Mothers' Perspectives on Physical Activity Co-Participation With Young Children: Examining Thoughts and Racial...

Area of Science:

• Child Development
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Maternal involvement significantly influences children's physical activity (PA) behaviors.
• Mother-child PA co-participation (co-PA) is limited despite its importance.
• Understanding racial differences in co-PA perceptions is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore mothers' perceptions of co-PA with their young children.
• To compare these perceptions between White mothers and mothers of color (BIPOC).

Main Methods:

• Interviews were conducted with 30 mothers (14 White, 16 BIPOC) of 2-5-year-old children.
• Thematic analysis was used to identify themes and subthemes in co-PA experiences.
• Analysis considered all mothers and was stratified by racial category.

Main Results:

• Co-PA fosters bonding, education, and healthier lifestyles, with positive experiences post-activity.
• Barriers included adapting to child's mood and environmental factors; facilitators included activity availability.
• Racial differences emerged: White mothers emphasized learning opportunities, while BIPOC mothers focused on modeling PA and social motivation.
• Unique barriers for White mothers included screen distractions, while BIPOC mothers cited inadequate resources.

Conclusions:

• Mothers share similar co-PA perceptions, but racial differences in importance of subthemes exist.
• The social aspect of co-PA is a novel and important theme.
• Interventions should consider racial subgroup differences in needs and preferences to enhance co-PA.