Relationship of parental health-related behaviours and physical fitness in girls and boys.

Nanette Erkelenz,Sarah Kettner,Susanne Kobel,Anja C Schreiber,Clemens Drenowatz,Jürgen M Steinacker

doi:10.1007/s10389-014-0636-5

Nanette Erkelenz, Sarah Kettner + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-014-0636-5

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Abstract

AimPhysical activity (PA) and physical fitness (PF) are known to be closely connected. Various environmental and biological constraints have been shown to influence children’s PA with parents being among strong determinants of their children’s PA behaviour. However, little is known about parental influence on PF in children. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the influence of parental health-related behaviours and attitudes on PF in boys and girls.Subjects and methodsBaseline data of 1,875 primary school children (7.1 ± 0.6 years; 50 % male) were included in the analyses. Lateral jumping performance was used as a proxy for whole-body coordination and the 6-min run for cardiovascular fitness. Parental health-related behaviours, attitudes and sociodemographic variables were assessed via questionnaire. Regression analyses, adjusting for age and BMI, were performed separately for boys and girls.ResultsThe final models of the regression analyses showed that children’s age and BMI are significantly related to PF. Mothers’ self-efficacy to encourage their children to be active is significantly associated with boys’ coordination and cardiovascular fitness and girls’ coordination. Mothers’ PA affects PF in boys, not in girls. Maternal smoking has a significantly negative effect on both boys’ and girls’ cardiovascular fitness.ConclusionThis study shows that parental health-related behaviours and self-efficacy to encourage their children to be active affect children’s PF. Influencing factors, however, differ in girls and boys, and mothers seem especially influential.

Highlights

It is well documented that sufficient physical activity (PA) and moderate to high levels of cardiovascular fitness are essential for childhood development and have numerous health benefits in children and adolescents (Ekelund et al 2007)
Low PA levels during childhood are alarming since the basis of adequate PA levels and an active lifestyle in adulthood are established during early childhood (Baker et al 2007)
Parental body mass index (BMI) has been investigated in order to find connections to children’s PA and physical fitness (PF) (Magnusson et al 2008). In agreement with these authors, this study showed no association between parental BMI and children’s PF in the final model

Summary

Introduction

It is well documented that sufficient physical activity (PA) and moderate to high levels of cardiovascular fitness are essential for childhood development and have numerous health benefits in children and adolescents (Ekelund et al 2007). PA during childhood and adolescence is beneficially associated with body fatness and well-being at young adult age (Boreham and Riddoch 2001). At least 60 min of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) daily are recommended (WHO 2010). In order to increase cardiovascular fitness even more time in moderate to vigorous intensity activity is necessary (Andersen et al 2006). A considerable number of children currently do not meet these recommendations (Ekelund et al 2011). Low PA levels during childhood are alarming since the basis of adequate PA levels and an active lifestyle in adulthood are established during early childhood (Baker et al 2007)

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