Objectively measured physical activity in population-representative parent-child pairs: parental modelling matters and is context-specific

Abstract

BackgroundEvidence for the context-specific influence of parental modelling on physical activity (PA) in childhood remains inconclusive. This nationwide Swiss study assessed the cross-sectional association between objectively measured PA of parents and their children and whether it varied across different levels of sociodemographic and environmental factors. In a second step a structural equation-model (SEM) was used to assess, whether associations between children’s PA and sociodemographic and environmental factors are mediated by the parental PA behaviour.MethodsThe population-based sample of the SOPHYA-study consisted of 889 children aged 6 to 16 years living in Switzerland and 1059 parents. PA was measured using accelerometers. Information on sociodemographics, sports behaviour, family characteristics, and perceived environment was obtained by telephone interview and parental questionnaire. Objective environmental data was allocated to each family’s residential address using GIS (geographic information system). A structural equation model tested these factors for both independent associations with children’s PA and associations mediated through the parental PA behaviour.ResultsParental moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was associated with MVPA of their children in general (p < 0.001). Correlations between parents’ and children’s MVPA were stronger for children aged 10–12 years and for those living in the Italian speaking part of Switzerland. An increase of 1 min of mother’s and of father’s MVPA was associated with 0.24 and 0.21 min more MVPA in children, respectively. Father’s PA was associated with that of their sons, but not with that of their daughters, whereas the association of mothers’ and children’s PA did not depend on the parent-offspring sex-match. The pathway analysis in our structural equation model showed direct effects on children’s MVPA as well as indirect effects mediated by the parental PA behaviour.ConclusionsParental modelling seems relevant for children’s PA, but not to the same degree in all children. Interventions focusing on strengthening parental PA behaviour for the promotion of PA in the young must consider additional contextual factors related to the socio-cultural and structural environment.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-018-5949-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

ACTIVDISPENS – Bewegung trotz Sportdispens

“…Auch die Schweizer Politik hat erkannt, dass ein Handeln in diesem Bereich dringend erforderlich ist. In der Agenda Gesundheit 2020 werden die gesundheitspolitischen Prio ritäten des Bundesrates festgehalten [5] Die aktuelle Swiss Children's Objectively Measured Physi cal Activity Studie (SOPHYA) zeigt, dass Sport bei den Ju gendlichen in der Schweiz einen wichtigen Stellenwert ein nimmt [1]. Dennoch ist die aktiv verbrachte Zeit bei den 6-19-Jährigen in der Schweiz seit 2008 rückläufig [1].…”

“…In der Agenda Gesundheit 2020 werden die gesundheitspolitischen Prio ritäten des Bundesrates festgehalten [5] Die aktuelle Swiss Children's Objectively Measured Physi cal Activity Studie (SOPHYA) zeigt, dass Sport bei den Ju gendlichen in der Schweiz einen wichtigen Stellenwert ein nimmt [1]. Dennoch ist die aktiv verbrachte Zeit bei den 6-19-Jährigen in der Schweiz seit 2008 rückläufig [1]. Mit zunehmendem Alter verbringen Kinder und Jugendliche Zeit mehr sitzend als mit Bewegung [1,8].…”

“…Dennoch ist die aktiv verbrachte Zeit bei den 6-19-Jährigen in der Schweiz seit 2008 rückläufig [1]. Mit zunehmendem Alter verbringen Kinder und Jugendliche Zeit mehr sitzend als mit Bewegung [1,8]. Abgesehen von vielen anderen gesundheitlichen Vorteilen, ist eine ange messene Aktivität die fundamentale Voraussetzung für die motorische und geistige Entwicklung von Kindern [8].…”

Excessive body weight of children and adolescents in the spotlight of their parents’ overweight and obesity, physical activity, and screen time

“…Parents therefore act as gatekeepers of their children’s health-related behaviours (Bailey et al 2015 ). Similarly to economically developed non-European countries (Garriguet et al 2017 ) and Western European countries (Bringolf-Isler et al 2018 ), the findings from Central Europe also show a positive relationship between the physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) of parents and their offspring when the aggregated PA of the family is monitored in an objective way (Sigmundová et al 2018 ). However, the associations between the body weight level of parents and their offspring in relation to PA in families in the Central European region are rarely (Erkelenz et al 2014 ; Horodyska et al 2019 ) and objective monitoring of PA in such studies is even scarcer (Erkelenz et al 2014 ).…”

Eating Habits Of Students From A Sports High School In Suceava

“…Family influences are increasingly being studied, and there is a positive correlation between the time spent by parents doing physical activities and that allotted by the child to this type of activity. Many activities are carried out in the family, which helps build good relationships within the family (Bringolf-Isler et al, 2018).…”