A grounded theory of how social support influences physical activity in adolescent girls

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Adolescent girls are not sufficiently active to achieve health benefits. Social support from friends and family has been positively associated with physical activity in adolescent girls; however it is unclear how social support influences physical activity behaviour. This study aimed to develop a grounded theory of how social support influences physical activity in adolescent girls. Methods: A qualitative, constructivist grounded theory approach was adopted. Individual interviews explored adolescent girls’ perspectives of how significant others’ influenced their physical activity through providing social support, and through modelling physical activity. Results: Participants perceived social support to influence physical activity behaviour through performance improvements, self-efficacy, enjoyment, motivation and by enabling physical activity. Improvements in performance and self-efficacy were also linked to motivation to be active. Girls perceived modelling to influence behaviour through providing opportunities for them to be physically active, and by inspiring them to be active. Conclusion: The grounded theory outlines adolescent girls’ perceptions of how significant others influence their physical activity and provides a framework for future research examining the role of social support on physical activity.

KEYWORDS:

• Co-participation
• encouragement
• family
• friends
• modelling
• parents

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Geolocation information section

Scotland, UK.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council [grant number: ES/J500136/1].

Notes on contributors

Yvonne Laird

Yvonne Laird is a Research Fellow at the Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy (SCPHRP), University of Edinburgh. This work is part of a program of Yvonne’s PhD work investigating the role of social support on adolescent girls’ engagement in physical activity.

Samantha Fawkner

Samantha Fawkner is a Senior Lecturer at the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, University of Edinburgh. Samantha is a paediatric physiologist, with a focused interest on the role of growth and maturation onhealth and well-being and in particular on changes in physical activity behaviour during childhood and adolescence.

Ailsa Niven

Ailsa Niven is a Senior Lecturer at the Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, University of Edinburgh. Ailsa’s research focuses on the psychological determinants and consequences of physical activity.