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Correlates of Children's Physical Activity: A Canadian Multisite Study
Richard Larouche1,2, Sébastien Blanchette3, Guy Faulkner4,5
1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, CANADA.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|July 16, 2019
Summary
Increasing outdoor time boosts physical activity (PA) in children. Interventions should consider gender-specific factors for effective PA promotion in youth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Exercise Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Physical activity (PA) is crucial for child development and well-being.
- Understanding PA correlates is essential for designing effective interventions.
- Previous research highlights various factors influencing children's PA levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify correlates of physical activity in 8- to 12-year-old children across diverse Canadian regions.
- To inform the development of targeted PA interventions for children.
- To examine gender-specific factors associated with children's physical activity.
Main Methods:
- 1699 children (urban, suburban, rural) wore pedometers for 7 days to measure moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA).
- Children and parents completed questionnaires on potential PA correlates.
- Statistical models analyzed daily step counts and MVPA, controlling for covariates.
Main Results:
- Increased outdoor time was associated with higher PA in both boys and girls.
- Boys' PA decreased with age and was lower with parental driving or safety concerns.
- Girls speaking neither English nor French had lower PA; temperature and active travel distance influenced girls' PA.
Conclusions:
- Interventions should prioritize increasing children's outdoor time.
- Gender-specific approaches are necessary for promoting PA effectively in children.
- Environmental and social factors significantly correlate with children's physical activity levels.