Adolescent employment and physical activity

Background: Research exists on youth employment and its impact on overall health and well being. Results are mixed: Some studies indicate that <20 hours per week of after school employment can have a beneficial impact on students' grades and peer interaction. Other studies indicate that as the number of hours a student works increases (>20 hours per week), so do risky behaviors, such as sexual activity, smoking and drug taking, sleeping in class and lower grades. Little is known about the impacts of types and amounts of employment on physical activity. Objectives: Examine the association between after school employment and levels of physical activity among city high school students. This will include the association between type of employment and physical activity. Also examine the role of after school activity and risky behaviors such as smoking. Methods: Out of school employment, risky behaviors, attitudes and practices of physical activity were measured using a web based survey, as well as three day physical activity recall. Objective measures of physical activity levels were obtained by using accelerometers, worn by the students for 7 consecutive days. Results: Multivariate analysis will compare after school employment and time spent in physical activity, controlling for grade, gender, SES and type of employment. Risky behavior will also be assessed. Conclusion: Multiple factors affect physical activity levels, with after school employment being one of them. Policy approaches addressing healthy after school employment practices for teens need to be developed, taking into account adolescent's physical activity needs and behaviors.