Abstract
Understanding parental views regarding family physical activity is essential to the development of family-focused physical activity interventions. Using a qualitative methodology with thematic analysis and a socio-demographic questionnaire, this study aimed to examine Mexican American and Puerto Rican parental views on child and family physical activity. Sixty-one parents (56 mothers, five fathers) from four sites (California, Illinois, Texas, and Puerto Rico) each participated in a single one-hour focus group session, which included an average of five parents. The findings of this study indicated that parents perceived themselves and their families to be physically active, while some parents believed their children were getting enough physical activity at school and afterschool programs. Walking, bicycling, and playing soccer were the most common physical activities that parents reported engaging in as a family. In addition, some parents shared their preference for exercising without their children. Time constraints along with unsafe neighborhood streets and parks were identified as the major barriers to being physically active as a family. Mothers reported that fathers’ involvement in physical activity and combining a healthy diet with exercise were useful strategies for physical activity promotion. This study provides valuable information regarding Hispanic parental views concerning family physical activity relevant to the design of culturally family-based physical activity interventions for this population.
Highlights
Obesity is a major health challenge facing children and adolescents in the UnitedStates
These findings suggest the need to examine parental factors associated with obesity among minority youth, with the overall goal of developing culturally appropriate family-based obesity prevention and treatment interventions
The sample consisted of 61 Hispanic parents (56 mothers, five fathers)
Summary
Obesity is a major health challenge facing children and adolescents in the United. States. American mothers identified walking as the most common form of PA in both groups of mothers [17] Regarding their children, Latino mothers of preschoolers perceived PA as beneficial for their child’s brain health and helpful in strengthening children’s bodies to prepare them for future hard labor work [18]. PA may be harmful to their child’s health (e.g., damaging their internal organs or injuring their body, including broken bones) It is well-documented that Hispanic families living in under-resourced communities face numerous challenges being physically active. Most of the previous research on Hispanic parental PA views has focused on perceived PA health benefits, adequate PA dosage, and PA barriers for them and their preschool-aged children. Children 2021, 8, 740 challenges, and facilitators) along with social–environmental factors (e.g., spouse influence, places for engaging in PA) that might influence PA within the family
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