G5 Doctoral dissertation (article)
Physical activity patterns from adolescence to young adulthood : their characteristics and relationship with cardiometabolic health (2024)
Liikkumisen muutos ja pysyvyys nuoruudesta nuoreen aikuisuuteen: selittävät tekijät ja yhteydet kardiometabolisiin riskitekijöihin


Aira, T. (2024). Physical activity patterns from adolescence to young adulthood : their characteristics and relationship with cardiometabolic health [Doctoral dissertation]. University of Jyväskylä. JYU Dissertations, 790. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-86-0178-4


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Aira, Tuula

eISBN: 978-952-86-0178-4

Journal or series: JYU Dissertations

eISSN: 2489-9003

Publication year: 2024

Number in series: 790

Number of pages in the book: 1 verkkoaineisto (115 sivua, 35 sivua useina numerointijaksoina, 3 numeroimatonta sivua)

Publisher: University of Jyväskylä

Place of Publication: Jyväskylä

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: English

Persistent website address: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-86-0178-4

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel


Abstract

The decline in physical activity (PA) from adolescence to young adulthood is well established. However, while some groups of adolescents follow the general pattern of decreased activity, others increase or maintain high or low activity. The correlates of different longitudinal PA patterns may vary, as may the health outcomes, offering valuable information for targeted health promotion. This study examined how demographics, psychosocial factors, health behaviours, PA domains, and sedentary time are associated with longitudinal PA patterns from adolescence to young adulthood. It also explored the relations between PA patterns and the development in cardiometabolic risk factors.
The cohort study data consisted of 254 Finns participating in the Diverging paths in physical activity and sports participation: Health Promoting Sports Club (HPSC) cohort study at ages 15 and 19. The data were collected by questionnaires, accelerometry, and laboratory measurements, and a data-driven method was used to identify the longitudinal PA patterns.
There was large variation in PA development between ages 15 and 19. The PA patterns included two decreasing PA patterns, as well as activity maintainers, inactivity maintainers, and a small group of PA increasers. Sports club participation was associated with maintained PA, whereas sustained passive commuting was associated with maintained inactivity. Communication difficulties with one’s father and lower fruit and vegetable consumption were related to decreased PA from moderate to low and maintained inactivity. Adolescents who decreased their activity from moderate to low also had a higher prevalence of smoking as young adults. Favourable blood pressure changes were found among PA increasers. Unfavourable changes in body mass index, insulin, glucose, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were found in groups with decreasing PA.
Decreasing PA is associated with unfavourable changes in cardiometabolic risk factors already in adolescence. Due to the large variation in PA development and related correlates, targeted health promotion is needed. Sports clubs have an important role in maintaining PA. Health promotion that does not directly involve PA (e.g. via support for open communication between adolescents and their fathers) may provide opportunities to promote PA.


Keywords: physical activity; health behaviour; change; young people; young adults; risk factors; health; psychosocial factors; sports clubs; doctoral dissertations

Free keywords:  cardiometabolic risk factors; psychosocial factors; sports


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Last updated on 2024-21-05 at 16:13