Exploring Context-Specific Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Patterns Among Youth Enrolled in Kansas 4-H Programming

Understanding how physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) vary by age, gender, and geographic context is essential to inform targeted public health strategies. This study characterized context-specific patterns of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and SB among Kansas youth participating in 4-H programming. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by a convenience sample of 796 Kansas youth (Grades 3-12; 53% female; 70% rural; 94% White) enrolled in 4-H. Youth, independently or with a parent, completed the Youth Activity Profile to estimate MVPA and SB across six contexts: average daily, weekday, weekend, school-, and home-based MVPA, and home-based SB. Linear regression models were computed for each outcome, with three-way interactions between gender, grade, and rurality. Participants averaged 67.6 minutes of daily MVPA and 4.2 hours of home-based SB, with similar MVPA levels on weekdays and weekends (66.4 vs. 70.5 minutes/day). Significant main effects of grade and gender were found across all MVPA and SB outcomes (all p’s < .05), with MVPA declining by grade and consistently lower among girls. Significant grade-by-rurality interactions were observed for weekday (B = -1.18, SE = 0.58, p = .04) and school-based MVPA (B = -0.90, SE = 0.44, p = .04), indicating steeper age-related declines among urban youth. No other interactions were statistically significant (all p’s > .05). While average MVPA levels met recommendations, steep age-related declines and persistent gender disparities – especially among high school girls – highlight the need for developmentally appropriate, gender-responsive PA promotion strategies. Programs like 4-H may offer scalable, context-specific PA opportunities to support youth at greatest risk of inactivity-related health consequences.