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An examination of school- and student-level characteristics associated with the likelihood of students’ meeting the Canadian physical activity guidelines in the COMPASS study

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine school- and student-level correlates of physical activity.

METHODS: Cross-sectional Year 2 data collected from 45 298 grade 9-12 students attending 89 secondary schools in the COMPASS study were examined using multi-level modelling to predict the likelihood of students a) achieving 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily; and b) achieving the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) activity guideline for youth (60 minutes/MVPA daily, vigorous physical activity at least three days in a week, and resistance training at least three days in a week).

RESULTS: The prevalence of students achieving 60 minutes of MVPA daily and meeting the CSEP guideline was 49.3% and 31.0% respectively. Modest between-school variability was identified (1.1% for 60 minutes MVPA and 0.8% for CSEP guideline). School-level characteristics significantly associated with the outcome measures included location, school size, quality of facilities, and accessibility of facilities. Significant student-level correlates included sex, grade, weekly income, binge drinking, fruit and vegetable consumption, and body mass index.

CONCLUSIONS: Most youth in this large study reported inadequate physical activity levels. Students were more likely to achieve 60 minutes of MVPA if they attended a larger school or a school in an urban location, whereas students were less likely to meet the CSEP guideline if they attended a school in a small urban location. However, student-level factors, such as binge drinking and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, were more strongly associated with the outcomes examined.

Résumé

OBJECTIFS : Examiner les corrélats de l’activité physique au niveau des établissements scolaires et des élèves.

MÉTHODE : Les données transversales de l’An 2 recueillies auprès de 45 298 élèves de la 9e à la 12e année fréquentant 89 écoles secondaires dans le cadre de l’étude COMPASS ont été examinées par modélisation à niveaux multiples pour prédire la vraisemblance que les élèves: a) accomplissent 60 minutes d’activité physique d’intensité modérée à élevée (APIME) par jour; et b) respectent les lignes directrices de la Société canadienne de physiologie de l’exercice (SCPE) pour l’activité des jeunes (60 minutes d’APIME par jour, activité physique vigoureuse au moins trois jours par semaine et entraînement contre résistance au moins trois jours par semaine).

RÉSULTATS : La prévalence de l’accomplissement de 60 minutes d’APIME par jour et du respect des lignes directrices de la SCPE chez les étudiants était de 49,3 % et de 31 %, respectivement. Des écarts mineurs d’une école à l’autre ont été observés (1,1 % pour les 60 minutes d’APIME et 0,8 % pour les lignes directrices de la SCPE). Les caractéristiques des écoles présentant une corrélation significative avec les indicateurs de résultat étaient l’emplacement, la taille de l’école, la qualité des installations et l’accessibilité des installations. Les corrélations significatives pour les élèves étaient le sexe, la classe, le revenu hebdomadaire, les excès occasionnels d’alcool, la consommation de fruits et légumes et l’indice de masse corporelle.

CONCLUSIONS : La plupart des jeunes de cette vaste étude ont fait état de niveaux d’activité physique insuffisants. Les élèves étaient plus susceptibles d’accomplir 60 minutes d’APIME s’ils fréquentaient une grosse école ou une école en milieu urbain, mais les élèves étaient moins susceptibles de respecter les lignes directrices de la SCPE s’ils fréquentaient une petite école en milieu urbain. Toutefois, les facteurs propres aux élèves, comme les excès occasionnels d’alcool et la consommation insuffisante de fruits et légumes, étaient plus fortement associés aux résultats examinés.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada

    Amanda Harvey MSc & Scott T. Leatherdale PhD

  2. School of Kinesiology, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Guy Faulkner PhD

  3. Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Lora Giangregorio PhD

Authors
  1. Amanda Harvey MSc
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  2. Guy Faulkner PhD
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  3. Lora Giangregorio PhD
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  4. Scott T. Leatherdale PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Scott T. Leatherdale PhD.

Additional information

Acknowledgements: The COMPASS study was supported by a bridge grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes through the “Obesity–Interventions to Prevent or Treat” priority funding awards (OOP-110788; grant awarded to Scott Leatherdale) and an operating grant from the CIHR Institute of Population and Public Health (MOP-114875; grant awarded to Scott Leatherdale). Drs. Leatherdale and Faulkner are both CIHR-PHAC (Public Health Agency of Canada) Chairs in Applied Health Research.

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Harvey, A., Faulkner, G., Giangregorio, L. et al. An examination of school- and student-level characteristics associated with the likelihood of students’ meeting the Canadian physical activity guidelines in the COMPASS study. Can J Public Health 108, 348–354 (2017). https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.108.5925

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.108.5925

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