Social, psychological and behavioural correlates of pedometer step counts in a sample of Australian adolescents

The purpose of this study was to examine potential correlates of objectively measured physical activity among a sample of Australian adolescents. Participants were 119 14-15 year old students from three secondary schools. Students wore pedometers for 4 consecutive school days and completed questionnaires assessing demographic, social, psychological and behavioural correlates of physical activity. Mean steps/day were 11,865 (±3997) for boys (n = 47) and 9466 (±3195) for girls (n = 72). Approximately one-third of boys (32%) and girls (33%) satisfied existing step recommendations (girls 11,000 steps/day and boys 13,000 steps/day). In the first instance, the relationship between factors and physical activity was assessed using bivariate correlation. Enjoyment of physical activity (r = 0.37, p < 0.05), use of self-management strategies (r = 0.33, p < 0.05) and perceived barriers (r = -0.39, p < 0.05) were significantly related to mean steps/day among boys. Peer support (r = 0.26, p < 0.05) and the use of self-management strategies (r = 0.30, p < 0.05) were significantly associated with mean steps/day for girls. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that gender, peer support, self-management strategies and perceived barriers accounted for 16% of the variance in mean steps/day. This study has identified a number of potentially modifiable correlates of objectively measured physical activity in sample of Australian adolescents.