Ajibewa TA, Beemer LR, Sonneville KR, Miller AL, Toledo-Corral C, Robinson LE, Hasson RE. Psychological Stress and Lowered Physical Activity Enjoyment in Adolescents With Overweight/Obesity.
Am J Health Promot 2021;
35:766-774. [PMID:
33626891 DOI:
10.1177/0890117121997042]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was 2-fold: 1) to determine the cross-sectional associations between psychological stress, physical activity enjoyment, and physical activity participation [moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), total physical activity (TPA)]; and 2) to determine the moderating effect of physical activity enjoyment on the associations between stress, MVPA, and TPA in adolescents with overweight/obesity.
DESIGN
Cross-sectional, secondary data analysis of the Health and Culture Project and the Stress, Obesity, and Diabetes in Adolescents study.
SAMPLE
One hundred and ten adolescents (73% female; 65.4% non-white; age 15.8 ± 1.9 years) with overweight/obesity (BMI percentile ≥ 85th percentile) were included in this analysis.
MEASURES
Psychological stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14); enjoyment was measured via the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale; and MVPA and TPA were objectively measured using accelerometry over a minimum of 4 days.
RESULTS
Higher perceived stress was associated with lower physical activity enjoyment (β = -0.41 ± 0.15; p = 0.008). Stress was not associated with MVPA or TPA (ps > 0.05), nor was enjoyment a significant moderator in the associations between stress and MVPA or stress and TPA (pinteraction > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that psychological stress is associated with lower physical activity enjoyment among adolescents with overweight/obesity. Longitudinal studies are needed to understand the long-term effects of stress on psychological factors that may serve as antecedents to physical activity participation among adolescents with overweight/obesity.
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