Social reproduction of physical activity

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Abstract
Using a health promotion perspective, nationwide surveys on health behaviours and life-styles were carried out in 11 countries in 1985–1986. The surveys were part of the study 'Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC), a World Health Organization cross-national survey'. The analyses of these survey data from 13 and 15 year olds in Austria, Norway and Wales indicated that high levels of participation in physical activity by adolescents are associated with the physical activity levels of their parents and best friends, finding it easy to make new friends and liking school. Intervention aimed at increasing the number of adolescents who adopt and maintain participation in leisure-time physical activities is likely to be more successful if a greater number of strategies in several different settings are applied. The findings are explained as being a result of the social reproduction process and it is suggested that awareness about how this process affects the development of health behaviour and life-styles is vital in establishing realistic goals when planning and evaluating youth health promotion efforts.

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