The relationship between body image, physical activity, perceived health, and behavioural regulation among Year 7 and Year 11 girls from metropolitan and rural Australia
- Authors: Symons, Caroline , Polman, Remco , Moore, Melisa , Borkholes, Erika , Eime, Rochelle , Harvey, Jack , Craike, Melinda , Banting, Lauren , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Annals of Leisure Research Vol. 16, no. 2 (2013), p. 115-129
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study examined the relationship between educational year level, regional differences in adolescent girls' body image perceptions, body mass index (BMI), physical activity (PA) level, self-reported health, and dietary behaviour. Also, the role of PA behavioural regulation on body image was examined. The sample (N=732; Year 7 aged 12.23 years and Year 11 aged 16.18 years) included girls in Year 7 (n=489) and in Year 11 (n=243), recruited from 17 metropolitan and 14 rural schools in Victoria, Australia. Girls completed a self-report questionnaire. Novel outcomes from this study revealed year level and region differences in girls' body image perceptions, BMI, and health behaviours. Body dissatisfaction was associated with poorer perceived health, and health behaviours, such as low PA levels and dieting and external PA motivational orientation. Interventions are needed to promote positive body image and intrinsic motivation for PA to increase PA levels among adolescent girls living in metropolitan and rural regions of Australia.
A comparative study of factors influencing participation in sport and physical activity for metropolitan and rural female adolescents
- Authors: Craike, Melinda , Symons, Caroline , Eime, Rochelle , Payne, Warren , Harvey, Jack
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Annals of Leisure Research Vol. 14, no. 4 (2011), p. 355-368
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The aim of this research was to provide a comparative analysis of the influence of behavioural alternatives, autonomy, competence and relatedness on participation in sport and physical activity for female adolescents within metropolitan and rural settings. Eighteen focus groups were conducted with a cross section of schools within metropolitan Melbourne and rural Victoria, Australia, involving 12-13-year olds and 15-16-year olds, using a semi-structured format. Content and thematic analyses were conducted on the data. Findings supported the sport commitment model by demonstrating that, in both rural and metropolitan settings, participation was influenced by the strength of commitment to a range of behavioural alternatives. Our findings also extended self-determination theory by suggesting that autonomy, competence, and relatedness were interrelated and their strength and influence on participation varied between settings. This study also has practical implications, including the promotion of more inclusive and supportive sports environments for female adolescents and promoting sport and physical activities as activity that promotes wellness, complements academic endeavours and reduces the stress of academic study. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.