Theme | Summary of key items within the theme |
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Associations between physical activity and social group status | • Being good at sports (particularly football or "soccer") is a key status symbol for boys; boys popular at sports also seems to be a key factor in identifying leaders within the school. |
• For girls the link between physical activity and social status is less clear. For some girls being good at sports is seen as a positive status symbol, in other group poor sporting ability also has high social status. | |
• The perceived gender difference in this perception was reported by both boys but participants from lower SES schools seemed to be able to articulate this difference more clearly. | |
Initiation of physical activity | Friends provide social support to start physical activity via: |
• Co-participation in physical activity, for example by a friend taking the child to the new activity. | |
• Modeling of being activity by older children or friends | |
• Verbal support to initiate a new physical activity; particularly in the form of joining new activity clubs. | |
Maintenance of physical activity | The maintenance of active behaviors was influenced by two factors: |
• Physical activity is enjoyable | |
• Comparison of active and sedentary pursuits: Participants commented that the social aspects of activity are often preferable to the more solitary pursuits that can be associated with screen-time. |