ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo investigate the association between physical activity (PA), sedentary level and exercise self-efficacy for adolescents with visual impairment, and impacts of gender, age, body mass index (BMI), degree of visual impairment and exercise self-efficacy on PA. MethodsFrom October to December, 2022, 79 students aged 13 to 18 years with visual impairment from Nanjing School for the Blind were measured PA and sedentary level with accelerometer. The average percentage of daily sedentary time (ST), light physical activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were recorded. The students fininshed the Exercise Self-Efficacy Questionnaire with the help of teachers, and their height and body mass was measured. ResultsThe average percentage of daily LPA, MVPA and ST was (15.45±5.99)%, (4.55±2.15)% and (80.00±6.99)%, respectively. Compared with the girls, the boys spent more time in LPA (F = 5.330, P < 0.05) and less in ST (F = 5.760, P < 0.05). Compared with students aged 16 to 18 years, those aged 13 to 15 years spent more time in MVPA (F = 11.292, P < 0.001) and less in ST (F = 8.279, P < 0.01). The score of exercise self-efficacy correlated with ST, LPA, MVPA and age (|r| > 0.254, P < 0.05). The result of multiple linear regression showed that the exercise self-efficacy (β = 0.224) and age (β = -0.495) were the independently factors related with MVPA, which explained 34.7% of MVPA variation. ConclusionAdolescents with visual impairment aged 13 to 18 years spend more time in sedentary, and their PA level is very low. Improvement of exercise self-efficacy may help to improve PA level of them.