JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Participation in organised sports and other forms of active living have important health benefits in adolescence and adulthood. Unfortunately, the transition to secondary school has shown to be a barrier to participation rates. The social network can play an important role in activating adolescents, and information and communication technology (ICT) interventions can augment that role. As yet, there are few insights into what adolescents themselves think and feel about barriers and motivators for active living, the role of their social networks in active living, and the potential of ICT for physical activity.

Objective:

This study aims to gather insights into 12–14-year olds’ thoughts on active living and sport participation, motivators and demotivators for active living, the potential role of their social network, and the potential role of ICT.

Methods:

26 participants aged 12–14 from different levels of Dutch secondary schools took part in one of five focus group interviews. All interviews were transcribed and analysed using a thematic qualitative approach.

Results:

The study showed that all participants were physically active, although the transition to secondary school has made this harder. Participants regarded social benefits as strong motivators for active living: being together, making friends, having fun together; however, the social network can also demotivate. Participants were willing to share and hear about positive experiences, mostly with close others, but would not share (nor were interested in) negative experiences or personal information. From others, participants are mainly interested in descriptive norms and inspiration for physical activity. In ICT for active living, participants stated a preference for social challenges, personalised feedback / goals / activities, and rewards. Competition was seen as less important or even unattractive; if mentioned, participants felt this should be with friends, or peers of similar level, with fun being more important than the competition itself.

Conclusions:

The current paper shows that adolescents feel their social network is and can be a strong driver of active living. They are willing to use ICT-based solutions that make use of the social network for physical activity, as long as these solutions involve their current (close) network and uses an approach based on being together and having fun together. Clinical Trial: N/a