A study on the environmental characteristics and social support for physical activity among adolescents

Implications for public health nursing

Bibliographic Data

ID22088749
AuthorsLifen Guo (Ningbo University Affiliated Hospital), Xielin Zhou (0009-0003-3560-9334, Ningbo University), Qiang Guo (0000-0001-8123-2636, Ningbo University), Lele Lin (0009-0009-1070-147X, Ningbo University)
Year2026
Volume14
Pages1835941-1835941
Publication date2026-05-21
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2026.1835941
PMID42254605
OpenAlexW7161951956
LanguageEN
References cited37

Objective To investigate the distribution patterns of physical activity levels, perceptions of physical activity and the social support environment among secondary school students; to examine the associations between students’ physical activity levels and factors at the individual, peer and parental levels; and to analyse the dynamic relationships between physical activity and the social support environment across different dimensions, such as gender, year group and school. Methods Using convenience sampling—a non-probability sampling method—we surveyed 841 high school students using the Adolescent Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Physical Activity Perception Questionnaire, and the Adolescent Physical Activity Social Support Scale. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS Statistics 26.0 to construct models via stepwise and hierarchical regression. Results (1) As many as 46.0% of high school students reported low levels of physical activity. The mean peer support score for boys (14.46 ± 4.18) was higher than that for girls (12.55 ± 3.89). No significant differences were found in peer support or parental support across grade levels ( p > 0.05). (2) There was no significant association between parental support and physical activity among secondary school students ( p > 0.05). With regard to gender, there was a significant positive association between peer support and both perceptions of physical activity and levels of physical activity among boys ( p < 0.01), whereas among girls, only the positive association with peer support was significant ( p < 0.01). Conclusion (1) High school students receive relatively little support from peers and parents; among them, boys receive more peer support than girls. (2) Peer support and perceptions of physical activity are significantly and positively associated with physical activity among secondary school students; this association exhibits different characteristics across gender groups, but no significant differences were found across year groups

Peer group · Peer review · Peer support · Perception · Physical activity · Social support · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Physical Activity and Health · Physical Education and Pedagogy