Associations of sedentary behaviors and physical activity with social isolation in 100,839 school students: The Brazilian Scholar Health Survey

• Published in: General hospital psychiatry 2019-07, Vol.59, p.7-13
• Main Authors: Werneck, André O., Collings, Paul J., Barboza, Luciana L., Stubbs, Brendon, Silva, Danilo R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Brazil - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise; Female; Friends; Health Surveys; Humans; Loneliness; Male; Motor activity; Schools - statistics & numerical data; Sedentary Behavior; Sedentary lifestyle; Social Isolation; Social support; Students - statistics & numerical data
• ISSN: 0163-8343; 1873-7714
• DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2019.04.010

To examine the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and social isolation in a representative sample of Brazilian adolescents. Cross sectional analyses using data from the Brazilian Scholar Health Survey conducted in 2015. The sample included 100,839 adolescents (mean age: 14.3 y, 51.4% Female) from 3040 schools. Information about social isolation (number of close friends and perceived loneliness), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and sedentary behaviors (total sitting time and TV viewing) were self-reported. Chronological age, race and type of city (state capital or other) were co-variables. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the data (results are presented as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals). Physical activity was associated with lower odds of both social isolation indicators in boys, and with lower likelihood of having few friends in girls. Greater sitting time was associated with higher likelihood of social isolation, as was low (