Associations Between Children's And Parental Physical Activity: A Pilot Study In Rural Areas

Previous studies have reported a positive association between children's and parents' physical activity (PA), but very few have been conducted in rural areas. PURPOSE: This pilot study aimed to determine the association between moderate to intense physical activity (MVPA) of children and parents by gender. METHODS: A total of 200 children (98 boys, 102 girls, age 8.9 ± 1.6 years) and their parents (n = 400, age 41.8 ± 8.2 years) from rural areas volunteered to participate in this study. The percentile and z-score for weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) for chronological age were used to estimate nutritional status. The self-reported Youth Activity Profile questionnaire, comprising three items about participation in different types of activities and sports ("PA in school", "out-of-school PA", and "sedentary time") in the last seven days, was used to assess the children's MVPA. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess the parents' MVPA, and 150 minutes/week was used as the cut-off. Descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, and linear regression were used to examine the child-parent associations. RESULTS: There were no differences in the mean MVPA levels in relation to the children's BMI category. There was a significant correlation between the fathers' MVPA levels and the boys' (p = 0.04) and girls' MVPA (p = 0.03) levels during weekdays. The PA levels of the girls during work days were more influenced by the mothers' activity levels (p = 0.02). The parents' levels of weekend sedentary behavior were significantly correlated with the girls' MVPA levels (p = 0.004), but not with the boys' (p > 0.05). The activity levels of the fathers influenced the PA levels of the boys and girls during the weekend more so than that of the mothers (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Although both parents play a role in their children's MVPA, the results show that fathers can play an active role in increasing those levels. The results suggest the importance of involving both parents in the design and implementation of PA interventions in children living in rural areas.