Adolescents' Sedentary Behaviors in Two European Cities

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine and compare the correlates of objective sedentary behavior (SB) and nonschool self-reported SB in adolescents from 2 midsized cities, 1 in France (Tarbes) and 1 in Spain (Huesca). Stability of objective SB and nonschool self-reported SB were also assessed at different time points during 1 academic year. Method: Starting with a total of 829 participants and after applying inclusion criteria, objective SB was assessed for 646 adolescents (M_age = 14.30 ± 0.71 years) with GT3X accelerometers for 7 days at 2 time points. Nonschool self-reported SB was measured for 781 adolescents (M_age = 14.46 ± 0.76 years) at 3 time points by means of a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Results: Gender and ambient temperature emerged as the main statistically significant correlates in all objective SB models, showing higher objective SB levels in girls and lower objective SB levels when ambient temperature was higher. According to nonschool self-reported SB, a gender effect was found in almost all behaviors. Whereas boys spent more time playing with video games as well as games on their mobile phones, girls spent more time studying and using their computers and mobile phones to communicate with each other. The findings showed a statistically significant city effect on study time (Huesca > Tarbes) and video games and telephone communication time (Tarbes > Huesca). Conclusion: Nonschool self-reported SB patterns were different in Huesca and Tarbes. Intervention programs should be adapted to target the reduction of adolescents' SB according to different contexts.

Keywords::

• leisure time
• media
• screen time
• sedentariness

Funding

The EPAPA project was financially supported by the provinces of Aragón in Spain and Aquitaine in France as cross-border cooperation projects to help us compile data. This study was also supported by grants from the Government of Aragon, the Comunidad de Trabajo de los Pirineos (CTP [Pyrenees Work Community]), and Caja de Ahorros de la Inmaculada (CAI [Savings Bank of Aragon]).