Peer support and perceptions of physical activity are significantly and positively associated with physical activity among secondary school students, with this association exhibiting different characteristics across gender groups but no significant differences across year groups.
Nearly half of high school students reported low levels of physical activity.
Boys received significantly more peer support for physical activity than girls.
No significant differences in peer support or parental support were found across grade levels.
Parental support was not significantly associated with physical activity levels among secondary school students.
Peer support was significantly and positively associated with physical activity levels in both boys and girls, but the nature of the association differed by gender.
Perceptions of physical activity were significantly and positively associated with physical activity levels among secondary school students.
This research surveyed 841 high school students in China to understand how social support from peers and parents, as well as students' own attitudes toward physical activity, relate to how physically active they are. The study found that nearly half of students (46%) had low physical activity levels, and that overall students received relatively little encouragement for physical activity from either peers or parents. Boys tended to receive more peer encouragement for physical activity than girls. The study found that support from friends and peers was an important factor linked to higher physical activity levels for both boys and girls, but the relationship worked somewhat differently for each group. For boys, having more peer support was linked to both more positive views about physical activity and higher activity levels. For girls, peer support was linked to higher activity levels but not necessarily to more positive views about physical activity. Interestingly, support from parents did not show a significant connection to activity levels, and there were no meaningful differences in social support patterns across different school year groups. This research suggests that public health nurses and school health professionals looking to increase physical activity among teenagers should consider focusing on peer-based interventions — such as encouraging group activities or social support networks among students — rather than relying primarily on parental involvement. The gender differences found also suggest that programs may need to be tailored differently for boys and girls to be most effective.
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Upload Your LabsGuo L, Zhou X, Guo Q, Lin L. (2026). A study on the environmental characteristics and social support for physical activity among adolescents: implications for public health nursing.. Frontiers in public health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1835941