Physical activity and sedentary behaviors and health-related quality of life in adolescents

Bamini Gopinath, Louise L. Hardy, Louise A. Baur, George Burlutsky, Paul Mitchell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

152 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to assess cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between physical activity and sedentary behaviors (television viewing, computer and video-game usage, and reading) with health-related QoL.

METHODS: Of 2353 children surveyed (median age: 12.7 years), 1216 were resurveyed 5 years later, and 475 were newly recruited into the study (N = 1691). Children completed detailed activity questionnaires. Health-related QoL was assessed by using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL).

RESULTS: Cross-sectionally, after multivariable adjustment, adolescents in the highest versus lowest tertile of time spent in outdoor physical activity and television viewing had a higher (Ptrend = .001) and lower (Ptrend = .0003) total PedsQL score, respectively. Adolescents who remained in the highest tertiles compared with those in the lowest tertiles of total physical activity over the 5 years had significantly higher scores in the following areas: total (Ptrend = .04), physical summary (Ptrend = .0001), and social (Ptrend = .02) domains. Conversely, those in the highest versus lowest tertile of screen-viewing time during follow-up reported significantly lower values in the following areas: total score (6.34-unit difference), physical summary (4.86-unit difference), psychosocial summary (7.09-unit difference), and emotional (8.33-unit difference) and school (9.78-unit difference) domains.

CONCLUSIONS: Regular physical activity over the long-term was associated with higher perceived health-related QoL among adolescents. Conversely, lower PedsQL scores were observed among those who spent the most time in screen-viewing activities. Improved understanding of these relationships could help in developing interventions to promote general well-being among adolescents.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e167-e174
Number of pages10
JournalPediatrics
Volume130
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • adolescents
  • physical activity
  • quality of life
  • screen time
  • Sydney Childhood Eye Study

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