<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Background. Studies of the relationship between leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and substance use among adolescents report contradictory results. The aim of our study was to examine the association between self-reported leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use among adolescents in Slovenia. Methods. Subjects consisted of 822 school children aged from 14 to 16 years, living in urban area of Ljubljana and Maribor. The data was collected using the EURO URHIS 2 survey. Logistic regressions were conducted to assess the correlation between the independent variables of physical activity; time spent watching television and using the computer, and each of the five substance use dependent variables. Results. Frequency of daily smoking was significantly associated with leisure time physical activity, while alcohol and cannabis use were not. Watching TV ≥ 2 hours per day was associated with heavy episodic drinking in the past month, no associations were found for smoking and cannabis use. Using the computer ≥ 2 hours per day was positively associated with daily smoking, drinking alcohol in the past month, heavy episodic drinking in the past month and ever being intoxicated, while cannabis use was not. Conclusions. These findings suggest that leisure time physical activity is associated with daily cigarette smoking, and leisure time sedentary behaviour is associated with alcohol and tobacco use among adolescents. The results of our study show the need for the formation of suitable preventive measures concerning reduced sitting time as well as leisure time physical activity targeted to adolescents.</abstract>

Background. Studies of the relationship between leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and substance use among adolescents report contradictory results. The aim of our study was to examine the association between self-reported leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use among adolescents in Slovenia. Methods. Subjects consisted of 822 school children aged from 14 to 16 years, living in urban area of Ljubljana and Maribor. The data was collected using the EURO URHIS 2 survey. Logistic regressions were conducted to assess the correlation between the independent variables of physical activity; time spent watching television and using the computer, and each of the five substance use dependent variables. Results. Frequency of daily smoking was significantly associated with leisure time physical activity, while alcohol and cannabis use were not. Watching TV ≥ 2 hours per day was associated with heavy episodic drinking in the past month, no associations were found for smoking and cannabis use. Using the computer ≥ 2 hours per day was positively associated with daily smoking, drinking alcohol in the past month, heavy episodic drinking in the past month and ever being intoxicated, while cannabis use was not. Conclusions. These findings suggest that leisure time physical activity is associated with daily cigarette smoking, and leisure time sedentary behaviour is associated with alcohol and tobacco use among adolescents. The results of our study show the need for the formation of suitable preventive measures concerning reduced sitting time as well as leisure time physical activity targeted to adolescents.

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Substance use Among Adolescents in Slovenian Urban Area / Telesna Aktivnost, Oblike Sedečega Vedenja In Uživanje Psihoaktivnih Snovi Med Mladostniki V Slovenskem Urbanem Okolju

National Institute of Public Health, Maribor Unit, Prvomajska 1, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Background. Studies of the relationship between leisure time physical activity, sedentary behaviour and substance use among adolescents report contradictory...

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Substance use Among Adolescents in Slovenian Urban Area / Telesna Aktivnost, Oblike Sedečega Vedenja In Uživanje Psihoaktivnih Snovi Med Mladostniki V Slovenskem Urbanem Okolju

Published Online: Jun 09, 2015

Page range: 168 - 174

Received: Oct 27, 2014

Accepted: Feb 03, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2015-0024

Keywords
alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, adolescents, computer use, watching television

© National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Substance use Among Adolescents in Slovenian Urban Area / Telesna Aktivnost, Oblike Sedečega Vedenja In Uživanje Psihoaktivnih Snovi Med Mladostniki V Slovenskem Urbanem Okolju

Published Online: Jun 09, 2015

Page range: 168 - 174

Received: Oct 27, 2014

Accepted: Feb 03, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2015-0024

Keywordsalcohol, tobacco, marijuana, adolescents, computer use, watching television

© National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, adolescents, computer use, watching television