Physical activities practiced in free time by 15-16 years old students: determinants, aims and parents' influence in Romania and the Republic of Moldova

The main aim of our paper is to deepen the influence of parents on Romanian and Moldovan-Romanian schooled adolescents who use to practice physical activities in their free time. The study aims to understand parents’ impact on the motivation for physical activity practice in their daughters and sons. In this regard, we will show some data regarding this influence collected through a questionnaire administered to a group of students from Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of 100 adolescents in each country. Our data show the role of parents, as main educational agents, in influencing the involvement of adolescents in physical activities. In conclusion, this study wants to encourage Romanian and Moldovan parents to take awareness of their role as both sports and educational agents who, in their respective countries, are influencing the motivation for physical activity in their children.