Ecological correlates of physical activity in youth: Importance of parents, friends, physical education teachers and geographical localization

摘要

Understanding the social and environmental factors that influence physical activity (PA) is important in the development of effective interventions to increase adolescents' PA behaviour. The aims of this study were to test if adolescents' PA was related to (a) their own perceived competence and values, (b) some behaviours of their mother, father, friends, and PE teachers, and (c) the type of environment (urban, suburban or rural) they live in. Participants in the study werel,272 adolescents (Mean age = 13.5, SD = .7).Results indicated that perceived competence and values positively predicted PA at the personal level. At the social level, the influence of fathers and friends positively affected perceived competence and values, whereas the effect of the physical education teachers was negative and no effect of mothers was found. No effect at the environmental level was found.