Sports Participation and Leisure Activities in Brazilian Teens
Author Information
Author(s): Rômulo Araújo Fernandes, Ismael Forte Freitas Júnior, Jefferson Rosa Cardoso, Enio Ricardo Vaz Ronque, Mathias Roberto Loch, Arli Ramos de Oliveira
Primary Institution: Universidade Estadual de Londrina
Hypothesis
Higher participation in sports would be positively associated with an elevated frequency of other active behaviors during leisure time.
Conclusion
Regular participation in sports is positively associated with a higher frequency of physically active behaviors during leisure time, but does not decrease time spent on TV viewing.
Supporting Evidence
- The prevalence of regular participation in sports was 14.8%.
- Participation in sports was associated with higher frequencies of walking and cycling.
- No association was found between sports participation and TV viewing frequency.
Takeaway
Teens who play sports are more likely to be active in other ways, like walking or cycling, but playing sports doesn't mean they watch less TV.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study using questionnaires to assess sports participation and leisure time behaviors among Brazilian adolescents.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported data and the discrepancy in sample size calculation.
Limitations
The study measured only a fraction of physical activity and had a sample size calculation based on an assumed prevalence that was higher than observed.
Participant Demographics
812 males and 940 females, aged 11 to 17 years.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI [1.80–3.60] for cycling, [1.98–3.64] for walking
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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