Abstract
BackgroundActivity behaviours (physical activity, sedentary time and screen time) have been linked to health outcomes in childhood. Furthermore, socioeconomic disparities have been observed in both children’s activity behaviours and health outcomes. Children’s physical home environments may play a role in these relationships. This study aimed to examine the associations and interactions between children’s physical home environment, socioeconomic status and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sedentary time and screen time.MethodsAustralian children (n = 528) aged 9–11 years from randomly selected schools participated in the cross-sectional International Study of Childhood Obesity, Lifestyle and the Environment. Children’s physical home environment (access to equipment), socioeconomic status (household income and parental education) and demographic variables (gender and family structure) were determined by parental questionnaire. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time were measured objectively by 7-day 24-h accelerometry. Screen time was obtained from child survey. The associations between the physical home environment, socioeconomic status and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sedentary time and screen time were examined for 427 children, using analysis of covariance, and linear and logistic regression, with adjustment for gender and family structure.ResultsThe presence of TVs (p < 0.01) and video game consoles (p < 0.01) in children’s bedrooms, and child possession of handheld video games (p = 0.04), cell phones (p < 0.01) and music devices (p = 0.04) was significantly and positively associated with screen time. Ownership of these devices (with the exception of music devices) was inversely related to socioeconomic status (parental education). Children’s moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (p = 0.04) and possession of active play equipment (p = 0.04) were both positively associated with socioeconomic status (household income), but were not related to each other (with the exception of bicycle ownership).ConclusionsChildren with less electronic devices, particularly in their bedrooms, participated in less screen time, regardless of socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic disparities were identified in children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, however socioeconomic status was inconsistently related to possession of active play equipment. Home active play equipment was therefore not a clear contributor to the socioeconomic gradients in Australian children’s moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
Highlights
Activity behaviours have been linked to health outcomes in childhood
Children’s moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), sedentary time and screen time may be influenced by household socioeconomic status (SES), and the physical home environment, and potential interactions between these factors
Children from low-income households had less play equipment items, but more electronic devices in their bedrooms, compared to children from high-income households. These findings suggest that the physical home environment in high-SES households may be more conducive to MVPA and less supportive of sedentary time than the home environment in low-SES households
Summary
Activity behaviours (physical activity, sedentary time and screen time) have been linked to health outcomes in childhood. Socioeconomic disparities have been observed in both children’s activity behaviours and health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the associations and interactions between children’s physical home environment, socioeconomic status and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sedentary time and screen time. Children’s MVPA, sedentary time and screen time may be influenced by household socioeconomic status (SES), and the physical home environment, (in terms of access to equipment) and potential interactions between these factors. Recent systematic reviews on the correlates of children’s physical activity reported mixed results for the significance of SES [7, 8] and home active play equipment [9, 10]. Strong positive associations have been identified between screen time and both socioeconomic disadvantage and the presence of televisions (TVs) in children’s bedrooms [9,10,11]
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