Papers by Anita Blackstaffe
Journal of Obesity, 2014
Background. Adolescent friendships have been linked to physical activity levels; however, network... more Background. Adolescent friendships have been linked to physical activity levels; however, network characteristics have not been broadly examined. Method. In a cross-sectional analysis of 1061 adolescents (11-15 years), achieving 60 minutes/day of moderateto-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and participating in over 2 hours/day of sedentary behaviour were determined based on friendship network characteristics (density; proportion of active/sedentary friends; betweenness centrality; popularity; clique membership) and perceived social support. Results. Adolescents with no friendship nominations participated in less MVPA. For boys and girls, a ten percent point increase in active friends was positively associated with achievement of 60 minutes/day of MVPA (OR 1.11; 95% CI 1.02-1.21, OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.02-1.27, resp.). For boys, higher social support from friends was negatively associated with achieving 60 minutes/day of MVPA (OR 0.63; 95% CI 0.42-0.96). Compared with low density networks, boys in higher density networks were more likely to participate in over 2 hours/day of sedentary behaviour (OR 2.93; 95% CI 1.32-6.49). Social support from friends also modified associations between network characteristics and MVPA and sedentary behaviour. Conclusion. Different network characteristics appeared to have different consequences. The proportion of active close friends was associated with MVPA, while network density was associated with sedentary behaviour. This poses challenges for intervention design.
Paediatrics & child health, 2011
Results of studies examining associations between socioeconomic status and obesity among children... more Results of studies examining associations between socioeconomic status and obesity among children are mixed. To examine whether physical activity, television viewing, computer use, and fruit, vegetable, soft drink and sweet consumption differed according to familial affluence of children attending schools in disadvantaged communities. A total of 218 children (seven to 11 years of age) recruited from three Calgary (Alberta) schools located in two adjacent socioeconomically disadvantaged neighbourhoods completed online surveys during the spring of 2005/2006. The number of days per week participating in vigorous physical activity for more than 20 min, and weekly frequency of fruit, vegetable, sweet and soft drink consumption were collected. Time spent watching television and using a computer during a normal school day was also captured. A family affluence scale was used to assess socioeconomic status (number of family holidays in the past year, ownership of motor vehicles and computers...
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Papers by Anita Blackstaffe