Interactive Dyadic Physical Activity and Spatial Proximity Patterns in 2-Year-Olds and Their Parents

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Human Movement Science
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Understanding daily physical activity (PA) in toddlers is crucial for healthy development.
• Parent-toddler interactions and proximity influence children's behavior and activity levels.
• Objective measures are needed to accurately assess PA and dyadic behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize daily physical activity (PA) in 2-year-old children and their parents.
• To examine the relationship between PA, dyadic spatial proximity, and child sex.
• To investigate joint PA patterns in parent-toddler dyads.

Main Methods:

• 110 urban parent-toddler dyads wore accelerometers for 7 days to collect PA and Bluetooth proximity data.
• Sociodemographic questionnaires were completed by parents.
• Dyadic analysis statistical methods were applied to 65 dyads, with 34 analyzed for proximity data.

Main Results:

• Toddler and parent sedentary and light PA were interdependent, influenced by child sex and proximity.
• Toddlers were more active than parents on weekdays and weekends; no sex differences in PA volume were found.
• Girls engaged in more joint PA with mothers than boys; higher toddler MVPA correlated with more, longer, and more distant joint PA with mothers.

Conclusions:

• Parent-toddler proximity and child sex are factors in sedentary and light PA interdependence.
• Objective measures reveal toddlers are more active than parents, with no sex-based PA volume differences.
• Higher toddler moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with increased joint PA duration, distance, and engagement with mothers, highlighting the importance of the dyadic activity-proximity relationship.