marks-friendshipnetwork-2015.pdf (2.7 MB)
Friendship network characteristics are associated with physical activity and sedentary behavior in early adolescence
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posted on 2015-01-01, 00:00 authored by Jennifer Marks, K de la Haye, Lisa BarnettLisa Barnett, Steven AllenderSteven AllenderINTRODUCTION: There is limited understanding of the association between peer social networks and physical activity (PA), sedentary and screen-related behaviors. This study reports on associations between personal network characteristics and these important health behaviors for early adolescents. METHODS: Participants were 310 students, aged 11-13 years, from fifteen randomly selected Victorian primary schools (43% response rate). PA and sedentary behaviors were collected via accelerometer and self-report questionnaire, and anthropometric measures via trained researchers. Participants nominated up to fifteen friends, and described the frequency of interaction and perceived activity intensity of these friends. Personal network predictors were examined using regression modelling for PA and sedentary/screen behavior. RESULTS: Perceived activity levels of friends, and friendships with very frequent interaction were associated with outside-of-school PA and/or sedentary/screen time. Differences according to sex were also observed in the association between network characteristics and PA and sedentary time. A higher number of friends and greater proportion of same sex friends were associated with boys engaging in more moderate-to-vigorous PA outside of school hours. PA intensity during school-day breaks was positively associated with having a greater proportion of friends who played sports for girls, and a greater proportion of male friends for boys. CONCLUSION: Friendship network characteristics are associated with PA and sedentary/screen time in late childhood/early adolescence, and these associations differ by sex. The positive influence of very active peers may be a promising avenue to strengthen traditional interventions for the promotion of PA and reduction in screen time.
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Journal
PLoS OneVolume
10Issue
12Season
Article Number : e0145344Article number
e0145344Pagination
1 - 15Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLOS)Location
San Francisco, Calif.Publisher DOI
eISSN
1932-6203Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2015, Public Library of Science (PLoS)Usage metrics
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