Adolescence is a sensitive period. This is when the foundation is laid for developing good health and well-being in adulthood.
Physical activity is often suggested to improve the well-being of young people, but while the physical and psychological benefits of physical activity are well known, it declines during adolescence. Instead, a large number of young people become physically inactive or sit still, which can lead to poorer mental well-being.
Two new studies show that one positive body imagethat is, the perception of the appearance and function of the body, along with a high degree of physical activity, is clearly related to the well-being of adolescents.
That’s how the studies went
Teens ages 14 and 16 estimated their health, level of physical activity, how they perceived the body’s appearance and function, and family finances.
In the first study, the young people answered a questionnaire related to the 8th grade health interview with the school nurse. In the second study, young people in the first year of secondary education completed a web survey during class. In both studies, the researchers found a relationship between good self-rated health and positive body image (both appearance and function), a high level of physical activity, and that the family’s financial situation was perceived as good.
The high school boys rated their health as good to a higher degree than the girls, but the high school students had the opposite — where the girls felt better. The researchers were also able to see that the boys in high school were more physically active than the girls. Conversely, girls in high school were more physically active compared to boys.
About a third of young people do not rate their well-being very well.
Understanding what the connection looks like and affects one’s well-being and view of one’s own body can be important from a public health perspective.
Understanding the link can help parents, politicians and school leaders encourage children and young people to engage in physical activity, both at school and in their free time, said Pernilla Garmy, an assistant professor of nursing at Kristianstad University.
Physical ability affects self confidence
The perception of one’s own physical ability appears to be of great importance for self-confidence and motivation to be physically active.
– The physical activity in turn influences the physical ability, so it is a reciprocal relationship. The school’s education in sports and health, along with the school’s health care efforts to increase physical activity in daily life and positive body image in today’s teens can be seen as an important investment for the health and well-being of future adults, said Ann-Christin Sollerhed, senior lecturer in sports and health at Kristianstad University.
What sets the researchers’ results apart from previous studies is that young women reported positive well-being, positive body image and activity levels equal to, and sometimes slightly higher than, teenage boys. The researchers believe this is a good example of nonspecific gender behavior that can serve as a model for better well-being in women.
Body image includes the perception of both the appearance and function of the body. It also includes an attitude component that reflects the degree to which individuals are satisfied with the appearance and function of the body, and how one sees oneself. Body image can be divided into three components:
- Objective characteristics of the body, such as weight, size and body shape
- How the appearance of the body is experienced, ie whether one is satisfied or dissatisfied?
- How the body works in everyday life
Scientific articles:
Contact:
Pernilla Garmy, Assistant Professor of Nursing, Kristianstad University, [email protected]
Ann-Christin Sollerhed, Senior Lecturer in Sports and Health, Kristianstad University, ann-christin.sollerhed @ hkr.se
Fysical activity
Cognitive function, mood, and self-esteem are affected by physical activity.
Adolescents are recommended to perform moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for at least 60 minutes per day; but according to the World Health Organization WHO, 81 percent of the world’s youth do not achieve this goal.
Similar results are seen in Sweden, where 87 percent of boys and 91 percent of girls do not meet WHO recommendations according to the Swedish Public Health Agency. In recent decades, the physical activity level of young people has decreased and sedentary life has increased. By age 15, much of the population is inactive or sedentary about 75 percent of the time they are awake, according to the Swedish Agency for Public Health.
The School Children’s Health Habits (HBSC) survey, conducted by the Swedish Public Health Agency in 2017-2018 at the latest, found that 66 percent of girls and 85 percent of 15-year-old boys rated their well-being as high or very high.
