Citation

Eriksson M, Nordqvist T, Rasmussen F. J. Phys. Act. Health 2008; 5(3): 359-373.

Affiliation

Child and Adolescent Public Health Epidemiology Group, Dept of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Human Kinetics Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

18579915

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to investigate parent-child physical activity (PA) associations and whether children's self-esteem or athletic competence mediates such associations. METHODS: The study population comprised 1124 12-year-old children and their parents. Parents' PA was assessed using the Baecke questionnaire and a question about sport participation. Children's PA was assessed by questions about participation in sport and vigorous activities. The children's self-esteem and athletic competence were assessed by Harter's Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents. RESULTS: Parents' PA was strongly associated with their children's PA. With 2 active parents, the odds ratio for their children to participate in sport was 3.9 (95% CI = 2.2-6.9, girls) and 8.8 (95% CI = 4.3-18.0, boys) compared with having inactive parents. Athletic competence partly mediated these associations. CONCLUSIONS: The family is an important target for interventions to increase PA among children, and it might be important to consider ways to reinforce children's athletic competence.

Language: en