Actividad física en la adolescencia

Este artículo se centra en la importancia que adquiere en la adolescencia el estilo de vida activo. Se comentan los bajos índices de actividad física que se registran durante esta etapa evolutiva y se analizan con detalle las razones que subyacen a los cada vez más altos índices de sedentarismo y de incumplimiento de las recomendaciones de los expertos sobre la intensidad y duración de la actividad física en estos años. Así mismo, se examinan variables de interés en la promoción de la actividad física en nuestro país, unas tienen que ver con características del sujeto (como son el género y la edad), otras con características de sus microsistemas más cercanos (las condiciones socioeconómicas familiares) y otras están referidas a aspectos más macrosistémicos (como son los indicadores de renta per cápita en las diferentes comunidades autónomas de España).This article focuses on the importance an active lifestyle has in adolescence. The low scores for physical activity registered during this developmental stage are discussed, and the underlying reasons for the ever increasing scores for sedentary lifestyles are analyzed in-depth along with the non-fulfillment of recommendations with regards to the intensity and duration of physical activity at this age. Likewise, variables of interest in the promotion of physical activity in Spain are examined. Some of these are related to individual characteristics (such as gender and age), to immediate micro-system (socioeconomic conditions of the family) aspects or to more macro-system-related aspects (such as the indicators for income per capita in the various regions of Spain)

Physical activity trends in Spanish adolescents

Este estudio se propone conocer la evolución de la práctica de actividad física moderada-vigorosa y examinar si la tendencia se mantiene en función de factores sociodemográficos, como el sexo y la edad, así como de factores socioeconómicos y su influencia según la comunidad autónoma. La muestra está compuesta de adolescentes españoles de 11 a 18 años de las ediciones 2002 y 2006 del estudio Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC). Los principales resultados muestran que, a pesar de un cierto aumento en el nivel de actividad física en los cuatro años que distan entre ambas ediciones (especialmente en los adolescentes más pequeños), estos niveles se encuentran todavía lejos de las recomendaciones. Asimismo, los datos señalan como necesidades más urgentes promover un estilo de vida activo en los adolescentes de 13 años en adelante (especialmente en las chicas) y en los adolescentes de niveles socioeconómicos más bajos de determinadas comunidades autónomas.This study tries to find out the tendency of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and to assess whether the trends are maintained with regard to socio-demographic factors such as sex and age, and also socio-economic factors and how they vary depending on the region. The sample comprises Spanish adolescents aged between 11 and 18 years, from the 2002 and 2006 surveys of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. The main results reveal that, despite a certain increase in physical activity level in the four years span between both surveys (particularly in younger adolescents), these levels are still a long way from the recommendations. Likewise, data highlight, as immediate needs, the promotion of an active lifestyle among adolescents from 13 years onwards (particularly among the girls) and also among adolescents of lower socio-economic status in some regions

The Role of the Family in Promoting Responsible Substance Use in Adolescence

The aim of this study was to examine the role of family dimensions in tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use among adolescents. Furthermore, we investigated how demographic variables (adolescents’ gender and age) influence substance use and moderate the relationship between family dimensions and substance use. The sample consisted of 14,825 adolescents aged 13–14, 15–16, and 17–18 who participated in the 2006 edition of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study in Spain. The HBSC-2006 questionnaire included demographic variables (gender and age), substance use variables (tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use), and family dimensions (parental affection, parental promotion of autonomy, family activities, adolescent disclosure, parental solicitation, and parental knowledge). The results indicated that adolescent disclosure, family activities, and parental knowledge had a significant effect on substance use. Specifically, maternal variables were shown to be slightly more relevant than paternal variables. Additionally, substance use was higher in older adolescents than in younger adolescents, and boys smoked less than girls. The discussion focused on how family dimensions promoted responsible substance use in adolescence

Characterization of resilient adolescents in the context of parental unemployment

This research analyzes a group of Spanish adolescents at high risk of adversity –conceptualized as living in households with no employed parent– in one of the countries where unemployment rates have risen significantly due to the recent economic recession. The objective was to identify sociodemographic and contextual factors that promote resilience in this context. Using the Extreme Group Approach and the theoretical framework of resilience, two groups of adolescents living in households with no employed parent were selected from the HBSC-2014 edition in Spain depending on their adaptive response to the risk, measured by a global health score. Therefore, from a total sample of 1336 adolescents at high risk (living in households with no employed parent), 290 resilient adolescents (those who presented the highest scores in their global health score) and 618 maladaptive adolescents (those presenting lower scores in their global health score) were selected, resulting in a final sample composed of 908 adolescents aged 11–18 years old (M = 15.2; DT = 2.18), with a balanced representation of boys and girls. Results showed that support from, and satisfaction with, family and friend relationships, as well as support from classmates and teachers, and satisfaction with the school environment, are protective factors that can foster resilience when facing adversity provoked by parental unemployment and its negative consequences for adolescent health. Intervention programs aimed at reducing the negative impact of parental unemployment on adolescent health should consider these contextual factors, as well as individual factors such as age or sex.Junta de Andalucía SEJ 08007Universidad de Sevill

Adolescents’ perceptions of family relationships in adoptees and non-adoptees: More similarities than differences

This research explores adopted adolescents’ perceptions of family relationships, without focusing on typical clinical issues in which they tend to stand out negatively in comparison to non-adopted adolescents. Differences between adopted and non-adopted adolescents were analysed according to the following family dimensions: paternal affection, maternal affection, communication with the father, communication with the mother, family support and family satisfaction. Furthermore, differences between domestic and intercountry adoptees were also explored. The sample included 28,768 adolescents, aged eleven to eighteen years old, who participated in the 2014 Spanish edition of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, of whom 394 were adopted and 28,374 non-adopted. Results showed no differences in affection, communication and support. However, statistically significant differences and a considerable effect size were found in family satisfaction. Two multiple linear regression models were made to explore the roles of family dimensions in the family satisfaction structure. Data show paternal dimensions, especially communication with the father, were more relevant for adoptees’ family satisfaction than for non-adoptees. Additionally, our results varied greatly between domestic versus intercountry adoptees. In conclusion, adopted and non-adopted adolescents are more similar than different in their family perception; however, the adoptive father plays a greater role for adoptees.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad de España PSI2015-67757-RMinisterio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e IgualdadV Plan Propio de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla (Spain) 201

Analysis of the importance of family in the development of sense of coherence during adolescence

Aims: The aim of this work was to study the influence of several family dimensions on sense of coherence (SOC) in adolescence, controlling the possible effects from the demographic variables, gender and age. Methods: The sample consisted of 7580 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18, who had taken part in the 2010 edition of the WHO Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study in Spain. Results: The results showed that there were no significant gender differences in SOC levels. However, age had a significant influence on SOC. Higher levels of SOC were found in adolescents aged 13 and 14 compared to older participants. Family variables explained 18% of SOC variability, with affection, easy communication with parents, and parental knowledge as the most outstanding variables. In addition, positive relationships between parents and family affluence had a significant role in explaining SOC levels. Conclusions: The results suggest that the family context plays an important role in providing meaningful experiences for the development of a strong SOC in adolescence.Ministerio de Educación AP2009-097