Contextual factors influencing leisure physical activity of urbanized indigenous adolescents

Feng-En Lo; Feng-Chou Tsai; Ming-Been Lee; Liang-Ting Tsai; Shu-Yu Lyu; Chih-Chien Yang

doi:10.1016/j.jfma.2014.03.014

Contextual factors influencing leisure physical activity of urbanized indigenous adolescents

J Formos Med Assoc. 2015 Nov;114(11):1082-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jfma.2014.03.014. Epub 2014 Apr 29.

Authors

Feng-En Lo¹, Feng-Chou Tsai², Ming-Been Lee³, Liang-Ting Tsai⁴, Shu-Yu Lyu⁵, Chih-Chien Yang⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Leisure and Recreation Management, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
² Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
³ Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁴ Indigenous Health and Preventive Medicine Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Educational Measurement and Statistics, National Taichung University of Education, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁵ Indigenous Health and Preventive Medicine Research Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Public Health, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: sylyu@tmu.edu.tw.
⁶ Graduate Institute of Educational Measurement and Statistics, National Taichung University of Education, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: noahyang@ntcu.edu.tw.

PMID: 24795217
DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2014.03.014

Abstract

Background/purpose: Indigenous populations suffer from disparities in socioeconomic resources and health status. One approach to addressing these disparities is by targeting modifiable risk factors such as leisure physical activity (LPA). This study investigated and compared factors related to LPA among urbanized indigenous and nonindigenous adolescent students.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey comprised fifth to ninth grade indigenous and nonindigenous students (n = 733). The nonindigenous students were matched with indigenous students on sex and academic achievement and used as a reference group. Data were collected through telephone interviews using structured questionnaires. Major items included: demographic characteristics; average time spent watching television per bout; participation in LPA; and stress and depression experiences.

Results: With the exception of the duration of television watching per bout, Chi-square and independent t tests demonstrated that there were no significant differences between indigenous and nonindigenous adolescents in the selected LPA-related factors. Multiple logistic regression analysis including terms investigating interaction between ethnicity and the contextual factors included in this study indicated that the following factors were correlated with LPA participation: age [odds ratio (OR) = 0.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.71-0.94], male sex (OR = 1.77, 95%CI = 1.19-2.61), total hours spent watching television in the past 2 weeks (OR = 0.79, 95%CI = 0.63-0.99), life satisfaction (OR = 2.25, 95%CI = 1.04-4.90), and exercise enjoyment (OR = 3.40, 95%CI = 1.71-6.74). However, neither indigenous status (OR = 1.03, 95%CI = 0.19-5.79) nor any of the interaction terms reached the significant level.

Conclusion: No significant ethnic differences were found in LPA participation. LPA was significantly correlated with age, male sex, total time spent watching television, life satisfaction, and enjoyment of exercise.

Keywords: adolescents; indigenous peoples; leisure; physical activity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise*
Female
Humans
Leisure Activities*
Logistic Models
Male
Odds Ratio
Population Groups / ethnology*
Risk Factors
Sex Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires
Taiwan / ethnology
Television / statistics & numerical data*
Time Factors
Urban Population*