The Relationship Between Social Integration and Physical Activity, Diet, and Sleep Among Youths: Cross-sectional Survey Study

Abstract

Background: Social integration has been shown to predict physical activity (PA), diet, and sleep in adults. However, these associations have not been well-studied in youth samples. Using a life course perspective, it is imperative to study this in youths as social and health behaviors are established early in life.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between social integration and PA, diet, and sleep for urban, middle-school youth.

Methods: Cross-sectional baseline data from middle-school youths (N=73) who participated in an afterschool health behavior intervention were included in this study.

Results: Time with friends significantly predicted moderate to vigorous intensity PA (β=.33, P=.02). Time spent with family was significantly related to fruit consumption (t66=1.38, P=.005) and vegetable consumption (t72=1.96, P=.01).

Conclusions: Social integration appears to be related to both PA and nutrition behaviors in youths. Future research should expand on our findings to explain how different domains of social integration may impact youths’ health behaviors.