Perception of square and park characteristics and physical activity practice among High School students

  • Arieli Dias Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • Caroline Brand Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • Vanilson Lemes Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • Anelise Gaya Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • Adroaldo Gaya Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Palavras-chave: Adolescents, Public Health, Physical Activity

Resumo

This study aimed to investigate the association between perception of square/park characteristics (infrastructure, conservation, esthetics, safety, distance from residence, and access) and physical activity among High School students of the public network. It is an association study with a quantitative approach and a random sample composed of 168 adolescents (40.3% of boys and 59.7% of girls), aged between 14 and 18 years, from 10 high schools located in the city of Passo Fundo, southern Brazil. Perception of square/park characteristics was assessed through six questions about the characteristics of the neighborhood where students live. Physical activity was measured by means of a question adopted in the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Data analysis was carried out through descriptive statistics, Pearson’s chi-square test and Poisson regression. The regression results showed that students who answered that the square/park is not far from their home had a prevalence ratio of 2.29 (CI: 1.25-8.56) times of being physically active. In the best model, adjusted for sex and socioeconomic level, the prevalence ratio increased to 2.82 (CI: 1.31-11.22). Therefore, the study showed that the perceived distance between the square/park and the adolescents’ home influences physical activity practice, and students who reported that the square/park was not far from their home were more likely to be physically active.

Biografia do Autor

Arieli Dias, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Faculdade de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Dança. Grupo de Pesquisa Projeto Esporte Brasil (PROESP-Br)
Caroline Brand, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Faculdade de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Dança. Grupo de Pesquisa Projeto Esporte Brasil (PROESP-Br)
Vanilson Lemes, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Faculdade de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Dança. Grupo de Pesquisa Projeto Esporte Brasil (PROESP-Br)
Anelise Gaya, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Faculdade de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Dança. Grupo de Pesquisa Projeto Esporte Brasil (PROESP-Br)
Adroaldo Gaya, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Faculdade de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Dança. Grupo de Pesquisa Projeto Esporte Brasil (PROESP-Br)
Publicado
2017-03-01
Seção
Artigos Originais