A1 Journal article (refereed)
Individual- and environmental-related correlates of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old Finnish children (2020)

Mehtälä, A., Villberg, J., Blomqvist, M., Huotari, P., Jaakkola, T., Koski, P., Lintunen, T., Mononen, K., Ng, K., Palomäki, S., Sääkslahti, A., Tammelin, T., Vasankari, T., & Kokko, S. (2020). Individual- and environmental-related correlates of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old Finnish children. PLoS ONE, 15(6), Article e0234686. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234686

The research was funded by Strategic Research Council at the Research Council of Finland.

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Mehtälä, Anette; Villberg, Jari; Blomqvist, Minna; Huotari, Pertti; Jaakkola, Timo; Koski, Pasi; Lintunen, Taru; Mononen, Kaisu; Ng, Kwok; Palomäki, Sanna; et al.

Journal or series: PLoS ONE

eISSN: 1932-6203

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 15

Issue number: 6

Article number: e0234686

Publisher: Public Library of Science

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234686

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/70922

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the associations of various individual- and environmental-related factors with subgroups of daily, frequent, moderate and low moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among children and adolescents. Data were obtained from the Finnish School-age Physical Activity (FSPA) study 2016 from 4677 national representative 11-, 13-, and 15-year-old children and adolescents. MVPA and individual- and environmental-related factors were assessed by a questionnaire and analyzed by two-level logistic regression. Seventeen of the twenty-one variables were statistically significantly associated with MVPA. However, only three variables were statistically significant in all MVPA subgroups, whereby self-directed PA at least twice a week, fewer perceived barriers, and higher peer support increased the odds of participating in more MVPA. The results from this study showed essential differences among the MVPA subgroups, also supporting previous findings, whereby various individual- and environmental-based factors are associated with children and adolescents’ levels of MVPA. Challenges to designing and implementing effective interventions are based on the need to account for individual differences within the population, as well as the varied connections between PA with different social and physical environments where children and adolescents’ PA takes place. PA interventions with various actions at multiple levels are warranted.

Keywords: children (age groups); young people; schools (educational institutions); physical training; physical activity; sports

Free keywords: adolescents; schools; children; exercise; physical activity; sports; behavior; transportation

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Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2020

JUFO rating: 1