While numerous studies have examined correlates of physical activity, less attention has been given to identifying the rural/urban differences in the strength of the relationship between physical activity and health. The main objective of the current study was to analyze relationships between physical activity, sedentary behavior, and the health of rural and urban adolescents. Cross-sectional data on physical activity (Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity, MVPA), sedentary behavior (watching TV and using a computer), self-rated general health, and mental health (General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-12) was assessed through a questionnaire in the sample of 600 Polish adolescents aged 13 years. Pearson χ2, t-Student tests and hierarchical regression analyses were used to compare differences by place of residence. No rural/urban differences in physical activity levels and self-rated health were found. Rural boys spent more time watching TV and urban adolescent males spent more time using a computer. Urban girls were more affected by stress than rural. Physical activity was an important predictor of self-assessed health (8% of variance) and mental health (4% of variance) of adolescents living in rural areas. The results show that physical activity level is an important predictor of rural adolescents’ health and particular attention must be paid to promoting physical activities in rural environments.
Background and aims: Searching for the meaning of life is the basic motivation in human life, and lacking a sense of meaningfulness can lead to a range of disorders such as assuming the roles of victim and perpetrator of peer violence. Methods: This questionnaire-based study involved a total of 4,085 pupils (52% girls) from 70 middle schools located in all Polish voivodeships. The study used an abbreviated univariate version of the Purpose in Life Test scale, while two questions about peer violence were derived from the Polish version of the research protocol employed in the international study Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC). Both univariate and multivariate analyses – including logistic regression – were performed. Results: Out of 4,085 middle school pupils 26.8% were perpetrators and 29.8% were victims of peer violence at least once during the preceding 2 months. Boys were found to be both perpetrators and victims significantly more frequently than girls. Grade 3 pupils experienced violence from their peers significantly less frequently than grade 1 and grade 2 pupils. Regression analysis showed a significantly lower probability of being a victim or perpetrator of peer violence (at least 1–2 times during the 2 months preceding the questionnaire) in adolescents with a high sense of meaning in life. It was also found that girls were significantly less likely than boys to take on the roles of victims or perpetrators. The risk of being a victim of violence is also significantly decreased in middle school grade 3 pupils compared to grade 1 pupils. Conclusions: The potential practical implications of the analyses include the implementation of programmes aimed at highlighting universal and non-material values on which young people could rely. Based on the results of the study, it can be claimed that a high level of meaning in life is a factor protecting middle school adolescents from taking on the roles of both the victim and perpetrator of peer violence.
PL
Tło i cele: Poszukiwanie sensu życia jest podstawową motywacją w życiu człowieka, a jego brak może prowadzić do wielu zaburzeń, m.in. do wchodzenia w rolę zarówno ofiary, jak i sprawcy przemocy rówieśniczej. Metody: Anonimowym badaniem ankietowym objęto 4085 uczniów z 70 gimnazjów zlokalizowanych we wszystkich województwach w Polsce (52% – dziewczęta). W badaniu została użyta skrócona, jednoczynnikowa wersja skali Purpose in Life Test, natomiast dwa pytania dotyczące przemocy rówieśniczej zaczerpnięto z polskiej wersji protokołu badawczego pochodzącego z międzynarodowych badań Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC). Zastosowano analizy jednowymiarowe oraz wielowymiarowe, w tym regresję logistyczną. Wyniki: Spośród 4085 gimnazjalistów w ciągu ostatnich 2 miesięcy co najmniej raz 26,8% było sprawcą, a 29,8% padło ofiarą przemocy rówieśniczej. Chłopcy istotnie częściej niż dziewczęta znaleźli się w gronie zarówno sprawców, jak i ofiar przemocy rówieśniczej. Uczniowie klasy III istotnie rzadziej doznawali przemocy ze strony rówieśników w porównaniu z uczniami klas I oraz II. Analiza regresji wykazała u młodzieży z wysokim poczuciem sensu życia istotnie mniejsze prawdopodobieństwo zostania ofiarą lub sprawcą przemocy rówieśniczej (co najmniej 1–2 razy w ciągu ostatnich 2 miesięcy przed badaniem ankietowym). Stwierdzono też, że dziewczęta istotnie rzadziej wchodziły w rolę ofiary lub sprawcy niż chłopcy. Ryzyko bycia ofiarą przemocy istotnie zmniejsza również uczęszczanie do klasy III gimnazjum wporównaniu z uczniami klasy I. Wnioski: Implikacjami praktycznymi przeprowadzonych analiz może być wdrażanie programów kładących nacisk na eksponowanie wartości uniwersalnych i niematerialnych, do których młodzież mogłaby się odwoływać. Biorąc pod uwagę uzyskane rezultaty, można stwierdzić, że wysoki poziom sensu życia jest czynnikiem chroniącym młodzież gimnazjalną przed wchodzeniem w role zarówno ofiary, jak i sprawcy przemocy rówieśniczej.
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While numerous studies have examined correlates of physical activity, less attention has been given to identifying the rural/urban differences in the strength of the relationship between physical activity and health. The main objective of the current study was to analyze relationships between physical activity, sedentary behavior, and the health of rural and urban adolescents. Cross-sectional data on physical activity (Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity, MVPA), sedentary behavior (watching TV and using a computer), self-rated general health, and mental health (General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-12) was assessed through a questionnaire in the sample of 600 Polish adolescents aged 13 years. Pearson χ2, t-Student tests and hierarchical regression analyses were used to compare differences by place of residence. No rural/urban differences in physical activity levels and self-rated health were found. Rural boys spent more time watching TV and urban adolescent males spent more time using a computer. Urban girls were more affected by stress than rural. Physical activity was an important predictor of self-assessed health (8% of variance) and mental health (4% of variance) of adolescents living in rural areas. The results show that physical activity level is an important predictor of rural adolescents’ health and particular attention must be paid to promoting physical activities in rural environments.
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