Family and individual predictors of physical activity for older Mexican adolescents

Purpose: Low levels of physical activity (PA) are associated with persistent obesity. Adolescent obesity is linked to adult morbidity and premature mortality. This study examined a model of perceived parental influence in Mexican older adolescents to uncover contemporaneous family and personal predictors of Mexican older adolescents' PA. Method: Participants 16- to 25-years-old (n = 3,908), Mexican college applicants, underwent a health screen and filled out questionnaires which included information on PA and potential correlates. A logistic regression model was used to ascertain family factors (socioeconomic status, conflict about PA, and perceived parental PA) and individual factors (age, sex, body mass index, depressive symptoms, enjoyment of PA, and sedentary behaviors) associated with adolescents' PA. Results: Most participants reported being physically active (61.5%); less than half reported physically active parents (40.0%). Perceived parental PA (odds ratio [OR] = 8.67, p ≤.0001), enjoyment of PA (OR = 2.11, p ≤.0001), and conflicts about PA (OR = 1.16, p ≤.0001) were important positive predictors of adolescents' PA. Conclusion: PA among Mexican older adolescents is influenced by parental PA. The role of conflicts about PA is likely to be influenced by culture and may indicate that older adolescents' PA is not completely accepted by parents.