Parenting and the Decline of Physical Activity from Age 9 to 15
Author Information
Author(s): Bradley RH, McRitchie S, Houts RM, Nader P, O'Brien M, NICHD Early Child Care Research Network
Primary Institution: Arizona State University
Hypothesis
How do family factors influence the decline in physical activity during middle childhood and adolescence?
Conclusion
Parenting processes, such as monitoring and encouragement, have small but significant gender-specific associations with physical activity levels and the decline in those levels from ages 9 to 15.
Supporting Evidence
- Boys with lower parental monitoring had more minutes of physical activity at age 9.
- High parental monitoring was linked to decreased activity levels for boys experiencing later puberty.
- Girls with more parental exercise and transportation to activities had more physical activity at age 9.
- Parental encouragement was associated with more physical activity for girls who experienced early puberty.
Takeaway
Kids get less active as they grow up, and how much their parents encourage them to be active can make a little difference.
Methodology
Longitudinal analysis using accelerometer data to measure physical activity levels in children from 9 to 15 years old.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on parent-reported measures and the lack of comprehensive monitoring of physical activity.
Limitations
The sample is not nationally representative, and key constructs were measured with brief parent reports.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 49% boys and 51% girls, predominantly white (77%), with about 26% from low-income families and 19% from single-parent families.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.002
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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