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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
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Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
Parent-child interactions and objectively measured child physical activity: a cross-sectional study
Erin Hennessy1, Sheryl O Hughes, Jeanne P Goldberg
1Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. hennessye@mail.nih.gov.
Summary
Parenting style significantly impacts children's physical activity (PA). Permissive parenting and high parental support are linked to more child PA, with style moderating practice effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Child Health
- Parenting Studies
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Parenting practices and styles influence children's physical activity (PA).
- Logistical and emotional support positively correlate with child PA.
- The impact of monitoring on child PA remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between parents' PA-related practices and general parenting style.
- To determine how these factors influence children's objectively measured PA levels.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 99 diverse parent-child dyads in low-income rural US areas.
- Validated questionnaires assessed parent-reported parenting style and PA practices.
- Child PA objectively measured using accelerometers.
Main Results:
- Children of permissive parents and those with high parental support showed more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
- Uninvolved parenting style was the only parenting behavior directly associated with child PA.
- Parenting style moderated the link between reinforcement/monitoring practices and child PA.
Conclusions:
- Parenting style plays a moderating role in how parenting practices affect children's PA.
- Findings highlight the complex interplay between parenting and child physical activity.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms of parental influence on child PA.
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