Narratives of adolescents with an active and sedentary lifestyle

This study sought to analyse the narratives of adolescents who have adopted an active or a sedentary lifestyle, and to identify psychological, behavioural, social and environmental variables related to an active and a sedentary lifestyle among adolescents. Narrative interviews were conducted with 2 girls (1active and 1 sedentary) and 2 boys (1 active and 1sedentary). Thematic analysis identified a number of key personal, social and environmental influences on physical activity (PA) that distinguished the two groups of students, through their childhood and adolescence. These included PA history, the value of sedentary behaviours, social support from family and friends for PA, safety and PA facilities in the local neighbourhood, PA participation in school besides Physical Education (PE), primary and secondary school and experiences in PE, PE teachers and PE peers, PA and health knowledge and perception of PE goals, and attitudes toward school and PE.