Fysisk aktivitet - ett eget val? : En enkätstudie om vad som påverkar ungdomars fysiska aktivitet

Physical inactivity is a growing concern among adolescents, which is the fundamental issue addressed in this study. The purpose of this study was to gain more knowledge about adolescents’ physical activity habits and the factors that influence physical activity. The study was based on a questionnaire consisting of 23 questions. The participants were 149 upper secondary school pupils between 15-19 years old from Östersund who studied both theoretically and practically oriented programs. Based on the World Health Organization [WHO] recommendations on physical activity the adolescents were categorized as active and inactive, and then compared with various background factors that previous research has demonstrated as being important determinants of physical activity. These factors were socioeconomic background, parental influence, sex and ethnicity. The results showed that most active adolescents are also active in sports clubs (p <0.05), has the highest final grade in the subject physical education and health in school year 9 (p <0.05), attends a theoretical program (p <0, 05), has a high educational capital (p <0.05), has a high sporting capital (p <0.05), is more motivated to physical activity (p <0.05) and have more support from their parents (p <0.05). The results was discussed by using the framework suggested by Bourdieu, habitus and capital