Children’s Perceptions of Physical Activity for Adults: Competence and Appropriateness

The purpose of this study was to determine whether children’s perceptions of competence and appropriateness of physical activity for adults are affected by age, gender, and type of physical activity in which the adults participate. Participants were 70 children, mean age 9.5. An interview using 18 photographs of young, middle-aged, and older women and men participating in three physical activities was employed to assess the children’s perceptions. A 3 × 2 × 3 ANOVA for perceived competence indicated that main effects for age and activity type were significant, accounting for 61% and 8% of the variance, respectively. An ANOVA on perceived appropriateness also revealed that age and activity type were significant, accounting for 46% and 26% of the variance. Gender did not show a significant main effect for competence or appropriateness, accounting for 0% and 1% of the variance. These results indicate that age affects children’s perceptions of competence and appropriateness of adults engaged in physical activity.

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Children's Perceptions of Healthful Eating and Physical Activity

Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research ◽

10.3148/71.1.2010.19 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 71 (1) ◽

pp. 19-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Jennifer Lisa Penner Protudjer ◽

Gail Marchessault ◽

Anita Luba Kozyrskyj ◽

Allan Barry Becker

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Food Choices ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

High Fat ◽

Children's Perceptions ◽

Children’S Perceptions ◽

Dietary Behaviours ◽

Interview Guide ◽

Purposeful Selection ◽

Common Barriers

Purpose: Healthful lifestyle habits established in childhood may continue through adulthood. Such habits may also be effective in preventing or reversing overweight and obesity. However, little is known about children's perceptions of healthful eating and physical activity. Thus, we sought a better understanding of how children perceive healthful eating and physical activity. Methods: A purposeful selection was made of Winnipeg, Manitoba, boys (n=23) and girls (n=22) aged 11 to 12 years. The children were interviewed using a semi-structured, indepth interview guide. Data were analyzed using thematic coding. Results: Although healthful eating was seen as necessary for health, high-fat, high-sugar foods were a source of pleasure and enjoyed during social times. Physical activity was a way of spending time with friends, either through active play or watching sports. Boys viewed screen time and homework as barriers to physical activity, while girls identified no common barriers. Children viewed physical activity as easier than healthful eating, describing the former as “play” and “fun.” Conclusions: Knowing how children think about food choices will further our understanding of the disconnect between nutrition knowledge and dietary behaviours. Understanding conflicting pressures that influence children's healthful lifestyles may enhance communication about these topics among parents, educators, and children.

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Association between the type of physical activity and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older adult residents of a semi-mountainous area in Japan

Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12199-021-00949-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Noriko Kudo ◽

Ritsuko Nishide ◽

Mayumi Mizutani ◽

Shota Ogawa ◽

Susumu Tanimura

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Older Women ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Daily Physical Activity ◽

Mountainous Area ◽

Mountainous Areas ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Type Activity ◽

Specific Health

Abstract Background Physical activity is reported to prevent metabolic syndrome. However, it is unclear whether exercise or daily physical activity is more beneficial for residents of semi-mountainous areas. This study aimed to identify whether daily physical activity is more beneficial than exercise for the prevention of metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and older residents in semi-mountainous areas. Methods We analyzed secondary data of 636 people who underwent a specific health checkup in a semi-mountainous area of Japan. Physical activity was classified into four types: inactivity (I-type; without exercise and without daily physical activity), only exercise (E-type; with exercise and without daily physical activity), only daily physical activity (D-type; without exercise and with daily physical activity), and full physical activity type (F-type; with exercise and with daily physical activity). We compared the means of risk factors for metabolic syndrome by these four types, followed by logistic regression analysis, to identify whether and to what extent the D-type was less likely to have metabolic syndrome than the E-type. Results The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 28.5% (men 45.7%, women 15.8%). The proportions of men with exercise and daily physical activity were 38.7% and 52.8%, respectively. For women, the proportions were 33.0% and 47.1%, respectively. In women, the D-type had the significantly lowest BMI, smallest waist circumference, highest HDL-C, and lowest prevalence of metabolic syndrome of the four types; the same was not observed in men. Additionally, D-type activity was more strongly associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome than E-type activity in women (adjusted odds ratio 0.24; 95% confidence interval 0.06–0.85, P = 0.028). Conclusions Compared to middle-aged and older women residents with exercise in a semi-mountainous area of Japan, those with daily physical activity may effectively prevent metabolic syndrome.

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A Qualitative Exploration of the “Critical Window”: Factors Affecting Australian Children’s After-School Physical Activity

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.10.1.33 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 33-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Rebecca Megan Stanley ◽

Kobie Boshoff ◽

James Dollman

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Peer Influence ◽

Ecological Model ◽

After School ◽

Critical Window ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Children's Perceptions ◽

Children’S Perceptions ◽

Children’S Voices ◽

School Period

Background:The after-school period is potentially a “critical window” for promoting physical activity in children. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively explore children’s perceptions of the factors influencing their engagement in physical activity during the after-school period as the first phase in the development of a questionnaire.Methods:Fifty-four South Australian children age 10−13 years participated in same gender focus groups. Transcripts, field notes, and activity documents were analyzed using content analysis. Through an inductive thematic approach, data were coded and categorized into perceived barriers and facilitators according to a social ecological model.Results:Children identified a number of factors, including safety in the neighborhood and home settings, distance to and from places, weather, availability of time, perceived competence, enjoyment of physical activity, peer influence, and parent influence. New insights into bullying and teasing by peers and fear of dangerous animals and objects were revealed by the children.Conclusions:In this study, hearing children’s voices allowed the emergence of factors which may not be exposed using existing surveys. These findings are grounded in children’s perceptions and therefore serve as a valuable contribution to the existing literature, potentially leading to improved intervention and questionnaire design.

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