Pathways to outdoor recreation, physical activity, and delinquency among urban Latino adolescents

Abstract

Background: Little is known about how physical activity and various high-risk behaviors of youth are associated, particularly in disadvantaged, minority neighborhoods. Purpose: We examine whether fear, victimization, and perceived incivilities are associated with physical activity and outdoor recreation among Latino youth and whether involvement in physical activity is associated with delinquency. Methods: Path models were assessed using data collected from school-based surveys of 390 youth across 3 schools in Chicago, Illinois. Results: Fear was associated with low levels of physical activity and outdoor recreation, while incivilities were associated with reduced levels of outdoor recreation but not physical activity. Outdoor recreation exhibited a positive association with delinquency. Some effects differed by gender. Conclusions: The findings reinforce considering different interventions to encourage physical activity and outdoor recreation for girls versus boys, and thinking comprehensively about lowering the risk for delinquency when encouraging outdoor recreation. © The Society of Behavioral Medicine 2012.