Socioeconomic status moderates the association between perceived environment and active commuting to school

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To analyze the moderator effect of socioeconomic status in the association between the perceived environment and active commuting to school. METHODS: A total of 495 adolescents and their parents were interviewed. Perceived environment was operationalized in traffic and crime safety and assessed with the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale. Active commuting was self-reported by the adolescents, categorized in walking, bicycling or skating at least one time/week. Socioeconomic status was used as moderator effect, reported from adolescents' parents or guardians using Brazilian standardized socioeconomic status classification. Analyses were performed with Poisson regression on Stata 12.0. RESULTS: Prevalence of active commuting was 63%. Adolescents with low socioeconomic status who reported "it is easy to observe pedestrians and cyclists" were more likely to actively commute to school (PR = 1.18, 95%CI 1.03-1.13). Adolescents with low socioeconomic status whose parents or legal guardians reported positively to "being safe crossing the streets" had increased probability of active commuting to school (PR = 1.10, 95%CI 1.01-1.20), as well as those with high socioeconomic status with "perception of crime" were positively associated to the outcome (PR = 1.33, 95%CI 1.03-1.72). CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic status showed moderating effects in the association between the perceived environment and active commuting to school.

Autoeficácia e atividade física em adolescentes de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil / Self-efficacy and physical activity in adolescents in Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil / La autoeficacia y la actividad física en adolescentes de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil

Este trabalho teve o objetivo de analisar a associação entre atividade física e autoeficácia em adolescentes. Realizou-se um estudo inquérito de base escolar com 1.698 adolescentes de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil. A atividade física foi avaliada segundo frequência semanal (dias/semana) de prática de atividade física de intensidade moderada ou vigorosa. A autoeficácia foi analisada segundo a soma de uma escala composta por dez itens. A associação entre autoeficácia e atividade física foi testada pela regressão de Poisson (p < 0,05), estratificada por sexo. Entre os meninos, apenas elevada autoeficácia foi associada com todas as categorias de atividade física (p < 0,001), enquanto para as meninas níveis moderados e elevados de autoeficácia foram associados com todas as categorias de atividade física (p < 0,001). Conclui-se que a autoeficácia tem associação positiva com atividade física entre adolescentes, no entanto esta relação é mais consistente entre as meninas. Este é um aspecto importante para o delineamento de intervenções para a promoção de atividade física nesse grupo populacional.

This study aimed to examine the association between physical activity and self-efficacy in adolescents. A school-based survey was conducted with 1,698 adolescents from Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil. Physical activity was evaluated as weekly frequency (days per week) of moderate or vigorous physical activity. Self-efficacy was analyzed as the sum of a 10-item scale. The association between self-efficacy and physical activity was tested by Poisson regression (p < 0.05), stratified by gender. Among boys, only high self-efficacy was associated with all categories of physical activity (p < 0.001), while for girls moderate and high levels of self-efficacy were associated with all categories of physical activity (p < 0.001). In conclusion, self-efficacy showed a positive association with physical activity in adolescents, although the relationship was more consistent in girls. The finding is important for designing interventions to promote physical activity in this age group.

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la asociación entre la actividad física y la autoeficacia en adolescentes. Se realizó una investigación de base escolar, mediante una encuesta a 1.698 estudiantes adolescentes de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil. La actividad física se evaluó de acuerdo con la frecuencia semanal (días/semana) de práctica de actividad física con una intensidad moderada o elevada. La autoeficacia fue analizada conforme a la suma de puntos de una escala de 10 ítems. La asociación entre la autoeficacia y actividad física se probó mediante la regresión de Poisson (p < 0,05), estratificada por sexo. Para los adolescentes solamente una actividad física elevada presentó una asociación con todas las categorías de actividad física (p < 0,001), mientras que para las adolescentes unos niveles moderados y elevados de autoeficacia presentaron asociación con todas las categorías de actividad física (p < 0,001). Se concluye que la autoeficacia presenta una asociación positiva con la actividad física entre los adolescentes, sin embargo, esta relación es más consistente entre las adolescentes. Este es un aspecto importante para el diseño de intervenciones en salud, con el fin de promover la actividad física en este grupo de población.