Patterns of Children's Participation in Unorganized Physical Activity

Abstract

Children's leisure-time or unorganized physical activity is associated with positive physical and mental health, yet there is little information available on tracking and predicting participation throughout the childhood and adolescent years. The purpose of the current study was to explore patterns of unorganized physical activity participation of children ages 4 through 17 years. Longitudinal data from the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth were analyzed using semiparametric group-based trajectory modeling. Participation in unorganized physical activity was best represented by two trajectory groups for boys (n = 4,476) and girls (n = 4,502). For boys, these groups were labeled regular participation and infrequent participation. For girls, there was also a regular group and a second group that reflected infrequent and decreasing participation throughout childhood and adolescence. A higher educational level for parents and having two parents in the home predicted regular participation for boys. For girls, none of the examined variables were significant predictors. The results suggest that boys have a relatively stable pattern of unorganized physical activity throughout childhood and adolescence; however, for some girls, participation declines in adolescence.