scholarly journals FACTORS INFLUENCING LEISURE TIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF CHILDREN

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Vidmantas Katasanovas ◽  
Vytautas Katasanovas ◽  
Žilvinas Stankevičius

Grounding of research.Scientific problem discussed in the article-what factors influence children’sleisure time physical activity. Inorder to choose the right means to encourage children to be more physicalactive, it is important to analyse what factors can influence this. Leisure time is an important routine ofchildren’s everyday life, and engaging into physical activities during leisure time brings a lot of benefits.Theproblem isrelevantasit is important to discuss all the aspects related to the ways that could encourage childrenfor physical activity, including the analysis of factors, influencing their leisure time physical activity.Thegoalof research–to analysefactors influencingleisure time physical activity physical activity of children. Objectsof research: To discuss importance of leisure time physical activity for children.To identify groups of factorsimportantfor children leisure time physical activity physical activity. Research object subject–factorsinfluencingleisure time physical activity physical activity of children. Qualitative methods were used in thisarticle, performing comparative analysis of scientific literature. Scientific articles discussing results ofempirical research were chosen for the analysis. Most articles that are analysed were published in 2007–2015.Results of research.Results of research reveal that leisure time physical activity is especially importantfor children for overall benefit of physical activity for their physical and mental health (in childhood and infuture). According to the theories explaining factors influencing leisure time physical activity such groups offactors may be determined: psychosocial factors (internal factors), environmental factors including factors ofsocial support (family, school), physical environment and political factors. Results reveal that psychologicalfactors, such as extraversion, conscientiousness, enjoyment, self-efficacy are related to higher levels ofphysical activity. Gender also matters–boys are usually more physically active that girls (especially there aregreat differences in adolescence). Influence of socioeconomic factors is not obvious (smaller children’sphysical activity does not correlate to financial state of family, but it does in later age). Parents may have greatinfluence on children’s physical activity modelling, encouraging, providing and involving their children withphysical activities. But children’s physical activity is negatively influenced if home surroundings encouragesedentary leisure time activities. Efforts of school to create availability of organized physical activities withsupervision, also rational daytime table, giving children time for being physically active, may have benefit.However neighbourhood environmental and facility factorsare notrelevant to explain children’s andadolescents’ physical activity.Main conclusions of research.1. Physical activity should be a part of leisure time routine, assuringthat children would be physically active daily.2. Two main groups of factors can be treated as significant inaffecting physical activityof children: psychosocial factors, and factors of social support (family, home,school). Neighbourhood environmental and facility factorsare notrelevant to explain children’s andadolescents’ physical activity. In the context of what was discussed above.Keywords:leisure time,physical activity,children,adolescents.

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 781-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Xie ◽  
Linda L. Caldwell ◽  
Steven Loy ◽  
Mayra Robledo

Background. Latino grandparents are often involved in rearing of grandchildren. However, their roles in promoting Latino children’s leisure time physical activity (LTPA) have been largely overlooked by researchers. Aim. The purpose of this study is to examine Latino grandparents’ involvement in and support for grandchildren’s (age 2-12) LTPA as well as issues facing Latino grandparents. Method. Participants included 53 Latino grandparents who lived with/cared for or used to live with/care for grandchildren of 2 to 12 years old in three low-income areas of Los Angeles County. Data were collected using 4 semistructured focus groups and 26 semistructured interviews. Transcribed data were systematically and iteratively coded and analyzed. Results. Latino grandparents perceived various benefits of physical activity to their grandchildren’s physical and mental health, and supported grandchildren’s LTPA directly and indirectly. The direct support included doing physical activity with grandchildren, taking grandchildren to places for physical activities, verbally asking grandchildren to do physical activities, and rewarding grandchildren for doing physical activities. The indirect support was made through providing suggestions to parents. Mothers usually regulated Latino grandparents’ involvement in or support for grandchildren’s LTPA and tended to promote a maternal lineage. Some Latino grandparents reported barriers to supporting grandchildren’s LTPA, including lack of information, access to affordable and safe LTPA facilities/programs, transportation, money, and time. Conclusions. Latino grandparents are advocates for grandchildren’s LTPA and support grandchildren’s LTPA directly and indirectly. It may be promising to develop interventions to increase Latino grandparents’ competency in supporting grandchildren’s LTPA.


2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Nogueira ◽  
Eduardo Faerstein ◽  
Inês Rugani ◽  
Dora Chor ◽  
Claudia S. Lopes ◽  
...  

INTRODUCTION: Leisure-Time Physical Activity (LTPA) is a health behavior that is considered relatively stable over the course of life; this life-long habit seems to be shaped during youth and early adulthood. LTPA is one of the few healthy behaviors more prevalent among men than among women. METHODS:Data from 3,199 participants of the Pro-Saude Study were analyzed - a cohort of employees of a university in Rio de Janeiro, collected with a self-reported multidimensional questionnaire. The association between LTPA in early adulthood and later was investigated using multinomial logistic regression, with estimated odds ratios (OR), considering three outcome categories: inactive, insufficiently active, and active. Past LTPA was grouped into three categories: never/rarely (reference category), sometimes and frequently/always. Estimates were adjusted for: age; participants' schooling, their father's and mother's schooling, and color/race. RESULTS:Analysis shows men who engaged in LTPA sometimes and almost always/always in early adulthood had an OR= 1.42 (95% CI: 0.70-2.89) and OR= 3.33 (95% CI: 1.82-6.10), respectively, of being physically active in later adulthood than those who did not engage in LTPA. Among women, the corresponding odds ratios were lower: OR = 1.19 (95% CI: 0.79-1.79) and OR =1.42 (95% CI: 1.00-2.04). CONCLUSION:LTPA during early adulthood is associated with physical activity later in adulthood, and this association is stronger in men than in women. Public policies that encourage LTPA among youth, with specific efforts directed at women, could increase the proportion of physically active adults.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathalie Fogh Rasmussen ◽  
Bodil Hammer Bech ◽  
Katrine Hass Rubin ◽  
Vibeke Andersen

Abstract Background Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are diseases of the immune system that share some genetic and lifestyle-related predisposing factors. Increasing incidences have been reported in all age groups. Based on experimental studies suggesting a role of physical activity on intestinal inflammation, this study aimed to investigate the association between leisure time physical activity and the risk of IBD in older adults. Methods The study is a prospective cohort study using Danish registry data and questionnaire data from the Danish “Diet, Cancer and Health” cohort. The outcome IBD was defined as having at least two diagnoses of Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis registered in the National Patient Registry during follow-up between December 1993 and May 1997 until December 2018. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios for IBD onset associated with being physically active and with levels of the metabolic equivalent of task (MET) hours/week of physical activity and hours/week spent on six types of physical activity. Results In total, 54 645 men and women aged 50-64 years were included, and thereof 529 cases. When comparing physically active with inactive participants measured by MET hours/week there was no statistically significant difference in risk of IBD (0.89 [0.13; 6.27]), neither when measured as participation in six types of activities. Results did not indicate any dose-response effect when comparing quartile groups of MET hours/week or of five of the six types of activities. For do-it-yourself-work, the third quartile of hours/week was associated with a higher risk of IBD compared to the second quartile (HR=1.44 [1.10 ; 1.90]. No effect modification was found. Conclusions There was no association between physical activity and risk of IBD when comparing physically active with inactive participants. Neither did the results indicate any dose-response effect when comparing quartile groups of MET hours/week. Do-it-yourself work, however, seemed to be associated with a higher risk of IBD when comparing the third quartile with the second quartile. The study has clinical relevance by its contribution to the explanatory field of the causes of IBD. However, further research is needed to clarify associations between physical activity and risk of IBD.


2006 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 392-410 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Y. Martin ◽  
M. Paige Powell ◽  
Claire Peel ◽  
Sha Zhu ◽  
Richard Allman

This study examined whether leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) was associated with health-care utilization in a racially diverse sample of rural and urban older adults. Community-dwelling adults (N= 1,000, 75.32 ± 6.72 years old) self-reported participating in LTPA and their use of the health-care system (physician visits, number and length of hospitalizations, and emergency-room visits). After controlling for variables associated with health and health-care utilization, older adults who reported lower levels of LTPA also reported a greater number of nights in the hospital in the preceding year. There was no support, however, for a relationship between LTPA and the other indicators of health-care utilization. Our findings suggest that being physically active might translate to a quicker recovery for older adults who are hospitalized. Being physically active might not only have health benefits for older persons but also lead to lower health-care costs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 126 (6) ◽  
pp. 1084-1100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saulius Sukys ◽  
Vida J. Cesnaitiene ◽  
Arunas Emeljanovas ◽  
Brigita Mieziene ◽  
Irena Valantine ◽  
...  

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between health education and motives and barriers for university students’ engagement in leisure-time physical activity (PA). The research sample included 709 students (312 females and 397 males) in different years of study, ranging in age between 18-25 years. A questionnaire survey method revealed a significant positive relationship between fitness and health motives and students’ leisure-time PA. External barriers were negative predictors of students’ leisure-time PA, while more health education-related courses per week were positively associated with students’ leisure-time PA. Finally, we found that the number of health education-related courses per week moderated the relationship between fitness and health motives and students’ leisure-time PA. These findings suggest that university students’ fitness and health motives and external barriers to be physically active outweigh other motives and barriers in determining their leisure-time PA. In addition, health education in university studies can effectively increase students’ health-related motivation for PA.


2002 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathew S. Kerner ◽  
Michael I. Kalinski

Using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a framework, the Attitude to Leisure-time Physical Activity, Expectations of Others, Perceived Control, and Intention to Engage in Leisure-time Physical Activity scales were developed for use among high school students. The study population included 20 boys and 68 girls 13 to 17 years of age (for boys, M=15.1 yr., SD=1.0; for girls, M= 15.0 yr., SD= 1.1). Generation of items and the establishment of content validity were performed by professionals in exercise physiology, physical education, and clinical psychology. Each scale item was phrased in a Likert type format. Both unipolar and bipolar scales with seven response choices were developed. Following the pilot testing and subsequent revisions, 32 items were retained in the Attitude to Leisure-time Physical Activity scale. 10 items were retained in the Expectations of Others scale, 3 items were retained in the Perceived Control Scale, and 24 items were retained in the Intention to Engage in Leisure-time Physical Activity scale. Coefficients indicated adequate stability and internal consistency with α ranging from .81 to .96. Studies of validities are underway, after which scales would be made available to those interested in intervention techniques for promoting positive attitudes toward physical fitness, perception of control over engaging in leisure-lime physical activities, and good intentions to engage in leisure-time physical activities. The present results arc encouraging.


2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuija Leskinen ◽  
Katja Waller ◽  
Sara Mutikainen ◽  
Sari Aaltonen ◽  
Paula H. A. Ronkainen ◽  
...  

AbstractThe physically active lifestyle is associated with low future morbidity and mortality, but the causality between physical activity and health is not always clear. As some inherited biological characteristics and childhood experiences may cause selection bias in observational studies, we sought to take them into account by identifying 16 twin pairs (7 MZ, 9 DZ, mean age 60 years) discordant for leisure time physical activity habits for thirty years. We conducted detailed health-related examinations among these twin pairs. Our main aims were to study the effects of physical activity and genes on fitness and body composition, with special reference to body fat compartments, metabolic syndrome components and related diseases and risk factor levels, status of arteries, structure and function of the heart, bone properties, and muscle and fat tissue-related mechanisms linked to physical activity and chronic disease development. Our physical activity assessments showed that inactive co-twins were on average 8.8 MET hours/day less active than their active co-twins through out their midlife (2.2 ± 2.3 vs. 11.0 ± 4.1 MET h/day, p < .001). Follow-up fitness tests showed that physically inactive co-twins were less fit than their active co-twins (estimated VO2peak 26.4 ± 4.9 vs. 32.5 ± 5.5 ml/kg/min, p < .001). Similar differences were found in both MZ and DZ pairs. On the basis of earlier epidemiological observations on nonrelated individuals, these physical activity and fitness differences are large enough to cause differences in many mechanisms and risk factors related to the development of chronic diseases and to permit future analyses.


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