Abstract
BackgroundPhysical activity, a high-frequency health behavior, varies by where children live, learn, and play. Children accumulate physical activity in adult-led in-school and out-of-school settings. Youth sport is a potential setting for physical activity, but there are differences in youth sport participation based on age, sex, and socioeconomic status. There is a gap in understanding demographic influences on youth sport participation and how these factors interact to influence physical activity. This study examines influences of grade, sex, and family income on youth sport participation and these factors and youth sport participation on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of children in rural communities.MethodsChildren (n = 418 3rd–6th graders) living in two rural communities completed the online Youth Activity Profile as part of Wellscapes, a type 3 hybrid implementation-effectiveness community randomized trial. Mixed models with community as a random effect examined main effects and interactions of grade, sex, and family income on youth sport participation and these factors and youth sport participation on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.ResultsAbout 80% of children engaged in youth sport, and full-pay lunch students were almost four times more likely to have youth sport participation than students with free/reduced lunch (OR = 3.91, 95% CI = 1.95, 7.8). Females and 6th graders (p < 0.05) had lower physical activity than comparison groups. Males with higher family income had greater physical activity; females with higher family income had less physical activity. For 6th graders, high family income had less effect on physical activity than similar 3rd-5th graders (p < 0.01).ConclusionsWhile a fairly high percentage of children participate in youth sports, there are disparities in rural communities on youth sport participation and physical activity outcomes based on age, sex, and family income.
Highlights
Physical activity, a high-frequency health behavior, varies by where children live, learn, and play
This study examined the influence of grade, sex, and family income on youth sport participation and their impact on moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) of children in rural communities
Our study does not show a significant decline in youth sport participation by grade among rural 3rd-6th graders, but a lower level of MVPA, which may indicate that time being physically active is lacking in in-school or out-of-school settings that include youth sport
Summary
A high-frequency health behavior, varies by where children live, learn, and play. Children accumulate physical activity in adult-led in-school and out-of-school settings. Youth sport is a potential setting for physical activity, but there are differences in youth sport participation based on age, sex, and socioeconomic status. This study examines influences of grade, sex, and family income on youth sport participation and these factors and youth sport participation on moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of children in rural communities. In contemporary community social structures, children’s PA occurs more frequently in adult-led in-school and out-of-school settings, like physical education (PE) classes or youth sport [13, 14]. A 2008 cross-sectional study found rural and urban differences in these settings for children’s PA with more activity for rural children than urban at lunchtime and after school but less during PE classes [1]. As noted in the study, an example of a policy employing this strategy would be to share school facilities, like outdoor fields, for public use before or after school
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