The peculiarities of physical activity of first formers of Lithuania and links with family socioeconomic situation

Objective. Evaluate physical activity habits of first formers and their links with socioeconomic determinants of family. Methods. This study is coordinated by World Health Organization. The object of this paper is randomly selected first formers from 155 Lithuania’s schools. The unit of measurement was a class, which was made of more than 17 first formers. The results of research are compared among regions of Lithuania. Methods used to meet aims: 1) analysis of scientific literature; 2) standard survey by questionnaires for parents (distributed 5800 questionnaires, 4446 were filled and returned; response rate 76.7%) and for school heads (149 questionnaires shared out; response rate 100%); 3) statistical analysis of data using SPSS 16 for Windows. Results. Sport’s clubs are attended by 42.9% first formers (46% - girls, 39.7% - boys). Schoolchildren from cities are more physically active than those from regional area. 33.3% of schoolchildren spend 3 or more hours playing outside. 31.2% of first formers during working days play with a computer one hour per day. Children usually watch TV two hours per day, on weekends – three and more. 67.1% of schools have three physical education lessons per week. Average revenues of the family and parents’ educational background correlate with sport’s clubs attendance (p < 0.001). First formers whose mothers have higher education have 1.5 time bigger possibility to be enough physically active than those whose mothers have secondary education. Conclusions. More than half of first formers (55,8%) are enough physically active, boys significantly are more active than girls (χ² = 8,199; p = 0.04), in regional schools this number is even bigger (χ² = 102,466; PR 1.5) and family’s average incomes per month (more than 801 Lt for each member of the family) (PR 1.4)