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Factors related to objectively measured physical activity in preschool children

Karin A Pfeiffer1, Marsha Dowda, Kerry L McIver

  • 1Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.

Pediatric Exercise Science
|June 27, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Physical activity in preschoolers is linked to age, sex, BMI, and parental views on athletic ability. These factors explain over a third of the variation in children's activity levels.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Exercise Science
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Objectively measured physical activity (PA) is crucial for preschooler health.
  • Understanding correlates of PA in diverse preschool populations is essential for targeted interventions.
  • Previous research has identified various factors influencing children's activity levels, but more data is needed for this age group.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine correlates of objectively measured physical activity (PA) in a diverse sample of preschool children aged 3-5 years.
  • To identify demographic and psychosocial factors associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and nonsedentary activity (NSA).
  • To determine the proportion of variance in PA explained by identified correlates.

Main Methods:

  • A diverse sample of 331 preschool children (age 3-5 years) participated.
  • Physical activity was objectively measured using accelerometers, yielding data on MVPA and NSA.
  • Correlational analyses were performed to assess relationships between potential correlates and PA outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Correlations between potential correlates and PA ranged from r = -0.12 to 0.26.
  • Key correlates for MVPA included age, race, sex, BMI Z score, and parent perception of athletic competence, explaining 37% of the variance.
  • Nonsedentary activity (NSA) was associated with parent perception of athletic competence and BMI Z score, explaining 35% of the variance.

Conclusions:

  • Demographic factors and parent perceptions of children's athletic competence are significant correlates of physical activity in preschoolers.
  • These factors collectively explain a substantial portion of the variance in objectively measured physical activity.
  • Findings highlight the importance of considering both child characteristics and parental beliefs in promoting physical activity in early childhood.

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