Exploring Context-Specific Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Patterns Among Youth Enrolled in Kansas 4-H Programming

Le résumé fourni par la source

Understanding how physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) vary by age, gender, and geographic context is essential to inform targeted public health strategies. This study characterized context-specific patterns of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and SB among Kansas youth participating in 4-H programming. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by a convenience sample of 796 Kansas youth (Grades 3-12; 53% female; 70% rural; 94% White) enrolled in 4-H. Youth, independently or with a parent, completed the Youth Activity Profile to estimate MVPA and SB across six contexts: average daily, weekday, weekend, school-, and home-based MVPA, and home-based SB. Linear regression models were computed for each outcome, with three-way interactions between gender, grade, and rurality. Participants averaged 67.6 minutes of daily MVPA and 4.2 hours of home-based SB, with similar MVPA levels on weekdays and weekends (66.4 vs. 70.5 minutes/day). Significant main effects of grade and gender were found across all MVPA and SB outcomes (all p’s < .05), with MVPA declining by grade and consistently lower among girls. Significant grade-by-rurality interactions were observed for weekday (B = -1.18, SE = 0.58, p = .04) and school-based MVPA (B = -0.90, SE = 0.44, p = .04), indicating steeper age-related declines among urban youth. No other interactions were statistically significant (all p’s > .05). While average MVPA levels met recommendations, steep age-related declines and persistent gender disparities – especially among high school girls – highlight the need for developmentally appropriate, gender-responsive PA promotion strategies. Programs like 4-H may offer scalable, context-specific PA opportunities to support youth at greatest risk of inactivity-related health consequences.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.