Adolescent Males' Experiences with Physical Activity

Abstract

Abstract The benefits of long-term physical activity (PA) lead to a sense of well-being that may be developed and nurtured over the formative years, developing strong, healthy individuals who are positive contributors to society. However, youth participation in PA declines in the adolescent years (ParticipACTION, 2020). Due to lower PA rates among female adolescents (ParticipACTION, 2020), research has focused on female participation. As such, less is known on what influences adolescent males and their participation in PA. Additionally, the sedentary behaviour of adolescent males is increasing in concern and the impact of this behaviour on their health (Michael et al., 2020). To address this gap in understanding regarding the low levels of PA among adolescent males and the strategies to help address it, the purpose of the study was to identify and understand the factors that influence adolescent males’ experiences with PA. Using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) (Alase, 2017) twelve Grade 9 male students from one junior high school participated in semi-structured interviews. Following a socio-ecological framework, the following five levels were used to support the development of the interview guide, frame the data for interpretation, and suggest interventions across the multi-layers: (1) Intrapersonal, (2) Interpersonal, (3) Institutional, (4) Community, and (5) Policy (Sallis & Owen, 2015). Using six phases of thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006; Braun et al., 2016), themes were created within each of the socio-ecological levels. The findings suggest that adolescent males are influenced by their early experiences that will either hinder further participation, or provide the confidence to continue engaging in PA. Adolescent males identified influential factors such as choosing the activity they enjoy with their friends in a space that allows for competition and growth at their skill level. The factors that participants’ identified as influencing their engagement in PA are important to broaden the understanding for those who work with adolescent males and to better align programs to enhance their experiences.