Friendship Groups and Physical Activity in Children
Author Information
Author(s): Russell Jago, Rowan Brockman, Kenneth R Fox, Kim Cartwright, Angie S Page, Janice L Thompson
Primary Institution: University of Bristol
Hypothesis
Do friendship groups influence the initiation and maintenance of physical activity among 10–11 year old children?
Conclusion
Friendship groups affect both the initiation and maintenance of youth physical activity.
Supporting Evidence
- Children reported having multiple friendship groups that influenced their physical activity.
- Physical activity was linked to social status among boys, while girls had a more complex relationship.
- Friends provided support through co-participation, modeling, and verbal encouragement to engage in physical activity.
Takeaway
Kids like to play and be active with their friends, and having different groups of friends helps them stay active and have fun.
Methodology
Seventeen focus groups were conducted with 113 children from 11 primary schools, discussing friendship groups and physical activity.
Potential Biases
Qualitative data interpretation may be subjective, though efforts were made to minimize this.
Limitations
The study may not represent all children as it only included those attending school during data collection and did not account for ethnic diversity.
Participant Demographics
52% female, participants aged 10-11 from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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