Determining gender differences in adolescent physical activity levels using IPAQ long form and pedometers

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Health
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Adolescent girls exhibit lower physical activity (PA) levels compared to boys, necessitating interventions to address this health disparity.
• Existing health and education policies recognize the importance of overcoming gender differences in PA for overall well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a 4-week pedometer-based monitoring intervention on physical activity levels in adolescent girls and boys.
• To determine if the intervention could reduce or eliminate gender-based differences in daily step counts and activity patterns.

Main Methods:

• A 4-week intervention involving pedometers, motivational brochures, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was implemented in 14 schools.
• Participants included 275 girls and 220 boys, randomly assigned to intervention and control groups.
• IPAQ was administered pre- and post-intervention to assess physical activity levels and daily step counts.

Main Results:

• The intervention successfully eliminated the overall difference in physical activity between adolescent girls and boys.
• A significant difference in PA between school days and weekend days among girls was also eliminated post-intervention.
• While boys showed more steps on school days than weekends, girls increased their activity during the week following the intervention.

Conclusions:

• A 4-week intervention using pedometers, motivational materials, and an internet program effectively increased physical activity in adolescent girls.
• The intervention proved more effective in supporting sustained physical activity among girls compared to boys.
• These findings highlight the potential of targeted interventions to promote active lifestyles and reduce gender disparities in adolescent physical activity.