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Gender differences in barriers to participation in after‐school physical activities and related factors in Australian schoolchildren: A cross‐sectional study
Author(s) -
Lazarowicz Andrew,
O’Hara Rebecca L.,
Broder Jonathan C.,
Grunberg Diana M. S.,
Gasevic Danijela
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1002/hpja.441
Subject(s) - cross sectional study , public health , population health , health economics , environmental health , physical activity , medicine , community health , health promotion , psychology , gerontology , nursing , physical therapy , pathology
Abstract Introduction This study investigated the gender differences in reported barriers to participation in after‐school physical activity (PA) and related health and socio‐behavioural factors in Australian schoolchildren. Methods 5001 students aged 10 to 16 years completed the health and well‐being survey in 2014 indicating that they would like to participate in after‐school PA. Negative binomial regression models, stratified by gender, tested the relationship of age, reported health, junk food, participation in leisure PA, TV watching, weight status and socio‐economic index for area score (related factors) with the total number of barriers. Results Girls were more likely to report a greater number of barriers to participation in after‐school PA than boys ( P < .05). Older age was associated with a higher number of barriers in girls (B(95% CI) = 1.061 (1.032, 1.090)) but not in boys. In both boys and girls, being overweight (boys: very overweight (1.367 (1.081, 1.730)); girls: slightly overweight (1.186 (1.100, 1.278)) or very overweight (1.414 (1.197, 1.667))), compared to students who reported “being about the right weight,” was associated with a greater number of barriers. Schoolchildren who reported less than excellent health status perceived a greater number of barriers to after‐school PA (girls: good (1.141 (1.060, 1.228)), fair (1.189 (1.070, 1.321)) and poor health (1.329 (1.093, 1.614)); boys: good health (1.166 (1.0728, 1.267))). Conclusions There are gender differences in barriers to participation in after‐school PA; these should be taken into account when developing programs to increase schoolchildren's after‐school PA. So what The prevalence of physical inactivity in Australian adolescents is staggering. We observed that girls reported a greater number of barriers to participation in after‐school PA than boys; and being overweight and reporting poorer overall health were associated with a greater number of barriers. Affordable, gender‐ and age‐specific after‐school PA programs suitable for schoolchildren of all body shapes and sizes and all abilities are needed.