Home Environment Factors Associated With Children’s Physical Activity Levels In A Rural Population

Purpose This study examined the associations of physical activity levels between parents and their pre-school children based on gender and weekday/weekend. Method A total of 247 parent-preschool child triads from Shanghai, China were analyzed. The children had a mean age of 57.5 ± 5.2 months. Both sedentary behavior and physical activity were measured in all participants using an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer over seven consecutive days from Monday through the following Sunday. A multivariate regression model was derived to identify significant relationships between parental and child physical activity according to gender and weekday/weekend. Results There was a significant correlation between mothers’ and girls’ moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and total physical activity (TPA) on weekdays. Fathers’ MPVA levels correlated significantly with those of boys and girls, with paternal influence appearing to be stronger than maternal influence. However, there was not a significant correlation between fathers’ and children’s TPA. TPA levels of both mothers and fathers correlated with those of girls, but not with those of boys. Parental sedentary levels on the weekend correlated significantly with girls’ levels, but not with boys’ levels. Children’s physical activity levels on weekends were influenced more by fathers’ activity levels than by mothers’, while the opposite was observed on weekdays. Conclusion Sedentary behavior and physical activity levels of parents can strongly influence those of their preschool children, with maternal influence stronger during the weekdays and paternal influence stronger on the weekends. Parents’ activity levels influence girls’ levels more strongly than they influence boys’ levels.

Download Full-text

Physical Activity during the School Holidays: Parent Perceptions and Practical Considerations

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16101697 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (10) ◽

pp. 1697 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lydia Emm-Collison ◽

Sarah Lewis ◽

Thomas Reid ◽

Joe Matthews ◽

Simon Sebire ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Primary Source ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Older Children ◽

Viable Option ◽

Physically Active ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Telephone Interviews ◽

The Cost ◽

Children’S Physical Activity

Children’s physical activity decreases during school holidays. Less structured days and reduced participation in organised activities may account for some of the decrease. Little is known about the factors that influence parents’ decision to enrol their child in organised activity such as holiday clubs. This paper sought to explore parents’ perceptions of their child’s physical activity during school holidays and the factors that influence holiday activity-based decision making. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 42 parents of children aged 10–11 years in July 2017 or March 2018. Data were analysed using a combination of inductive and deductive content analysis to explore parents’ perceptions of holiday-based physical activity and the factors associated with how they provide physical activity opportunities for their children. The data revealed that most parents consider their child’s physical activity levels when planning for the school holidays. However, work commitments in the holidays meant many parents had to rely on both informal and formal childcare. Grandparents were the primary source of informal childcare, despite a perception that children were not as physically active when with them. Holiday clubs were also a viable option, but the cost, location and age-appropriateness of provision inhibit parents signing older children up to these regularly.

Download Full-text

Physical Activity in Preschool Children With the Transition to Outdoors

Journal of Physical Activity and Health ◽

10.1123/jpah.10.2.170 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 170-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Russell R. Pate ◽

Marsha Dowda ◽

William H. Brown ◽

Jonathan Mitchell ◽

Cheryl Addy

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Time Course ◽

Outdoor Play ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Physically Active ◽

Minute Period ◽

Physical Activity Levels ◽

Trained Observers ◽

Children’S Physical Activity ◽

Observation Period

Background:It is known that children are more physically active outdoors than indoors. However, few previous studies have observed the time course for physical activity as young children transition from indoor to outdoor activities.Methods:Participants were 3- to 5-year-old children enrolled in the Children’s Activity and Movement in Preschool Study (CHAMPS). Trained observers used the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children-Preschool Version (OSRAC-P) to record children’s physical activity levels over 20 minutes in outdoor settings. The 20-minute outdoor observational period began immediately following the transition from indoors to outdoors.Results:Children’s activity levels were moderately high at the time of transition and declined over the 20-minute observation period. Different patterns, however, were observed for boys and girls. Overall, boys were more active than girls. Boys’ activity levels declined in a linear fashion over the 20-minute period, while girls’ activity levels increased slightly, decreased, and then increased slightly again.Conclusions:These data indicate that physical activity levels decline with increased duration of outdoor play. The frequency and duration of outdoor play should be investigated for the purpose of optimizing physical activity levels.

Download Full-text

Factors associated with physical activity levels in African-American women with type 2 diabetes

Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners ◽

10.1111/j.1745-7599.2011.00674.x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 209-217 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Melanie Komar-Samardzija ◽

Lynne T. Braun ◽

Joyce K. Keithley ◽

Lauretta T. Quinn

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

African American ◽

African American Women ◽

Activity Levels ◽

American Women ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Physical Activity Levels

Download Full-text

Increasing children's physical activity levels during recess periods in elementary schools: the effects of providing game equipment

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckl008 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 415-419 ◽

Cited By ~ 208

Author(s):

Stefanie J. M. Verstraete ◽

Greet M. Cardon ◽

Dirk L. R. De Clercq ◽

Ilse M. M. De Bourdeaudhuij

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Elementary Schools ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Physical Activity Levels ◽

Children’S Physical Activity

Download Full-text

Quantifying Physical Activity Levels of Survivors of Intensive Care: A Prospective Observational Study

Physical Therapy ◽

10.2522/ptj.20110411 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 92 (12) ◽

pp. 1507-1517 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Linda Denehy ◽

Sue Berney ◽

Laura Whitburn ◽

Lara Edbrooke

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Interquartile Range ◽

Apache Ii Score ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Free Living ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Icu Admission ◽

Icu Discharge ◽

Physical Activity Levels

Background Promotion of increased physical activity is advocated for survivors of an intensive care unit (ICU) admission to improve physical function and health-related quality of life. Objective The primary aims of this study were: (1) to measure free-living physical activity levels and (2) to correlate the measurements with scores on a self-reported activity questionnaire. A secondary aim was to explore factors associated with physical activity levels. Design This was a prospective cohort study. Methods Nested within a larger randomized controlled trial, participants were block randomized to measure free-living physical activity levels. Included participants wore an accelerometer for 7 days during waking hours at 2 months after ICU discharge. At completion of the 7 days of monitoring, participants were interviewed using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) questionnaire. Factors associated with physical activity were explored using regression analysis. Results The ICU survivors (median age=59 years, interquartile range=49–66; mean Acute Physiologic Chronic Health Evaluation [APACHE II] score=18, interquartile range=16–21) were inactive when quantitatively measured at 2 months after hospital discharge. Participants spent an average of 90% of the time inactive and only 3% of the time walking. Only 37% of the sample spent 30 minutes or more per day in the locomotion category (more than 20 steps in a row). Activity reported using the PASE questionnaire was lower than that reported in adults who were healthy. The PASE scores correlated only fairly with activity measured by steps per day. The presence of comorbidities explained one third of the variance in physical activity levels. Limitations Accelerometer overreading, patient heterogeneity, selection bias, and sample size not reached were limitations of the study. Conclusions Survivors of an ICU admission greater than 5 days demonstrated high levels of inactivity for prolonged periods at 2 months after ICU discharge, and the majority did not meet international recommendations regarding physical activity. Comorbidity appears to be a promising factor associated with activity levels.

Download Full-text