Citation

Calzo JP, Roberts AL, Corliss HL, Blood EA, Kroshus E, Austin SB. Ann. Behav. Med. 2014; 47(1): 17-27.

Affiliation

Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA, 02115, USA, jerel.calzo@childrens.harvard.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s12160-013-9570-y

PMID

24347406

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is an important health determinant. Little is known about sexual orientation differences in physical activity and their psychosocial determinants. PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to examine adolescent and young adult hours/week of moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and team sports participation by sexual orientation and investigate contributions of gender nonconformity and low athletic self-esteem to possible sexual orientation differences. METHODS: Analysis of data from 5,272 males and 7,507 females from 1999 to 2005 waves of the US Growing Up Today Study (ages 12-22 years). RESULTS: Sexual minorities (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, mostly heterosexual) reported 1.21-2.62 h/week less MVPA (p < 0.01) and were 46-76 % less likely to participate in team sports than same-gender heterosexuals. Gender nonconformity and athletic self-esteem accounted for 46-100 % of sexual orientation MVPA differences. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity contexts should be modified to welcome sexual minority males and females. Targeting intolerance of gender nonconformity and fostering athletic self-esteem may mitigate sexual orientation MVPA disparities.

Language: en