@article{ref1,
title="Variety, enjoyment, and physical activity participation among high school students",
journal="Journal of physical activity and health",
year="2015",
author="Michael, Shannon L. and Coffield, Edward and Lee, Sarah M. and Fulton, Janet E.",
volume="13",
number="2",
pages="223-230",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Federal guidelines state that youth should participate in a variety of physical activity (PA) they find enjoyable. Little is known, however, about how variety and enjoyment are associated with PA participation among adolescents. <br><br>METHODS: Data came from the 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey, a nationally representative survey of adolescents. Path analysis was used to examine the association of a variety of self-reported PA, defined as the number of activities and activity types (i.e., team sports/weightlifting, individual activities, and other competitive/recreational sports), on self-reported PA enjoyment and participation. The analysis also examined whether enjoyment mediates the association between a variety of PA and participation. Separate models were estimated for boys and girls. <br><br>RESULTS: Number of activities was associated with increased PA enjoyment and participation. For boys and girls, team sports/weightlifting was associated with increased participation, and individual activities were indirectly associated with increased participation through enjoyment. For boys, team sports/weightlifting was indirectly related with participation. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that participation in a variety of PA is associated with increased PA enjoyment and participation. Providing opportunities for adolescents to engage in a variety of activities might help them identify PA they enjoy and facilitate lifelong PA habits.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1543-3080",
doi="10.1123/jpah.2014-0551",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2014-0551"
}