Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 24, 2025

Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training

Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training

Published on: July 27, 2022

Associations between socioeconomic position and young people's physical activity and sedentary behaviour in the UK: a

Natalie Pearson¹, Paula Griffiths¹, Esther van Sluijs²

¹School of Sport, Exercise & Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.

|May 2, 2022

Abstract

Objective:

To examine the evidence on the associations between socioeconomic position and young people's physical activity and sedentary behaviours in the UK.

Design:

Scoping review.

Data Sources:

PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science databases were searched for articles published up to and including January 2021.

Eligibility Criteria For Selecting Studies:

Observational studies in children and adolescents (aged 5-18 years) from the UK that had assessed associations between at least one indicator of socioeconomic position and at least one outcome of physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour.

Data Extraction And Synthesis:

Data were extracted by one reviewer and 20% were double checked. Indicators of socioeconomic position were tabulated with domains of physical activity and sedentary behaviour.

Results:

Fifty-seven publications were included in the review; 37 publications from 19 studies (k=23) of children and 21 publications from 15 studies (k=23) of adolescents. Most studies were cross-sectional. 63% of studies of children, and 40% of studies of adolescents assessed Index of Multiple Deprivation. Eighteen studies measured physical activity in children, 13 measured sedentary behaviour. Eleven studies of adolescents included a measure of physical activity, 10 included a measure of sedentary behaviour. Among children and adolescents, the association between socioeconomic position and measures of either physical activity or sedentary behaviour was highly variable depending on the measure of both socioeconomic position used and the behavioural outcome, with the exception of higher family affluence which was consistently associated with higher reported physical activity among adolescents.

Conclusion:

Physical activity and sedentary behaviours of children and adolescents in the UK are complex and influenced by multiple indicators of socioeconomic position that are, in most cases, different across age stages, outcomes examined and measurement tools. Greater consistency in the use and measures of socioeconomic position as well as outcomes of behaviour are required for robust country-specific meta-analyses.

Keywords:

community child health epidemiology public health

More Related Videos

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity

Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity

Published on: March 7, 2019

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children

Published on: August 22, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Cross-Sectional Research

Cross-Sectional Research

In cross-sectional research, a researcher compares multiple segments of the population at the same time. If they were interested in people's dietary habits, the researcher might directly compare different groups of people by age. Instead of following a group of people for 20 years to see how their dietary habits changed from decade to decade, the researcher would study a group of 20-year-old individuals and compare them to a group of 30-year-old individuals and a group of 40-year-old...

Lifestyle Factors and Health

Lifestyle Factors and Health

Lifestyle factors play a critical role in maintaining overall health and preventing chronic diseases. Key elements, such as regular physical activity, a nutritious diet, and abstinence from smoking, can significantly enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being while reducing the risk of several life-threatening conditions.
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...

The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison

The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison

According to Charles Cooley, we base our image on what we think other people see (Cooley 1902). We imagine how we must appear to others, then react to this speculation. We don certain clothes, prepare our hair in a particular manner, wear makeup, use cologne, and the like—all with the notion that our presentation of ourselves is going to affect how others perceive us. We expect a certain reaction, and, if lucky, we get the one we desire and feel good about it. But more than that, Cooley...

Bias in Epidemiological Studies

Bias in Epidemiological Studies

Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:

Relationship Formation

Relationship Formation

What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...

Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention

Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention

Health promotion allows a person to control the determinants of health, resulting in an improved health status. It enhances the quality of life and reduces premature deaths. Health promotion and illness prevention programs help people make beneficial choices to reduce the risk of disease and disabilities. There are three health promotion and illness prevention levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Device-Measured Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Youth: A Harmonized Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.

JAMA pediatrics·2026

Impact of the Ultra Low Emission Zone on lung function growth in children in London, UK: a prospective parallel cohort study.

The Lancet. Public health·2026

Real-world evidence of physical activity practices and policies in Greater London primary schools: A cross-sectional survey.

PloS one·2026

Co-designing policy, practice, and research directions for whole-school physical activity: towards sustainable culture change.

The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity·2026

Adolescents' time-use and academic attainment: A longitudinal, compositional analysis in the Millennium Cohort Study.

PloS one·2026

Parental Psychological Distress and Their Attitudes Toward and Tolerance of Risky Child Play: Findings From 2 Nationally Representative, Cross-Sectional Surveys in Britain.

Journal of physical activity & health·2026

See all related articles