The Factors Determining the Physical Activity of Students: A Systematic Review

Background Physical activity in students in addition to positively affecting their different health aspects is also effective in academic progress and reducing absence from school. Physical activity in students is affected by several factors. The aim of this systematic review research was to identify the factors determining physical activities in students. Materials and Methods The search for detecting relevant studies was performed in electronic databases within the time range of 2008-2018. The studies were searched in Google scholar, Medline, Cochran, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included in the review. Assessment of the quality of papers was performed using New Castle-Ottawa (BOS) scale. Then, the required information was extracted and the results were reported qualitatively. Results A total of 12 studies (including 41,407 year-old students) were enrolled in the research according to inclusion criteria. The demographic factors associated with physical activity included age, gender, academic degree of parents and economic status. On the other hand, the psychological factors were supported by parents, support of friends, and lack of time due to school homework, computer games, sense of laziness and self-efficacy, which had a relationship with physical activity of students. Further, the environmental determinants included climatic conditions, sports facilities and equipment, and lighting of passages. Conclusion In students' physical activity, factors such as demographic, psychological, and environmental factors are involved. Identification of these factors can be used in health promotion interventions and planning for students.