Comparison of Physical Activity in Male and Female Children: Does Maturation Matter?
- 1 October 2003
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
- Vol. 35 (10), 1684-1690
- https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000089244.44914.1f
Abstract
To investigate whether observed differences in physical activity levels in boys and girls are confounded by biological age differences particularly during the circumpubertal years. The physical activity questionnaire for children (PAQ-C) was administered biannually or triannually to 138 (70 boys; 68 girls) Canadian children for seven consecutive years from 1991 to 1997. Participants were 9-18 yr of age. Anthropometric measurements were taken biannually and age at peak height velocity (PHV) determined. Biological age was defined as years from PHV. The data were analyzed using t-tests and random effects models. Level of physical activity decreased with increasing chronological age in both sexes. When aligned on chronological age bands, boys had statistically significantly higher PAQ-C summary scores than girls from 10 through 16 yr of age (P < 0.05). However, when aligned on biological age, sex differences were not apparent, except at 3 yr before PHV. Random effects models of individual growth patterns confirmed these findings. Physical activity decreased with increasing chronological age in boys and girls. There were no sex differences in the longitudinal pattern of physical activity when the confounding effects of biological age were controlled except at 3 yr before PHV.Keywords
This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit:
- 1. Literature Survey of Longitudinal Growth ResearchPublished by S. Karger AG ,2015
- Longitudinal Study of the Number and Choice of Leisure Time Physical Activities From Mid to Late AdolescenceArchives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 2002
- Longitudinal changes in physical activity in a biracial cohort during adolescenceMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2000
- Effects of a Physical Activity Program on Children’s Activity Levels and Attraction to Physical ActivityPediatric Exercise Science, 1999
- A Six-Year Longitudinal Study of the Relationship of Physical Activity to Bone Mineral Accrual in Growing Children: The University of Saskatchewan Bone Mineral Accrual StudyJournal of Bone and Mineral Research, 1999
- Children’s Physical Activity Choices: A Developmental Analysis of Gender, Intensity Levels, and TimePediatric Exercise Science, 1999
- Convergent Validity of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for AdolescentsPediatric Exercise Science, 1997
- Measuring general levels of physical activity: preliminary evidence for the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older ChildrenMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 1997
- The Saskatchewan Pediatric Bone Mineral Accrual Study: Bone Mineral Acquisition During the Growing YearsInternational Journal of Sports Medicine, 1997
- Dietary and Physical Activity Assessment in School‐aged Children: Measurement IssuesJournal of School Health, 1991