DO BOYS AND GIRLS SHARE THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS WHEN THEY ARE EQUALLY CLASSIFIED AS ACTIVE OR INACTIVE?

Abstract

Adilson Marques, João Martins, Miguel Peralta, Francisco Carreiro da Costa and Maurice Piéron

Participation in regular physical activity in young ages is associated with health benefits. Understanding the correlated factors of physical activity is essential for the development and improvement of public health intervention. The aim of this study was to compare boys and girls when they are classified as active or inactive. A survey was conducted with 2580 adolescents (mean age 13.2 ± 2.4, boys n = 1310, girls n = 1270). Subjects completed measures of physical activity, perception of competence and health, dispositional achievement goals, attitudes, and perception of parents’ physical activity. Several cluster analysis by variables were performed. The resemblance of genders when they are equally classified as active or inactive was remarkable, suggesting that the correlation of participation in physical activity is generally similar for boys and girls, mainly at the ages of 10-12 years. Family, peers, and physical self-perception are important factors that contribute to youth participation in physical activity in both genders.