Correlates of physical activity among Australian Indigenous and non‐Indigenous adolescents

Objective: Physical inactivity is an important modifiable cause of the excess burden of disease among Indigenous Australians. We describe physical activity patterns and influencing factors, comparing Indigenous and non‐Indigenous adolescents. Methods: Indigenous (n=359) and non‐Indigenous (n=637) adolescents aged 13–17 years from disadvantaged New South Wales regions completed a health and lifestyle survey. Socio‐demographic, social, psychosocial and health correlates of out of school physical activity (high vs. low) among the whole sample, and stratified by Indigenous status were examined. Results: Only 21% of Indigenous and 28% of non‐Indigenous adolescents achieved higher levels of physical activity. Overall, higher levels were associated with being male; sports team membership; lower levels of TV viewing time and having an employed mother. Indigenous girls were less active than boys (OR=0.36; 85%CI=0.24–0.54), as were those whose mothers were unemployed (OR=0.66; 95%CI=0.40–1.09). Among non‐Indigenous adolescents, high levels of physical activity were associated with sports team membership (OR=2.28; 95%CI=1.39–3.74) and community involvement (OR=1.46; 95%CI=1.04–2.06). Conclusions: Physical activity levels were similarly low among disadvantaged Indigenous and non‐Indigenous adolescents. Some influencing factors existed across the whole sample; others in stratification by Indigenous status. Implications for public health: Early and targeted, supportive approaches are necessary. Some apply to disadvantaged adolescents broadly; others are Indigenous or non‐Indigenous specific.