Para além do indivíduo: uma abordagem socioecológica ao comportamento na atividade física

Abstract

The practice of physical activity (PA) has been the central topic of numerous debates over the last few decades, with special attention given to the low levels of these practices around the world. The present investigation aims to analyze variations in levels of recreational PA in territories with different population densities in Portugal and analyze how the levels of the socioecological model influence these practices in both geographic contexts. More specifically, an essay and four qualitative and quantitative studies were developed, which respond to a set of specific objectives: (1) to promote a reflection on PA and sports practice in the current context in Portugal, taking into account the main benefits of PA; (2) to identify the priority policies and investments in sports planning in a municipality in northeastern Portugal, as well as the conceptions and difficulties of local representatives regarding the importance of sport; (3) to analyze how intrapersonal and interpersonal motivational factors influence compliance with weekly PA recommendations, with special attention to the sociocultural specificities of the population of northeastern Portugal; (4) to analyze how individual factors, types of social support and population density interact and influence the practice of recreational PA, with the aim of developing contextualized interventions for its promotion; and (5) analyze how environmental perceptions, access to facilities, household resources, climate conditions and gender influence recreational PA in high and low density areas in Portugal. The results showed that individual factors, social support, population density, climate perception, and access to sports infrastructure are predictors of PA levels. These findings reinforce the importance of developing personalized interventions tailored to each geographic context to effectively promote increased PA levels and consequent community health indicators.