Children's TV Watching and Physical Activity: Family Influences
Author Information
Author(s): Kylie Hesketh, David Crawford, Jo Salmon
Primary Institution: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
Hypothesis
Does television viewing and physical activity vary by different indicators of family circumstance in pre-adolescent children?
Conclusion
Family circumstances are associated with children's television viewing and physical activity, but the relationships are complex and vary by age and gender.
Supporting Evidence
- Children in dual-parent families spent less time watching TV and more time being active.
- Maternal education was linked to less TV watching among children.
- Children with siblings were more active than those without.
Takeaway
Kids who watch more TV and are less active often come from different family situations, like having fewer parents or siblings.
Methodology
Children wore accelerometers for six days to measure physical activity, while parents reported on TV viewing and family circumstances.
Potential Biases
Potential reporting bias in parent-reported TV viewing and physical activity.
Limitations
The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot determine causality, and response rates varied by socioeconomic status.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 394 young girls, 386 young boys, 914 older girls, and 764 older boys, with a majority from dual-parent households.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI = 365, 374
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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