalizing and externalizing behavior characteristics. Thus, we examined associations between parents' socioeconomic status (using scores based on several indicators) and adolescents' total digital screen exposure and physical inactivity level, together with the potentially predicting role of the adolescents' internalizing and externalizing behavior. For this, we assessed the internalizing and externalizing problem characteristics, total screen time exposure, physical inactivity level and parental socioeconomic status of a large cohort sample of Finnish adolescents (the Northern Birth Cohort, 1986 comprised 2899 males and 3059 females). The present study includes data collected in two phases, in 1985–1986 and 2000–2001. Path modeling suggests that a low SES of parents was directly associated with adolescents' physical inactivity level, while externalizing characteristics were a significant and additional contributing factor in adolescents' level of screen exposure in both genders. Gender moderated the relationship between adolescents' internalizing and externalizing characteristics and physical inactivity levels. The results also suggest that parents’ socioeconomic status constitutes a risk factor in relation to media screen exposure only in female adolescents. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Physical Activity, Body Mass, and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in the Split-Dalmatia County (Croatia)

Physical activity, body mass, and dietary habits are known to be important determinants of overall health status, but there is an evident lack of studies that examine these issues specifically in preschool children. The aim of this study was to identify associations that may exist between adhering to the Mediterranean diet (MD), levels of physical activity (PA), and body composition indices in apparently healthy preschool children from southern Croatia. Participants were 5- to 6-year-old preschoolers from the Mediterranean part of the country (the Split-Dalmatia County; n = 260, 126 females). Adherence to the MD was observed by the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED), PA level was evaluated by the Preschool-age Children’s Physical Activity Questionnaire (Pre-PAQ), and responses were collected from the parents. The participants’ waist circumferences (in cm), waist-to-hip ratios, and body mass index (in kg/m², and in a z-score calculated relative to the normative value for age and sex) were used as indicators of body composition. All children were of the same age and tested over a one-month period of the same year as a part of the regular examination undertaken before attending elementary school. With only 6% of the children having a low KIDMED score, adherence to the MD was high. MD adherence was higher in girls (Chi-square = 15.31, p < 0.01) and children who live on the coast of the Adriatic Sea (Chi-square = 18.51, p < 0.01). A mixed effects logistic regression (with kindergarten as random factor) identified sedentary activity to be negatively associated with MD adherence (OR per point: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.44–0.91). High adherence to the MD in the studied sample may be attributed to regulated feeding in kindergarten. Considering that most Croatian elementary schools do not provide food to their students, MD adherence should be investigated later in life and also in other parts of the country where the MD is culturally less prevalent.