Role of individual and school factors in physical activity patterns of secondary-level Spanish students

While the importance of individual and school factors as correlates of overall youth physical activity has been demonstrated by previous research, less is known about the relationship of these factors with specific patterns of physical activity during adolescence. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the association of selected individual and school factors with patterns of physical activity based on a sum index of physical activity in a population-based sample of Spanish adolescents.

One thousand and eighty-four students aged 12 to 17 years completed a self-report survey once during school hours. In addition to participation in physical activity outside of school hours, the following variables were included in the analysis: gender, age, weight status, physical self-perceptions, evaluation of the school physical education experience, and type of school (public vs private). Multinomial logistic regression was used to model the associations among the variables and to calculate odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each pattern of physical activity.

The physical self-perceptions variable was the most consistent individual correlate of physical activity across participation patterns (ORs ranging from 4.29 to 1.88, CIs ranging from 2.16-8.54 to 1.10-3.21). Regarding the school variables included in this study, both were linked with participation in physical activity, but evaluation of the physical education experience showed the most consistent associations across activity patterns (ORs 2.49-2.17, CIs 1.49-4.15 to 1.25-3.74).

Physical education programs may benefit adolescents with different physical activity participation preferences regardless of important individual characteristics and broader school factors.