Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2025
Physical Activity Measurement in Children Accepting Table Tennis Training
Published on: July 27, 2022
Parent-Child Associations in Accelerometer-Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour: The FAMIPASS Study
Dagmar Sigmundová1, Jaroslava Voráčová2, Jan Dygrýn1
1Institute of Active Lifestyle, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc, 771 11 Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Insights
This study found that children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Behavioral Science
- Kinesiology
Background:
- Understanding parent-child influences on movement behaviors is crucial for promoting healthy lifestyles.
- Objectively measured data provides a more accurate assessment of physical activity and sedentary time.
- Previous research has explored familial links in physical activity, but objective measures in diverse family structures are less common.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine parent-child associations in objectively measured sedentary behavior and physical activity (PA).
- To identify factors associated with children meeting PA recommendations.
- To explore differences in movement behaviors between genders and parents.
Main Methods:
- Utilized ActiGraph accelerometers to collect objective data on sedentary behavior and PA from 381 families.
- Employed Spearman's rho for parent-child association analysis and backward logistic regression for identifying factors related to meeting PA recommendations.
- Included mothers, fathers, daughters, and sons from randomly selected schools and kindergartens.
Main Results:
- Girls exhibited more light PA; boys showed higher moderate-to-vigorous PA.
- Mothers had higher total PA levels than fathers due to less sitting and more light PA.
- Stronger father-son total PA association was observed compared to mother-son.
- Children aged 6-10 and those with more vigorous maternal PA were more likely to meet PA recommendations.
Conclusions:
- Parental movement behaviors, particularly maternal vigorous PA, significantly influence children's adherence to PA guidelines.
- Objective measurement reveals distinct gender and parent-specific patterns in sedentary time and physical activity.
- Targeting parental engagement in vigorous activity may be an effective strategy to enhance children's physical activity levels.
Abstract:
Parent-child patterns in objectively measured movement behaviours were the highlight of this study. A total of 381 families (337 mothers, 256 fathers, 190 daughters, and 191 sons) from 36 randomly selected schools and kindergartens provided valid accelerometer data. Sedentary behaviour and physical activity (PA) were assessed using ActiGraph accelerometers. Spearman's rho was used to evaluate parent-child associations, while logistic regression analysis (the backward LR method) was used to recognize factors related to children's achievement of PA recommendations. Results indicated that girls engaged more in light PA, while boys showed higher levels of moderate and vigorous PA. Mothers spent less time sitting and more time in light PA compared to fathers, resulting in higher total PA levels. Father-son pairs showed a stronger association in total PA than mother-son pairs. Children aged 6-10 years and those with mothers who engaged in more vigorous PA were more likely to meet PA recommendations compared to younger children and those with less active mothers.
