Sex and race/ethnicity differences in the 24-hour movement behaviors among adolescents in the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS)

Purpose: To compare components of the 24-hour movement behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep) across sex and race/ethnic groups among a diverse sample of adolescents to identity potential gaps and opportunities for intervention. Methods: The sample consisted of 704 adolescents (15.4 ± 0.6 years; 51% Black; 53% female) from year 15 of the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Twenty-four-hour movement behaviors were measured over a week-long period using waist- and wrist-worn accelerometry. Sex, racial, and ethnic differences in 24-hour movement behaviors were examined with chi-square and t-test analyses. Results: Female adolescents, on average, spent less time in light physical activity (LPA) and in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) than male adolescents. Additionally, female adolescents spent more time in sedentary behavior and had longer daily total sleep time than adolescent males. Black adolescents had higher average LPA than White adolescents. Black adolescents also had higher average MVPA and LPA than Hispanic/Latino adolescents. Hispanic/Latino youth had longer total sleep time, and more sedentary time than Black youth. No other significant differences were observed across these demographic groups. Conclusions: There is a continued need for interventions to promote physical activity and sleep among adolescents, with a particular focus on increasing sleep duration among boys and physical activity among girls and Hispanic/Latino adolescents.