Prevalence and factors associated with physical activity in adolescents from five secondary schools in northern Peru

Abstract Introduction With the persistence of global challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become essential to explore the dynamics of physical activity in adolescents. Although knowledge exists on the importance of physical activity for overall health, understanding the factors influe...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mario J. Valladares-Garrido, Palmer J. Hernández-Yépez, Sebastián Arámbulo-Castillo, Luz A. Aguilar-Manay, Jassmin Santin Vásquez, Darwin A. León-Figueroa, Víctor J. Vera-Ponce, Danai Valladares-Garrido, Edwin Aguirre-Milachay, Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas, César J. Pereira-Victorio
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23596-1
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849389088622247936
author Mario J. Valladares-Garrido
Palmer J. Hernández-Yépez
Sebastián Arámbulo-Castillo
Luz A. Aguilar-Manay
Jassmin Santin Vásquez
Darwin A. León-Figueroa
Víctor J. Vera-Ponce
Danai Valladares-Garrido
Edwin Aguirre-Milachay
Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas
César J. Pereira-Victorio
author_facet Mario J. Valladares-Garrido
Palmer J. Hernández-Yépez
Sebastián Arámbulo-Castillo
Luz A. Aguilar-Manay
Jassmin Santin Vásquez
Darwin A. León-Figueroa
Víctor J. Vera-Ponce
Danai Valladares-Garrido
Edwin Aguirre-Milachay
Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas
César J. Pereira-Victorio
author_sort Mario J. Valladares-Garrido
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction With the persistence of global challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become essential to explore the dynamics of physical activity in adolescents. Although knowledge exists on the importance of physical activity for overall health, understanding the factors influencing adolescent physical activity patterns remains a less explored terrain. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with physical activity in adolescents in Lambayeque, Peru. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study with secondary data analysis was conducted in adolescents from five secondary schools. Physical activity was assessed using the PAQ-A questionnaire. Its association with various factors was investigated, such as bullying (EBIPQ questionnaire), self-esteem (Rosenberg questionnaire), family dysfunctionality (APGAR Family questionnaire), resilience (abbreviated CD-RISC questionnaire), insomnia (ISI questionnaire), depressive-anxious symptoms and stress (DASS21 questionnaire), suicidal risk (Plutchik Suicide Risk Scale), eating disorder (SCOFF questionnaire), acne (Spanish Acne Severity Scale-EGAE), and quality of life (DLQI questionnaire). Results Of 1266 adolescents, the mean age was 14.6 years, and 54.6% were male. The prevalence of active physical activity was 33.8% (95% CI: 31.20–36.49). In multiple regression analysis, factors associated with physical activity included male sex (PR: 1.51), having a very frequent family approach (PR: 1.26), a high level of resilience (PR: 1.15), having a crush (PR: 1.19), and mild anxious symptoms (PR: 1.30). In contrast, frequent use of social networks (PR: 0.72), moderate (PR: 0.64) or severe (PR: 0.66) family dysfunctionality, medium (PR: 0.85) and low (PR: 0.80) levels of self-esteem, and an extreme effect on quality of life due to acne (PR: 0.66) were negatively associated with physical activity. Conclusions The findings reveal a relatively low prevalence of active physical activity among adolescents. The positive association with resilience, family closeness, and mild anxious symptoms highlights the importance of strengthening protective factors to encourage physical activity in this vulnerable group. Conversely, the negative influence of family dysfunctionality, low self-esteem, and the impact of acne on quality of life underscores the need to address these psychosocial aspects to promote a healthy lifestyle in adolescents in the post-COVID era. These findings inform more effective intervention strategies, thus contributing to the holistic well-being of youth in the current global health landscape.
format Article
id doaj-art-e4aa1a629e0343f1a1f8341054821089
institution Kabale University
issn 1471-2458
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Public Health
spelling doaj-art-e4aa1a629e0343f1a1f83410548210892025-08-20T03:42:03ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-07-0125111510.1186/s12889-025-23596-1Prevalence and factors associated with physical activity in adolescents from five secondary schools in northern PeruMario J. Valladares-Garrido0Palmer J. Hernández-Yépez1Sebastián Arámbulo-Castillo2Luz A. Aguilar-Manay3Jassmin Santin Vásquez4Darwin A. León-Figueroa5Víctor J. Vera-Ponce6Danai Valladares-Garrido7Edwin Aguirre-Milachay8Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas9César J. Pereira-Victorio10Escuela de Medicina Humana, Universidad Señor de SipánUniversidad Privada Norbert WienerFacultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de PiuraFacultad de Medicina, Universidad de San Martin de PorresFacultad de Medicina, Universidad de San Martin de PorresFacultad de Medicina, Universidad de San Martin de PorresInstituto de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales, Universidad Nacional Toribio Rodríguez de Mendoza de AmazonasEscuela de Medicina, Universidad Cesar VallejoHospital Nacional Almanzor Aguinaga AsenjoUnidad de Investigación para Generación y Síntesis de Evidencia en Salud, Universidad San Ignacio de LoyolaFacultad de Medicina, Universidad ContinentalAbstract Introduction With the persistence of global challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become essential to explore the dynamics of physical activity in adolescents. Although knowledge exists on the importance of physical activity for overall health, understanding the factors influencing adolescent physical activity patterns remains a less explored terrain. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with physical activity in adolescents in Lambayeque, Peru. Methods An analytical cross-sectional study with secondary data analysis was conducted in adolescents from five secondary schools. Physical activity was assessed using the PAQ-A questionnaire. Its association with various factors was investigated, such as bullying (EBIPQ questionnaire), self-esteem (Rosenberg questionnaire), family dysfunctionality (APGAR Family questionnaire), resilience (abbreviated CD-RISC questionnaire), insomnia (ISI questionnaire), depressive-anxious symptoms and stress (DASS21 questionnaire), suicidal risk (Plutchik Suicide Risk Scale), eating disorder (SCOFF questionnaire), acne (Spanish Acne Severity Scale-EGAE), and quality of life (DLQI questionnaire). Results Of 1266 adolescents, the mean age was 14.6 years, and 54.6% were male. The prevalence of active physical activity was 33.8% (95% CI: 31.20–36.49). In multiple regression analysis, factors associated with physical activity included male sex (PR: 1.51), having a very frequent family approach (PR: 1.26), a high level of resilience (PR: 1.15), having a crush (PR: 1.19), and mild anxious symptoms (PR: 1.30). In contrast, frequent use of social networks (PR: 0.72), moderate (PR: 0.64) or severe (PR: 0.66) family dysfunctionality, medium (PR: 0.85) and low (PR: 0.80) levels of self-esteem, and an extreme effect on quality of life due to acne (PR: 0.66) were negatively associated with physical activity. Conclusions The findings reveal a relatively low prevalence of active physical activity among adolescents. The positive association with resilience, family closeness, and mild anxious symptoms highlights the importance of strengthening protective factors to encourage physical activity in this vulnerable group. Conversely, the negative influence of family dysfunctionality, low self-esteem, and the impact of acne on quality of life underscores the need to address these psychosocial aspects to promote a healthy lifestyle in adolescents in the post-COVID era. These findings inform more effective intervention strategies, thus contributing to the holistic well-being of youth in the current global health landscape.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23596-1ExerciseSedentary behaviorAdolescentsResilienceMental health
spellingShingle Mario J. Valladares-Garrido
Palmer J. Hernández-Yépez
Sebastián Arámbulo-Castillo
Luz A. Aguilar-Manay
Jassmin Santin Vásquez
Darwin A. León-Figueroa
Víctor J. Vera-Ponce
Danai Valladares-Garrido
Edwin Aguirre-Milachay
Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas
César J. Pereira-Victorio
Prevalence and factors associated with physical activity in adolescents from five secondary schools in northern Peru
BMC Public Health
Exercise
Sedentary behavior
Adolescents
Resilience
Mental health
title Prevalence and factors associated with physical activity in adolescents from five secondary schools in northern Peru
title_full Prevalence and factors associated with physical activity in adolescents from five secondary schools in northern Peru
title_fullStr Prevalence and factors associated with physical activity in adolescents from five secondary schools in northern Peru
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and factors associated with physical activity in adolescents from five secondary schools in northern Peru
title_short Prevalence and factors associated with physical activity in adolescents from five secondary schools in northern Peru
title_sort prevalence and factors associated with physical activity in adolescents from five secondary schools in northern peru
topic Exercise
Sedentary behavior
Adolescents
Resilience
Mental health
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-23596-1
work_keys_str_mv AT mariojvalladaresgarrido prevalenceandfactorsassociatedwithphysicalactivityinadolescentsfromfivesecondaryschoolsinnorthernperu
AT palmerjhernandezyepez prevalenceandfactorsassociatedwithphysicalactivityinadolescentsfromfivesecondaryschoolsinnorthernperu
AT sebastianarambulocastillo prevalenceandfactorsassociatedwithphysicalactivityinadolescentsfromfivesecondaryschoolsinnorthernperu
AT luzaaguilarmanay prevalenceandfactorsassociatedwithphysicalactivityinadolescentsfromfivesecondaryschoolsinnorthernperu
AT jassminsantinvasquez prevalenceandfactorsassociatedwithphysicalactivityinadolescentsfromfivesecondaryschoolsinnorthernperu
AT darwinaleonfigueroa prevalenceandfactorsassociatedwithphysicalactivityinadolescentsfromfivesecondaryschoolsinnorthernperu
AT victorjveraponce prevalenceandfactorsassociatedwithphysicalactivityinadolescentsfromfivesecondaryschoolsinnorthernperu
AT danaivalladaresgarrido prevalenceandfactorsassociatedwithphysicalactivityinadolescentsfromfivesecondaryschoolsinnorthernperu
AT edwinaguirremilachay prevalenceandfactorsassociatedwithphysicalactivityinadolescentsfromfivesecondaryschoolsinnorthernperu
AT virgilioefailocrojas prevalenceandfactorsassociatedwithphysicalactivityinadolescentsfromfivesecondaryschoolsinnorthernperu
AT cesarjpereiravictorio prevalenceandfactorsassociatedwithphysicalactivityinadolescentsfromfivesecondaryschoolsinnorthernperu