Gender differences in barriers to participation in after-school physical activities and related factors in Australian schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study

Andrew Lazarowicz, Rebecca L O’Hara, Jonathan C Broder, Diana MS Grunberg, Danijela Gasevic

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

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<0.05). 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 that 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 was associated with a greater number of barriers. Affordable, gender‐ and age‐specific after‐school PA programs suitable for schoolchildren of all sizes and abilities are needed.
Original languageEnglish
JournalHealth promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals
Early online date15 Nov 2020
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 15 Nov 2020

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