Sociocultural influences on exercise behaviours and attitudes in adolescence

Background

Research to date has identified a relationship between exercise in adolescence and four sociocultural influences: peers, family, media, and technology. Less is known, however, about the role that these sociocultural influences play in driving adolescents’ exercise behaviours and attitudes; particularly social media and fitness tracking technology use. This study aimed to investigate how and why sociocultural factors are linked to exercise behaviours and attitudes in adolescent boys and girls.

Methods

Eight focus groups were conducted in UK secondary schools with 55 12-16-year-old adolescents (M = 14.11; SD = 1.49; n = 27 females). Following transcription and thematic analysis, two key themes were identified: (1) exercise pressures; (2) modelling exercise behaviours and attitudes.

Results

Exercise pressures were reported to stem from parental and peer expectations around exercise, and from feeling pressure to meet externally prescribed fitness tracking technology goals. Adolescents also reported modelling the exercise behaviours of their parents or peers for social affiliation and as a means to achieve socially endorsed ‘ideal’ body types.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the need for exercise interventions to consider the importance of exercise-related messages from others and tendencies towards conformity as a result of sociocultural expectations around exercise in adolescents.