Parental Influence on Teen Physical Activity
Author Information
Author(s): Katherine W. Bauer, Melissa C. Nelson, Kerri N. Boutelle, Dianne Neumark-Sztainer
Primary Institution: University of Minnesota
Hypothesis
How do parental encouragement and concern about fitness affect adolescents' physical activity and sedentary behavior over five years?
Conclusion
Parental encouragement to be active was associated with increased physical activity among males and younger females five years later.
Supporting Evidence
- Maternal encouragement was linked to higher physical activity in younger females.
- Paternal encouragement was associated with increased physical activity in younger and older males.
- Parental concern for fitness did not consistently predict adolescents' activity levels.
Takeaway
If parents tell their kids to be active, those kids are more likely to exercise later on. It's especially true if the encouragement comes from the same-sex parent.
Methodology
Participants completed surveys about parental encouragement and their physical activity levels at two time points, five years apart.
Potential Biases
Attrition in the study population may have introduced bias, as non-responders reported different activity levels.
Limitations
The study only examined two parental factors and may not account for other influences on adolescents' behaviors.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 1130 males and 1386 females, with a diverse ethnic background.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p for trend ≤ .01
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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