Psychosocial aspects of physical activity: Data on brazilian adolescents

Introduction: Although the benefits of regular physical activity (PA) for adolescents are well-described in the literature, there is little evidence of the role of psychosocial aspects on levels of PA in this population. Objective: To investigate the prevalence and sociodemographic factors associated with enjoyment of PA and preference for leisure-time activities in boys and girls. Methods: A cross-sectional study, with 6529 adolescents (aged 15 to 19 years) enrolled in secondary education in public schools in the South of Brazil. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between sociodemographic factors and the variables of interest, with data col-lection using a standardized questionnaire. Results: Boys enjoyed (87.1%) and preferred (44.4%) PA more than girls (enjoyment: 79.2%; preference: 29.5%). Among the boys, enjoyment was associated with family income (OR_{3-5 wages}=1.53; OR_{≥6 wages}=1.62) and, among the girls, it was associated with age (OR_{19 years}=0.28), occupational status (OR_workers=1.45), and income (OR_{3-5 wages}=1.35). Preference was associated with age (OR_{19 years}=2.48) and income (OR_≥6 wages=0.70) among the boys and, among girls, it was associated with area of residence (OR_rural=1.47) and occupation (OR_workers=1.31). Conclusion: Boys (enjoyment: 87.1%; preference: 44.4%) had more positive attitudes toward PA than girls (enjoyment: 79.2%; preference: 29.5%), and some sociodemographic variables appear to be more closely associated with these attitudes than others. Enjoyment was associated with family income for boys, and with age, occupation and income for girls. Preference, in turn, was associated with age and family income for boys, and area of residence and occupational status for girls. Level of evidence II, Diagnostic studies-Investigation of a diagnostic test.