Association between perceived discrimination and physical activity among adolescents

Ciencia e Saude Coletiva

article

Martins Neto, Carlos¹  Confortin, Susana Cararo¹  Lima, Alice Bianca Santana¹  Mouzinho, Leandro Saldanha Nunes¹  Oliveira, Bruno Luciano Carneiro Alves de¹ 

[1] Universidade Federal do Maranhão

关键词: Discrimination;    Physical activity;    Mental disorders;    Adolescents;   

DOI  :  10.1590/1413-812320222710.05992022EN

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Associacao Brasileira de Pos - Graduacao em Saude Coletiva

【 摘 要 】

Perceived discrimination is a major producer of stress and social trauma and can have negative effects on the physical and mental health of those exposed to it. This study aims to analyze the direct and indirect association between perceived discrimination and physical activity, mediated by common mental disorders in adolescents. This is a cross-sectional study with 2,484 adolescents (aged 18 and 19 years old) from a cohort in São Luís, Maranhão. Structural equation models were used to verify the direct effect of perceived discrimination on physical activity (PA) and its indirect effect mediated by common mental disorders (CMD). The potential of sex to act as an effect-modifying variable was also tested. Discrimination was associated with higher levels of PA in women (SC - Standardized Coefficient direct =0.105, p-value=0.005), and indirectly associated with lower PA via CMT among men (SCindirect =-0.024, p-value=0.017) and women (SCindirect =-0.024, p-value=0.015). Our findings show the association between perceived discrimination and PA in this population of adolescents, attesting that its effects can alter health behaviors and that gender can modify the relation between these variables.

【 授权许可】

CC BY