| Keywords |
Puberty ; Biological maturation ; Gender-sensitive approach ; Health and well-being |
| Abstract |
Physical activity and sedentary behavior is important modifiable behavioral factors for health; thus, researchers have focused on identifying correlates and determinants of physical activity and sedentary behavior. These information is essential to inform the development of behavioral change interventions and programs (i.e., promoting physicalactivity while minimizing sedentary behavior). Given that physical activity and sedentary behavior is multi-dimensional, and patterns of these behaviors vary by cultural contexts, having a population-specific understanding of how individual-, family-, and cultural-level factors interdependently influence physical activity and sedentary behavior is of importance. This study discusses the background and concept of a biocultural perspective in physical activity and sedentary behavior, which introduced by Malina in 2008, and presents future research recommendations that are appropriate for the context of South Korea. By taking a holistic approach, the biocultural perspective emphasizes the importance of integrating the understanding of biological traits (i.e., age, sex, maturity status, ethnicity, and genetics) with psychological, social, and environmental determinants to better understand the physical activity and sedentary behavior of children and adolescents. The biocultural perspective offers a theoretical framework on the sphere of physical activity and sedentary behavior, in which factors influencing physical activity and sedentary behavior are viewed as being coordinated and not isolated. |