Hyper-parenting is negatively associated with physical activity among 7-12year olds
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1School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen's University, Canada; Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Canada.
Objective:
To explore associations between helicopter, little emperor, tiger mom, and concerted cultivation hyper-parenting styles with child physical activity.
Methods:
724 North American parents of 7-12 year olds completed a survey (May, 2014) that assessed their engagement in the hyper-parenting styles and the frequency that their child played outdoors, walked/bicycled, and played organized sports. Z-scores were generated for each hyper-parenting style and four groups were created: low (<-1 SD), below average (-1 to -0.49 SD), average (-0.50 to 0.50 SD), above average (0.51 to 0.1.0 SD), and high (>1 SD).
Results:
Outdoor play, active transportation, and organized sport did not differ across helicopter parenting groups. Children in the low little emperor group had higher (P<0.005) outdoor play and active transportation scores than children in the average, above average, and high groups (exception: high group for outdoor play). Children in the low tiger mom and concerted cultivation groups had higher (P<0.005) outdoor play, active transportation, and organized sport scores than children in the average, above average, and high groups (exceptions: average and high tiger mom groups for organized sport).
Conclusions:
Little emperor, tiger mom, and concerted cultivation parenting styles were associated with lower physical activity among 7-12 year olds.
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