RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOTIVATION, SELF-ASSESSED MENTAL HEALTH AND PERCEPTION OF EXERCISE BARRIERS WITH THE LEVEL OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SEDENTARY BEHAVIORS OF ZAGREB ADOLESCENTS

Primarni cilj rada je ispitati postoje li razlike u tjelesnoj aktivnosti adolescenata s obzirom na spol. Nadalje, željeli smo provjeriti povezanost percipiranih barijera za bavljenje tjelesnom aktivnošću učenika i učenica srednjih škola i razine njihove tjelesne aktivnosti te sklonosti sedentarnim ponašanjima. Cilj je bio i provjeriti jesu li motiviraniji učenici u većoj mjeri tjelesno aktivni bez obzira na percepciju barijera i postoje li tu spolne razlike. Sekundarni cilj rada je ispitati povezanost mentalnog zdravlja, odnosno mentalnih poteškoća sa razinom tjelesne aktivnosti i sedentarnog ponašanja te validirati hrvatske verzije Upitnika barijera za tjelesnu aktivnost i Upitnika snaga i poteškoća. Metode: Istraživanje je dio CRO-PALS studije, te uključuje 818 adolescenata zagrebačkih srednjih škola. Za procjenu razine tjelesne aktivnosti korišten je SHAPES upitnik koji sadrži dvije stavke koje zahtijevaju sedmodnevno praćenje tjelesne aktivnosti umjerenog i visokog intenziteta. Sedentarno ponašanje procijenjeno je također SHAPES upitnikom kojim se promatra vrijeme provedeno u sjedilačkom ponašanju. Motivacija je procijenjena hrvatsom verzijom upitnika EMI, kojeg čini 14 motiva (dimenzija): kontrola stresa, revitalizacija, uživanje, izazov, društveno priznanje, druženje, natjecanje, prevencija bolesti, zdravlje, kontrola tjelesne mase, izgled, snaga i izdržljivost, spretnost, društveni pritisak. Barijere za tjelesnu aktivnost ispitane su upitnikom koji sadrži 20 čestica koje čine dvije skupine: internalnih i eksternalnih barijera. Mentalno zdravlje procijenjeno je hrvatskom verzijom upitnika SDQ, koji sadrži 25 čestica grupiranih u 5 dimenzija vezanih uz emocionalne probleme, probleme u ponašanju, probleme u odnosu s vršnjacima, hipearktivnost i prosocijalna ponašanja. Rezultati: Utvrđeno je da su učenici u većoj mjeri tjelesno aktivni u odnosu na svoje vršnjakinje, koje izvješćuju o višoj sklonosti sedentarnom ponašanju. Ono što sudionike najviše motivira na vježbanje je zdravlje, izgled, revitalizacija i kontrola tjelesne mase. Internalne barijere najsnažniji su prediktor sedentarnog ponašanja. Bez obzira na percepciju barijera, motivacija je ta o kojoj ovisi promjena ponašanja i sudjelovanje u tjelesnoj aktivnosti. Sklonost sedentarnom ponašanju povezana je sa višim poteškoćama samoprocijenjenog mentalnog zdravlja.Aim: The primary goal of this study was to examine whether male students are more physically active than female and to examine the relationship between perceived barriers to physical activity in high school students and levels of their physical activity and propensity for sedentary behavior. Also the aim was to determine whether students with higher level of motivation were also more physically active regardless of the perception of barriers and whether there were gender differences. The secondary goal of this study was to examine relationship between mental health, i.e. mental difficulties, with the level of physical activity and sedentary behavior and to validate croatian version of the Physical Activity Barriers questionnaire and The Strengths and Difficulty Questionnaire. Methods: This study was part of the CRO-PALS study involving 818 high school adolescents in Zagreb. For assessing the level of physical activity was used SHAPES questionnaire which contains two items that require seven days of monitoring of moderate and high intensity physical activity. Sedentary behavior was also estimated through the SHAPES questionnaire which was used to observe the time spent in sedentary behavior. Motivation was assessed through the Croatian version of the questionnaire EMI which consists of 14 motives (dimensions): stress control, revitalization, enjoyment, challenge, social recognition, socializing, competition, disease prevention, health, weight control, appearance, strength and endurance, dexterity, social pressure. Barriers to physical activity were examined by a questionnaire containing 20 items that make two groups: internal and external barriers. Mental health was assessed by the Croatian version of the SDQ questionnaire, which contains 25 items divided into 5 dimensions related to emotional problems, behavioral problems, peer problems, hyperactivity and prosocial behaviors. Results: It was found that male students are more physically active compared to their female peers who report higher tendency to sedentary behavior. What motivates participants the most to exercise are health, appearance, revitalization, and weight control. Internal barriers are a strongest predictor of sedentary behavior. Regardless of the perception of barriers, motivation is the one on which depends change of behavior and participation in physical activity. The tendency to sedentary behavior is associated with higher difficulties of self-assessed mental health