May 14, 2007 – Parents who rely solely on school to make their teens more active are wrong. In fact, they are the ones who have the greatest influence on the time their children allocate to physical activity, more than friends.
At least, this is the conclusion drawn by a student in educational sciences at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM). Catherine Gagnon, who interviewed a hundred students from first to third secondary on this subject, presented her results within the framework of the ACFAS congress.1.
73% of students responded that their parents have the most influence on the time they spend in physical activity. Parents come first ahead of friends who were cited by 70% of respondents.
But when teenagers are asked who, in their entourage, least encourages them to move, 15% name their friends, and 5.5% their parents. “Friends therefore have a role three times greater in the decision not to move,” observes the researcher.
Physical education teachers or sports coaches do not seem to have a great influence on the time spent in physical activity: they obtained only 6.4% of the responses.
To move more, 21% of young people say they need more time, and 17% more motivation. Over 35% say that it is homework and studies that interfere with physical activity.
The concern to improve physical appearance also encourages adolescents to exercise: this is the motivation of 65% of girls and 28% of boys.
Fifty percent of youth surveyed said they did 30 minutes of physical activity a day, several times a week. One in three respondents (34%) said they do this on a daily basis.
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. The 75e Congress of the Association francophone pour le savoir (ACFAS) took place from May 7 to 11, 2007, at the University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières. For more details: www.acfas.ca/congres [consulté le 11 mai 2007].
