Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
06:51

Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training

Published on: July 27, 2022

Interaction between physical environment, social environment, and child characteristics in determining physical

Jessica S Gubbels1, Stef P J Kremers, Dave H H van Kann

  • 1NUTRIM School for Nutrition, Toxicology and Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Department of Health Promotion, Maastricht, the Netherlands. jessica.gubbels@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Health Psychology : Official Journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association
|December 8, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Child care environments impact physical activity. Positive physical and social environments, along with staff prompts, increase activity, while larger groups decrease it. Child characteristics also play a role.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Environmental Psychology
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Understanding environmental influences on early childhood physical activity is crucial for public health.
  • An ecological perspective suggests that multiple environmental layers interact to shape health behaviors.
  • Child care settings are key environments for 2- and 3-year-olds' development and behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between the child-care environment and physical activity intensity in 2- and 3-year-olds.
  • To test the independent and interactive effects of social and physical environments, and child characteristics on physical activity.

Main Methods:

  • Direct observation of physical activity intensity using the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity in Children-Preschool Version.
  • Assessment of the child-care environment using the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) Instrument.
  • Multilevel linear regression analyses with interaction terms to examine environmental and child characteristic effects.

Main Results:

  • A majority of observed activities were sedentary; moderate-to-vigorous activity was less frequent.
  • Positive associations were found between physical activity opportunities, staff/peer prompts, and activity intensity.
  • Group size negatively correlated with activity intensity; environmental factors interacted with each other and child characteristics.

Conclusions:

  • Findings support the ecological model, highlighting the child-care environment's role in physical activity.
  • Interventions should consider both physical and social aspects of the child-care setting.
  • These insights are vital for strategies aimed at preventing childhood overweight and obesity.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Four Temporary Waterslide Designs Adapted to Different Slope Conditions to Encourage Child Socialization in Playgrounds06:00

Four Temporary Waterslide Designs Adapted to Different Slope Conditions to Encourage Child Socialization in Playgrounds

Published on: December 9, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Gene-Environment Interactions01:20

Gene-Environment Interactions

Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences01:28

Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences

Social behavior is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. This intricate interplay shapes how individuals think, feel, and act in various social contexts. Understanding these mechanisms requires insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary theory.Environmental Influences on Social BehaviorEnvironmental factors, including temperature, odors, and visual stimuli, play a crucial role in shaping...
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
Impact of Social Context on Individuals01:21

Impact of Social Context on Individuals

Social psychology examines how the real or imagined presence of others influences individuals' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. A key concept in this field is the role of social context in shaping behavior. The same individual may act differently depending on the social setting, due to the varying expectations and norms associated with each environment. This context-dependent behavior illustrates the influence of social roles, which prescribe appropriate conduct in specific situations.Social...
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...