Gender Differences Relating to Lifestyle Habits and Health-Related Quality of Life of Adolescents
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Gender Differences Relating to Lifestyle Habits and Health-Related Quality of Life of Adolescents Raúl Jiménez Boraita 1 & Esther Gargallo Ibort 1 & Josep María Dalmau Torres 1 & Daniel Arriscado Alsina 1 Accepted: 4 March 2020/ # Springer Nature B.V. 2020
Abstract Adolescence is a decisive stage in human development during which individuals can experience intense physical, psychological, emotional and social changes. The objective of the study was to analyse the lifestyle differences associated with the health of adolescents as a function of gender. For this, a cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 761 adolescents, distributed between 383 males (14.55 ± 1.64 years) and 378 females (14.46 ± 1.63 years). Relative to males, females presented significantly lower values for engaging in physical activity, maximal oxygen uptake, physical wellbeing, psychological wellbeing and body satisfaction. In exchange, females demonstrated higher vegetable consumption in the daily diet and greater satisfaction in the educational context. Weak or moderate associations were observed amongst the various variables of physical and mental health in both sexes, with these being stronger in females. In particular, the association of the Mediterranean diet with better quality of life, self-esteem and physical activity engagement stands out. Further, exclusively in the case of females, associations were identified between quality of life and body satisfaction. The significant differences found according to the gender of adolescents suggest that educational and health organisations should give more consideration to establishing intervention strategies that are appropriate to the needs of each gender. Specific intervention is important, particularly in the case of females. This should aim to improve self-esteem, combat pressure and social stereotypes around their body figure, and sculpt physical practice so that it is adapted to their interests, needs and tastes, improving their experience with PA. Keywords Lifestyle . Health . Adolescence . Physical wellbeing . Psychological wellbeing
* Raúl Jiménez Boraita [email protected] Extended author information available on the last page of the article
R. J. Boraita et al.
1 Introduction The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines adolescence as the period following infancy and preceding adulthood, being understood as occurring between 10 and 19 years of age (WHO 1999). It is a stage characterised by continuous changes in the biological, social, psychological and sexual ambit, in addition to the search for one’s own identity (Eisenberg et al. 2015). In this way, adolescence can be considered as a fundamental stage in relation to present and future health. It is a period during which habits acquired in previous stages are consolidated and new ones are incorporated, thus determining future health into adulthood (Ames et al. 2018). Thus, lifestyle is defined both by the context in which the adolescent develops and the psychological changes that take place during this stage (Salvy et
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