Atividade física e qualidade de vida em adolescentes jovens aprendizes: uma análise a partir do questionário IPAQ

Abstract

Introduction: Physical activity can be defined as any activity performed, whether in one's free time or not, formally in gyms and clubs, or independently in parks and squares. The Apprentice Law sought to encourage low-income youth to find their first job, without previous employment, to help with family income by balancing work and studies. Objective: To analyze whether the physical activities performed by adolescent workers in apprenticeship programs in their free time contribute to improving their quality of life, both inside and outside the workplace, as well as whether these physical activities have been a possible way to prevent potential illnesses/diseases arising from work activities. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study conducted at training institutions for young apprentices in the cities of Uberlândia and Uberaba. To identify whether or not adolescent apprentices engage in sports, recreational, and/or leisure activities and their influence on health promotion and quality of life, the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was applied. After applying the questionnaire, the research resulted in 216 participants, 116 in the city of Uberlândia and 100 in the city of Uberaba. Results: The sample analyzed consisted of 216 individuals, 55.8% in Uberlândia and 44.2% in Uberaba. Regarding work relationships, the average number of hours worked in both cities ranged from 16.17 (± 10.22) in Uberlândia and 14.83 (± 7.79) in Uberaba. Conclusion: The data collected in this study demonstrate that physical activity is essential for adolescent health, providing prospects for a healthy adult life. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire instrument used in this research proved to be reliable, yielding acceptable results regarding the physical activity levels of the study participants.