|  | Feature: “ICSEMIS Researchers Award” | No.56 May 2009 |
|  |  | print / save view |

Participation of Polish Youth in Various Areas of Physical Activity Monika Piątkowska |
Abstract The aim of the study was to establish the level of reported physical activity among youth from two Vocational Secondary Schools (VSS) in Warsaw and in Cracow, which prepare students for the hotel and gastronomy industries. Moreover, it was important to define the physical activity structure and to evaluate whether the “dose” of leisure physical activity is adequate. A survey based on personal interview was carried out by trained staff A survey based on personal interview was carried out by trained staff in two Vocational Secondary Schools (VSS) in Warsaw and in Cracow in April 2007. 270 students participated in the study. Physical activity was estimated by a long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). IPAQ was designed to collect detailed information within the domains of household and yard work activities, occupational activity, self-powered transport and leisure-time physical activity as well as sedentary activity. The studied participants reported high physical activity levels. The results revealed statistically significant differences (p<0.001) in physical activity level between boys and girls. Boys reported much higher physical activity levels than girls. On the basis of the obtained data, it is assumed that youth are most physically active at school and work. Sex variable differences were noted along with the level of occupational and leisure-time physical activity. Boys report higher energetic expenditure than girls in the domains. Moreover, the location of the study was related to total physical activity levels as was occupational activity and self-powered transport. Introduction Systematic physical activity determines human development as it influences positively both health and life quality. Improving and maintaining physical activity in children and youth provides both immediate and long-term health benefits (Rowland, 2007). Most of the adult diseases influenced by activity (atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, obesity) have their origins in pediatric years (Brunton et al., 2003). At this age the dynamics of physiological, mental and social growth is the highest. Moreover, regular physical activity and sport may offer additional social, psychological, and cognitive benefits (Rowland 1990). According to Hodañ (2002) it also participates in creating and fulfilling necessities of life, social and economic relations between people, and contributes to the development of a system of values and ideas, which contributes to various kinds of human activity. Physical activity should play a stimulating factor resulting in effects in the human body. Thus, it ought to be placed amongst the most important individual and social duties. In the technologically-driven modern age, much activity has been removed from everyday life. If children and youth do not feel like taking up physical activity, educators and family are responsible for expanding this willingness (Sas-Nowosielski 2003). The fundamental aim of the Physical Education is to create a habit of taking up physical activity at its optimal level and form (Sołtysik 1996; Kusy 2002). Material and Methods A survey based on personal interview was carried out by trained staff in two Vocational Secondary Schools (VSS) in Warsaw and in Cracow in April 2007. Basic data on the studied subjects (N=270) are presented in Table 1. Table 1. Basic characteristics (means, ±SD and ranges) of studied subjects.
City | Warsaw | Cracow
Sex | Boys (N=65) | Girls (N=55) | Boys (N=75) | Girls (N=75)
Age | 18,0 ± 0,98 (17-20) | 17,9 ± 0,74 (17-19) | 17,21 ± 1,11 (16-19) | 17,13 ± 1,11 (16-19)
Weight (kg) | 75,5 ± 12,9 (55-110) | 58,73 ± 8,7 (43-79) | 69,85 ± 10,51 (46-110) | 54,99 ± 8,32 (35-93)
Height (cm) | 179,6 ± 7,0 (160-196) | 166,9 ± 6,7 (150-180) | 178,3 ± 7,1 (153-193) | 166,31 ± 6,66 (154-200)
Physical activity was estimated by a long version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) (www.ipaq.ki.se). IPAQ was designed to collect detailed information within the domains of household and yard work activities, occupational activity, self-powered transport and leisure-time physical activity as well as sedentary activity (Craig et al., 2003). An additional question was asked about the pace of walking and cycling. IPAQ enables collecting data on different components of physical activity: frequency, intensity and duration. Data analysis was accomplished using statistical software SPSS 14.0. T Test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson’s correlation were applied. Objectives The aim of the study was to establish the level of reported physical activity among youth from VSS in Warsaw and Cracow, which prepare students for the hotel and gastronomy industries. Moreover, it was important to define the physical activity structure and to evaluate if the dose of leisure physical activity is adequate. Results On the basis of guidelines set by IPAQ Scientific Committee (IPAQ, 2005) 14 records were excluded from the analysis (6 from Warsaw and 8 from Cracow), because particpants reported physical activity higher than 16 hours per day and night. The studied subjects reported high physical activity levels. An average total energy expenditure amounted to =11818,51 MET (metabolic equivalent). Total energy expenditure was calculated by summing up expenditure in the given domains: i) occupational activity (‘School’)- = 4646,85 MET, ii) self-powered transport (‘Transportation’) - = 2643,07 MET, iii) household and yard work activities (‘Household’) - = 1674,36 MET, iv) leisure-time physical activity (‘Leisure’) - = 2861,53 MET. School Physical Education classes were estimated as a part of school and work activity. On the basis of the obtained data, it is assumed that youth are the most physically active at school and work. The proportion of reported physical activity connected with household and yard work activities in the total physical activity is the lowest. Statistically significant differences in total physical activity between boys and girls were confirmed by T-Student Test analysis (table 2). Total physical activity reported by boys (in the last 7 days) was much higher than reported by girls. Table 2. Total physical activity in MET versus sex.
Total PA (MET) | Boys (N=133) | Girls (N=123)
| 13488,39** | 9906,67
±SD | 8994,71 | 6496,49
Me | 11793,0 | 8617,5
Min | 0 | 822,0
Max | 40194,0 | 28437,0
** p=0,001 Boys scored higher results in each area of physical activity (Figure 1). Mean energetic expenditure of boys in ‘School’ domain was =5187,03 MET while girls’ was =4062,76 MET. Those differences were statistically significant which was confirmed by T-Student Test. In the second area ‘Transportation’ boys’ mean energetic expenditure was =2975,05 MET, girls was =2284,10 MET. In the third area ‘Household’ boys were also highly active (boys =1834,99 MET; girls =1499,24 MET). Leisure physical activity significantly differentiated both groups (boys =3491,31 MET; girls =2180,54 MET). Figure 1. Mean energetic expenditure in all areas versus sex. * p<0,05; ** p=0,001 The variable place of education differentiated statistically the level of physical activity of the studied subjects (p=0,001). Students from Warsaw reported much higher total energetic expenditure than students Cracow which was confirmed using test T (table 3). Table 3. Total physical activity in MET versus place of study
Total PA (MET) | Warsaw (N=114) | Cracow (N=142)
| 13701,68** | 10295,94
±SD | 8691,32 | 7298,87
Me | 11998,0 | 8439,0
Min | 1158,5 | 0
Max | 40194,0 | 35624,0
** p=0,001 Youth from Warsaw school achieved higher level of physical activity in all analyzed areas (graph 2). The most significant differences were revealed in ‘School’ area which were proved by using T-Student Test. Warsaw students’ mean energetic expenditure in ‘School’ was =5559,29 MET while Krakow students’ was =3914,33 MET. In ‘Transportation’ area mean energetic expenditure of Warsaw youth was =3099,16 MET whereas Cracow youth‘s=2276,92 MET. In ‘Household’ and ‘Leisure’ areas Warsaw students’ scored higher results (‘Household’ – = 1922,02 MET; ‘Leisure’ – = 3121,21 MET) than Krakow students’ (‘Household’ – = 1474,12 MET; ‘Leisure’ – = 2653,05 MET) as well. Figure 2. Mean energetic expenditure in all physical activity areas of versus place of study. ** p=0,002; * p<0,05 Statistical analysis provided with ANOVA did not reveal any differences in physical activity levels between age groups, nor did the level of parental education (parent[s] with University level degree) differentiate physical activity levels. Discussion There are many studies on physical activity of youth at Post Secondary age carried out in Poland (Sołtysik 1996; Skibińska 2002; Sobolewski 2003; Dębski J. and L. 2005). However, it is difficult to compare the results with other studies because different methodological instruments were used. In Poland, no studies have used the long version of IPAQ. Nevertheless, it is possible to find research in which short version was applied (Biernat, Piątkowska et al. 2006). It must be emphasized that one should avoid comparison of the results derived from two versions of IPAQ because of the high likelihood of receiving overestimated results of total energy expenditure in long IPAQ version (Craig, Marshall et al. 2003). This can result in deeper personal data, in which respondents report detailed information about physical activity in every domain. As far as the short IPAQ version is concerned, respondent declares total physical activity without distinguishing particular domains. The present study shows that boys are much more physically active than girls. It may be explained by the ontogenetic development. Many studies confirm the hypothesis that physical activity level declines with age and this decreasing process begins at early school age (Katzmarzyk, 2007). The highest intensification may be observed between 12-18 years old. Furthermore, girls are less physically active than boys at every age (Talbot, Metter, & Fleg, 2000). Boys scored higher results than girls in ‘School’ domain, which may be explained by the fact that boys tend to take up occupational activity that requires greater effort than girls’ occupational activity. Moreover, PE teachers reported that girls more often than boys avoided PE lessons. And if they do participate in PE lessons the intensity of the exercise is lower than boys’. As far as the ‘Leisure’ domain is concerned, boys also achieved higher scores due to the fact that they tend to take up more intensive physical activities in their free time (Talbot et al., 2000). Students from Warsaw reported higher physical activity level than those from Cracow. As for the two domains ‘School’ and ‘Transportation’ their scores may be explained by their lifestyle. Most students from Warsaw take up occupational activity whereas Cracow students do not have the opportunity to apply for a job as they have to commute to school and suffer from lack of free time. In the second domain more Warsaw students have a chance to walk or cycle to school than students from the second group because they are obliged to use public means of transport. Conclusions Respondents declared high level of physical activity in each domain. Sex variable differs the total physical activity level as well as occupational activity and leisure-time physical activity. Boys report higher energetic expenditure than girls. The location of study alters the total physical activity level as well as occupational activity and self-powered transport. References Bielski, J. (1996). Życie jest ruchem. Poradnik dla nauczycieli wychowania fizycznego. Warszawa: Agencja Promo-Lider. Brunton, G., Harden, A., Rees, R., Kavanagh, J., Oliver, S., & Oakley, A. (2003). Children and physical activity: a systematic review of barriers and facilitators. London: EPPI-Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London. London. Craig, C. L., Marshall, A. L., Sjostrom, M., Bauman, A. E., Booth, M. L., Ainsworth, B. E., et al. (2003). International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 35(8), 1381-1395. IPAQ. (2005). Guidelines for data processing and analysis of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) – Short form: scoring protocol. Revised 2005. Katzmarzyk, P. T. (2007). Physical activity and fitness with age among sex and ethnic groups. In C. Bouchard, S. N. Blair & W. L. Haskell (Eds.), Physical Activity and Health: Human Kinetics. Rowland, T. W. (2007). Physical Activity, Fitness, and Children. In C. Bouchard, S. N. Blair & W. L. Haskell (Eds.), Physical Activity and Health (pp. 259-270): Human Kinetics. Talbot, L. A., Metter, E. J., & Fleg, J. L. (2000). Leisure-time physical activities and their relationship to cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy men and women 18-95 years old. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 32(2), 417-425. 1 MET is equivalent to a metabolic rate consuming 3.5 milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute. Contact Monika Piatkowska Józef Pilsudski Academy of Physical Education Warsaw, Poland, Email: m.piatkowska@aster.pl icsspe.org/index.php?m=15 Participation of Polish Youth in Various Areas of Physical Activity Monika Piatkowska