Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 21, 2026
Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Moderate and vigorous physical activity show intensity specific familial and interpersonal association patterns in
Flávio Ferreira1, Kieran Dowd2, Alan Coffey2
1Lusófona University of Humanities and Technologies Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
Background:
Research on children's physical activity often examines interpersonal associations but commonly aggregates MPA and VPA into a single MVPA outcome. This approach may obscure intensity-specific association patterns, particularly in intergenerational analyses.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study used harmonized data from the European DE-PASS project, including children aged 9-12 years and one of their parents. Waist-worn accelerometry was used to assess MPA and VPA. Perceived parental, peer, and teacher support were measured using validated questionnaires. Intensity-specific associations between parent and child physical activity and between interpersonal support variables and children's activity were examined, including sex-stratified and socioeconomic sensitivity analyses.
Results:
Parent-child associations differed by activity intensity. Parent-child resemblance was numerically larger for MPA than for VPA, although the difference between intensities was not statistically significant when formally compared; associations involving VPA were weaker and less consistent. Parental co-participation support showed a weak positive association (which did not survive correction for multiple testing) with children's MPA, whereas peer and teacher support showed limited or no associations with children's activity at either intensity. Sex-stratified analyses indicated similar MPA associations across boys and girls, while associations for VPA were not observed among girls. Aggregating MPA and VPA into MVPA may obscure these intensity-specific patterns.
Conclusions:
These findings indicate that interpersonal associations with children's physical activity differ by intensity and support examining MPA and VPA as intensity-specific outcomes in intergenerational analyses. Family-based approaches focusing on MPA may represent a pausible direction for future longitudinal and intervention research, while different strategies may be needed to address VPA.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...