Friendship networks and physical activity and sedentary behavior among youth: a systematized review

Table 1 Summary of the associations between friendship networks and physical activity and sedentary behavior across reviewed studies

		*Associations with physical activity*			*Associations with sedentary behavior*
		Positive	Null	Negative	Positive	Null	Negative
Boys	Close friends	[15], [39]^{a, b}, [31], [41]	[15], [31]		[15]	[15]
	Friendship group	[38]*
	Popularity	[15]	[15], [47]	[45]^b		[15]
	Friendship selection
Girls	Close friends	[15], [39]^{a, b}, [41], [42]*^a	[15], [39]^a , [31], [41], [42]*		[15]	[15]
	Friendship group	[42], [38]
	Popularity	[45]^b	[15], [47]		[15]	[15]
	Friendship selection
Boys and girls	Close friends	[43]^b, [40]^b
	Friendship group	[14], [44]	[44]			[14]
	Popularity	[45]^b, [46]	[40]	[45]			[46]
	Friendship selection	[43]^b	[40]^b

Note. *Associations significant at p <.10. All other associations significant at p <.05.
^a = reciprocated nominations only.
^b = longitudinal analysis.
Close friends: Physical activity or sedentary behavior of nominated best friend or close friends. Friendship group: Average physical activity or sedentary behavior of nominated friends. Popularity: Higher number of received friendship nominations or a higher measure of friendship rating/status (i.e., number of nominations received for preference to play with). Friendship selection: Individual choosing a friend based on similarities with his or her own physical activity or sedentary behavior.

ISSN: 1479-5868