POPULATIONS AT RISK ACROSS THE LIFESPAN:EMPIRICAL STUDIES Correlates of Exercise Participation in Adolescents Ali A. Ammouri, Harsohena Kaur,Geri B. Neuberger, Byron Gajewski, and Won S.Choi ABSTRACT Objective: The purpose of this analysis was to determine correlates of exercise partici- pation among adolescents. Design: A secondary analysis was conducted of data from a cross-sectional survey of 300 adolescents seen at an urban clinic. Using descriptive statistics and path analysis, we examined the direct and indirect effects of independent variables on exercise participation. Results: Inde- pendent variables accounted for 15% of variance in exercise participation. In gender-stratified models, independent variables explained 18% of the variance for females. Older females were associated with lower exercise participation scores (b 5  .273, po.001). Adolescent females who reported a strong re- lationship with parent(s) reported higher exercise participation scores (b 5 .146, po.05). Females with higher perception of environmental opportunities for exercise were associated with higher exercise par- ticipation (b 5 .180, po.05). Depressive symptoms had the strongest indirect effect (b 5  .10) on exer- cise participation via behavior-specific cognitions/affect factors among females. Conclusion: The results support that interventions to increase exercise should focus on older female adolescents. Providing infor- mation about environmental opportunities for exercise, enhancing relationship with parents, and inter- vening with adolescents at risk for depression might improve exercise rates in female adolescents. Key words: correlates, exercise, female adolescents, physical activity. Determinants of physical activity in adolescents differ from those in adults. Factors that increase adoles- cents’ likelihood to engage in exercise participation include a history of being active, achievement orienta- tion, intention to be active, perceived physical compe- tence, opportunities to be active (such as involvement in community sports), active parent support, level of peer or sibling activity, encouragement of signifi- cant others, access to recreation facilities and pro- grams, and time spent outdoors (Pender, Murdaugh, & Parsons, 2002; Sallis, Prochaska, & Tylor, 2000). Gender has been a significant predictor of exer- cise participation in previous studies. In their review, Sallis et al. (2000) found that 27 of 28 comparisons supported the conclusion that boys were more active than girls. Adolescents’ interests and participation in physical activity differ by gender. For example, com- pared with adolescent males, adolescent females are less likely to participate in team sports, and are more likely to participate in aerobics or dance (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 1996). Females and males also perceive different benefits of physical activity (Kelder, Perry, Peters, Lytle, & Klepp, 1995); for example, adolescent males more often cite competition and adolescent females more often cite weight manage- ment as a reason for engaging in physical activity (Kelder et al., 1995; Trost et al., 1997). Adolescent Ali A. Ammouri, R.N., Ph.D., is Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jor- dan. Harsohena Kaur, M.D., M.P.H., is Assistant Profes- sor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Geri B. Neuberger, R.N., Ed.D., is Professor,School of Nursing,University of Kan- sas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas. Byron Gajewski, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.Won S. Choi, M.P.H., Ph.D., is Associate Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas. Correspondence to: Ali A. Ammouri, School of Nursing, Hashemite Univer- sity, PO Box 150459, Zarqa 13115, Jordan. E-mail: a4ammouri2000@yahoo.com 111 Public Health Nursing Vol. 24 No. 2, pp. 111–120 0737-1209/r 2007, The Authors Journal Compilation r 2007, Blackwell Publishing, Inc.