Environmental resources moderate the relationship between social support and school sports participation among adolescents: a cross-sectional analysis

• Main Authors: Schneider Margaret (Author), Graham Dan J (Author), Dickerson Sally S (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2011-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Most Americans are not active at recommended levels. Adolescence is a developmental period when physical activity (PA) decreases markedly.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study investigates whether access to environmental PA resources moderates the relationship between psychosocial resources (social support and perceived competence) and PA among 192 adolescents.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Environmental access to PA resources (determined via GIS-based assessment of the number of gyms, schools, trails, parks and athletic fields within 0.5 miles of each participant's home) moderated the association between social support and PA; among adolescents with high levels of environmental resources, greater social support was associated with students participating in a greater number of sports in school, whereas no such relationship emerged among adolescents with low environmental resources.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>PA-promotion interventions should aim to enhance <it>both </it>social and environmental resources; targeting either one alone may be insufficient.</p>

Item Description

10.1186/1479-5868-8-34
1479-5868