Comparative analysis of the intention to change behavior in adolescents for the practice of regular physical leisure

Abstract

Despite the wide dissemination by the media of the many deleterious effects of physical inactivity during leisure time, a growing percentage of the population that is in this context, particularly from adolescence on. To try to understand this phenomenon, several studies have adopted the assumptions of theories of human behavior, among them the Transtheoretical Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior. To identify the factors and conditions for the practice of these activities, the objective of this study was intended to change behavior in adolescents enrolled in high school to the practice of regular physical leisure using the assumptions of these two theories. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 416 adolescents belonging to high schools in the cities of Belo Horizonte and Contagem / MG, with a mean age of 16.4 years (SD + 1.2 years), the composite sample for 47.4% of boys, 52.6% girls, 66.6% of students classified in socioeconomic classes A/B, and 33.4% increase in C/D. We investigated sociodemographic, stages of change in behavior and attitude, through a questionnaire. The analysis was done using descriptive statistics and parametric (one-way ANOVA and logistic regression), with p < 0.05. The results show that 56,9% of students are generally inactive during leisure time (36.5% of girls and 20.4% of boys 36.1% of class A / B and 20.9% for Class C/D). The analysis of the components of the Theory of Planned Behavior to verify adherence to regular physical activity for leisure, showed the following characteristics: Attitude - only the variable stage of behavior change was statistically significantly different, however, of little importance in practical terms, subjective standards - variables, socioeconomic status, sex and stage of behavior change is not statistically different; Perceived control - the sex and stage of behavior change, showed statistically significant differences, however, of little relevance in practice. It is concluded that the research context most teenagers are inactive during leisure time, and as for the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior, sex, attitude and perceived control are the most important factors to rate the level of regular physical activity and leisure, and social variables (socioeconomic status and subjective norm), at least on these particularly measures, are of little importance in predicting the intention to change behavior to practice these activities.