Self-related health, physical activity and complaints in Swedish high school students.

Full Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to study self-related health, physical activity and level of exertion, as well as body complaints in Swedish high school students. A total of 993 high school students aged 16-19 years participated in the study. A questionnaire was completed at school and included questions about self-related health, physical activity behavior, type of physical activity/sport, intensity, duration, possible injuries or complaints, and absence from physical training at school, during the last 3 months. The results showed that 26% of the high school students participated in sports on a regular basis. Males reported significantly better health than females (p < 0.0005). A significantly higher number of females participated in physical activities at a lower level of effort (p < 0.0005) and a higher number of males trained at a higher level of effort (p < 0.005). Sixty-one percent reported body pain during the last 3 months, representing a higher number of females than males (p = 0.03). A higher number of females than males reported complaints from the back (p = 0.002), the knees (p = 0.015), the neck (p = 0.001), and the hip (p = 0.015). Females with body complaints reported poorer health than those without complaints. There was a correlation between poor self-related health and a lower level of physical effort (0.219; p < 0.001). The results showed that the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was high in this population and demonstrated a certain association with self-related health. Therefore, it is important to make it easy for adolescents to perform physical activity at school and during their leisure time in order to prevent chronic diseases.

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Author information

Author/s: Alricsson, Marie (M); Landstad, Bodil J (BJ); Romild, Ulla (U); Werner, Suzanne (S);

Affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Ostersund, Sweden. marie.alricsson(-atsign-)miun.se

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: TheScientificWorldJournal (ScientificWorldJournal), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-; vol 6 (issue ) : pp 816-26

Dates: Created 2006/07/24; Completed 2006/08/29; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 16862350, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Exercise
Female
Health Surveys
Humans
Male
Pain - epidemiology

Pain - epidemiology
Physical Exertion
Physical Fitness
Questionnaires
Schools
Sports
Students
Sweden

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