ERIC Number: EJ699665
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Jun
Pages: 11
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0270-1367
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Tracking of Physical Activity in Adolescence
Anderssen, Norman; Wold, Bente; Torsheim, Torbjorn
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, v76 n2 p119-129 Jun 2005
The present analysis aimed to describe the degree of tracking of physical activity over an 8-year follow-up period among a cohort of 557 adolescents in western Norway (13 years of age at baseline). Frequency and time spent in leisure-time physical activity were assessed at ages 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19 and 21 years through self-report questionnaires. The cross-sectional results indicated that proportions of adolescents who were physically active declined from 13 to 19 years of age and increased slightly from 19 to 21 years of age. Longitudinally, various measures indicated a weak degree of tracking of physical activity (Pearson's range was .22 for boys and .18 for girls across the 8-year period). The least active persons during early adolescence were those least likely to change during their teenage years. In sum, the findings indicated a weak tendency of tracking of physical activity through adolescence.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Adolescents, Physical Activities, Leisure Time, Health Behavior, Physical Activity Level, Longitudinal Studies, Early Adolescents, Life Style, Public Health, Evaluation Methods, Data Collection
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 1900 Association Dr., Reston, VA 20191-1598. Web site: http://www.aahperd.org.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Norway
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A