The inter‐relatedness and demographic predictors of physical activity, self‐rated health, and mental well‐being: A three‐wave study in secondary school children. Issue 1 (15th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Donnelly, Paul; Healy, Colm; Paradis, Kyle; Horgan, Peter; McKay, Michael T.
• Is Part Of: Journal of adolescence. Volume 95:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 157
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2022-11-15
• Subjects: physical activity -- self‐rated health -- mental well‐being -- secondary school age; Adolescent psychiatry -- Periodicals; Adolescent psychology -- Periodicals; Adolescence -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 305.23505
• DOI: 10.1002/jad.12106
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-1971

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: The World Health Organisation recommends that children and adolescents engage in at least 60 min of moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity per day. Previous research has shown that physical activity is related to other constructs such as mental well‐being and self‐rated health. This study examined the inter‐relatedness of these constructs in Northern Irish school children. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of data gathered as part of a longitudinal study. Participants were n = 1791 adolescents in their final years of secondary (high) school (age range 15–18; female = 64.6%). Data were gathered on three occasions over a 2‐year period on self‐rated health, physical activity, mental well‐being, heavy episodic drinking, lifetime smoking, psychological and somatic symptoms, as well as a range of socio‐demographic measures. Results: Descriptive results showed extremely low levels of self‐reported physical activity within the past week, with <6% of the sample attaining the WHO guidelines at each wave of data collection. There were significant gender differences on all variables assessed. Results further showed a small‐sized relationship (statistically significant for girls only) between physical activity and mental well‐being. There was also a small‐sized relationship between physical activity and self‐rated health. Notably, effect sizes for the relationship between self‐rated health and both physical activity and mental well‐being were higher. In terms of socio‐demographic predictors of lower physical activity, being female, lifetime cigarette smoking, and higher somatic and psychological symptoms were all statistically significant factors. Conclusion: Self‐rated health emerged as the most important predictor of physical activity among adolescents.