Kontakt 2013, 15(4):456-462 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2013.053

Physical activity in school-aged children in the area of Central SlovakiaHealth and Social Sciences - Original article

Mária Kožuchová^*, Martina Bašková

Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Jesseniova lekárska fakulta v Martine, Ústav nelekárskych študijných programov

Physical activity should be the natural part of the way of life in school children and adolescents. Physical activity has a positive impact on health of adolescents. Project Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) is one of the first international cross sectional studies focused on health of adolescents and their behaviour relating to health. The aim of the article is to present the incidence of physical activity in school-aged children and adolescents in the area of Central Slovakia. The data collection was carried out at 25 primary schools and two eight-year grammar schools in regions of Žilina and Banská Bystrica in the period May to June 2010. The set of respondents consisted of 1 187 pupils in three age categories: age of 11 (313 respondents), age of 13 (442 respondents), age of 15 (432 respondents). For data collection was used standardized questionnaire created for the needs of HBSC study. Data collection also included demographic data: gender, grade, age. Significant interaction of two variables was assessed by chi-square test. In 13-year and 15-year-old boys we found out significantly higher incidence of physical activity (p = 0.001). In the group of 11-year-old respondents these differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.115). The results point to inadequate physical activity in the set of respondents. Higher level of knowledge about the importance of physical activity in children of school age and adolescence is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

Keywords: physical activity; health; school-aged youth; Central Slovakia; HBSC

Received: January 25, 2013; Accepted: June 16, 2013; Published: December 20, 2013  Show citation