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Mapping the social and physical contexts of physical activity across adolescence using ecological momentary assessment

  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background: Research has sought to understand how environmental factors influence adolescent physical activity, yet little is known about where and with whom adolescents are physically active.Purpose: This study used electronic ecological momentary assessment (e.EMA) to map the social and physical contexts of exercise and walking across adolescence. Differences in physical activity contexts by gender, grade in school, day of the week, and season were examined.Methods: Twice a year between 9th and 12th grade, 502 adolescents (51% female) of mixed ethnicity (55% White) participated in 4-day e.EMA intervals (Thursday-Sunday) where their primary activity (e.g., exercise, TV, homework), social company (e.g., friends, family, class), and physical location (e.g., home, school, outdoors) were assessed every 30 (±10) min during waking hours.Results: Overall, greater proportions of exercise and walking were reported with friends, outdoors, and at school. However, boys were more likely to report exercising and walking in outdoor locations than girls. Exercising with classmates, family, and at school decreased across high school. Walking with family, friends, and outdoors also decreased. On weekdays compared to weekends, students reported a greater proportion of their exercise and walking at school. Students were more likely to report exercising and walking outdoors in the fall and the spring than in the winter.Conclusion: e.EMA showed that the social and physical contexts of adolescent exercise and walking vary as a function of gender, grade in school, day of the week, and season. Understanding the contexts of physical activity during the high school years can be helpful in designing interventions during adolescence.

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Author notes

  1. Carol K. Whalen Ph.D.

    Present address: Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 3340 Social Ecology II, 92697, Irvine, CA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine, 3340 Social Ecology II, 92697, Irvine, CA

    Genevieve Fridlund Dunton Ph.D., Larry D. Jamner Ph.D. & Josh N. Floro M.A.

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  1. Genevieve Fridlund Dunton Ph.D.
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  2. Carol K. Whalen Ph.D.
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  3. Larry D. Jamner Ph.D.
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  4. Josh N. Floro M.A.
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Additional information

Research was supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute (CA 1 RO1 080301), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (TTURC; CA 1P50 84723), and the California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (DRT-0255).

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Dunton, G.F., Whalen, C.K., Jamner, L.D. et al. Mapping the social and physical contexts of physical activity across adolescence using ecological momentary assessment. ann. behav. med. 34, 144–153 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02872669

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