Associations of parental influences with physical activity and screen time among young children: a systematic review

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Huilan Xu1, Li Ming Wen2, Chris Rissel3

  • 1Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia ; Health Promotion Service, Sydney Local Health District, Level 9, King George V Building, Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.

Journal of Obesity
|April 16, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Parental support boosts children's physical activity (PA), while reducing parents' screen time lowers children's screen time. Positive parenting practices are key for healthy childhood behaviors.

Area of Science:

  • Child Health
  • Behavioral Science
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Parental influence is crucial for establishing children's physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors during early development.
  • Understanding these parental influences is vital for promoting healthy lifestyles in young children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review and synthesize existing literature on the associations between parental influences and children's physical activity and screen time.
  • To identify key parenting factors that impact children's physical activity and screen time behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of research literature published between January 1998 and November 2013.
  • Searches were conducted across 6 electronic databases, identifying 30 relevant articles.
  • Studies examined parenting practices, role modeling, parental perceptions, self-efficacy, and parenting style.

Main Results:

  • Parental encouragement and support positively correlate with increased children's physical activity.
  • Reduced parental screen time is associated with decreased screen time in children.
  • Parenting practices, parental self-efficacy, and parenting style significantly influence children's PA and screen time.

Conclusions:

  • Parental involvement is a significant determinant of young children's physical activity and screen time.
  • Interventions targeting parenting practices, self-efficacy, and style can effectively promote physical activity and reduce screen time in children.

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